The EU is working on a strategy for removing unexploded ordnance from the seas

On February 12, 2026, a special expert session was held at the European Commission in Brussels on the development of an EU strategy for the removal of unexploded ordnance (UXO) under the European Ocean Pact.

Unexploded ordnance and sunken ammunition on the seabed are not only a safety issue—they also pose a serious environmental, infrastructural, and planning challenge.

During the meeting, Dr. Anita Künitzer from the Umweltbundesamt - German Environment Agency (Baltwreck project partner) presented the results of the thematically similar MUNIMAP project on the legal aspects of marine ammunition management in the Baltic Sea region.

The process of developing a common EU strategy confirms that the issue of munitions and hazardous underwater objects is becoming one of the key elements of European maritime policy, also in the context of activities carried out in the Baltic Sea region.