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PROJECTS

Seaport Project I

  • Number: 2003/05
  • Status: Finalized
  • Period: 2003-2004
  • Lead Country: Netherlands

  • Project team countries:

  • Participating countries:
    • Belgium
    • Germany
    • Latvia
    • Poland
    • United Kingdom

Executive Summary

The outcomes of the project emphasize that (cooperation in) enforcement of TFS regulations is needed to protect the environment. Illegal shipments and/or infractions have been identified during a large number of inspections; enforcement of this kind of legislation is therefore absolutely needed.

All representatives of the six participating countries involved in this enforcement project emphasized the usefulness and successfulness of this enforcement project. The results that have been reached within this project could not have been achieved without the established cooperation and information exchange. All participants emphasized the need to continue the established cooperation, and to enlarge the activities to other European countries and other large European seaports (including national seaports not involved so far).

All involved countries checked custom documents, inspected waste storages/warehouses and/or carried out traffic inspections. Some of the actions were carried out simultaneously within an agreed time period. Violations or irregularities have been detected in the majority of the inspections carried out within this project. Follow up actions have been carried out in a coordinated manner. As a result, insight into port hopping has been gained. At least one case of port hopping, in which large amounts of household waste were shipped from Ireland (via Rotterdam and Antwerp) to Asian countries, has been identified and tracked down.

The enforcement of relevant TFS regulations (EU Regulation 259/93, Basel Convention and additional national legislation) has been aligned and improved by:

  • Getting insight into the relevant enforcement structures and the network(s) involved in the enforcement of relevant legislation (environmental agencies, custom network, police);
  • The development and practical application of a uniform enforcement approach/method for the enforcement of relevant legislation (manual);
  • Coordinated bilateral and multilateral enforcement actions according to the uniform enforcement approach.


Project description

The aim of this project was the improvement of the European enforcement of waste shipment regulation as laid down in EU Regulation 259/93 and the Basel convention, by improved cooperation between the enforcement authorities.

The project identified several levels of improvement. A network of enforcers in the participating ports was formed and this network is used to exchange information about violations of the regulation, differences in interpretations and enforcement knowledge. More important, the network was used to plan actual joint enforcement activities. Standard methods of enforcement were developed and used, joint priorities were established and joint actions were performed. Thus, the project made an important contribution to both the integrity of the Internal (waste) Market and the environmental aims behind European waste shipment regulation. A second project will follow in the near future, building on the experience gained in the first project and on an increased number of participating ports.