| March 17th, 2026 | News

The Zero Pollution Parliament, held in Brussels on 18–19 November 2025, brought together 33 stakeholders from 16 European countries representing research institutions, universities, NGOs, industry, and public bodies to explore pathways toward achieving zero pollution in European seas.

Building on previous Regional Seas Living Labs in the North-East Atlantic, Black Sea, Mediterranean, and Baltic Sea regions, the event used the CO-ACT (Challenges & Objectives – Alternative futures, Consequences & Trade-offs) participatory methodology to facilitate scenario-based discussions on four priority pollutant groups: nutrients, hazardous substances, microplastics, and underwater noise, while also examining cross-pollutant interactions.

Stakeholders emphasised proactive prevention alongside risk-based responses, highlighting the importance of strong public sector leadership, responsible private sector engagement, and coordinated governance across local, national, and EU levels. Key recommendations included circular nutrient management and nature-based solutions, precautionary phase-out and safer alternatives for hazardous substances, lifecycle and infrastructure measures to address microplastics, and improved awareness, monitoring, and regulatory frameworks for underwater noise.

Participants also stressed integrated ecosystem-based approaches, shared data systems, and stronger EU enforcement across pollutants.

The outcomes of the event directly inform the SOS-ZEROPOL2030 Strategic Zero Pollution Framework and Roadmap, providing stakeholder-driven guidance to accelerate Europe’s transition toward healthier marine ecosystems through innovation, collaboration, and adaptive, measurable governance.

Open D5.6 Report of the zero-pollution parliament outlining the EU scenario to achieve zero pollution