As of 1 May, the Mediterranean Sea officially becomes the world’s fifth Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides, introducing stricter pollution limits on marine fuels. Ships sailing these waters must now use fuel with a maximum of 0.1 % sulphur content – five times lower than the global standard.

This move, agreed under the UN’s Barcelona Convention and endorsed by the International Maritime Organization, is set to significantly reduce sulphur emissions, which contribute to acidification, air pollution, and serious health issues. The initiative follows the success of ECAs in the Baltic and North Seas, where sulphur oxide emissions have dropped by 70 % since 2014.

However, the challenge remains with nitrogen oxides, which have risen by 10 % all over the EU since 2015. To address this, the EU and its Mediterranean partners are assessing further measures, while a new ECA for both sulphur and nitrogen oxides in the Northeast Atlantic is expected to take effect in 2027.

Commissioner Jessika Roswall hailed the Mediterranean ECA as a major step towards cleaner, more competitive maritime transport that safeguards marine ecosystems and human health. The new regulation supports EU climate and pollution goals while advancing a sustainable blue economy in one of the world’s most ecologically pressured seas.