The proposal was led by Portugal's Directorate-General for Natural Resources, Safety and Maritime Services, and presented by Secretary of State for the Sea, Lídia Bulcão.

This initiative aims to cut sulfur oxide emissions, the main air pollutant affecting mainland Portugal, and is expected to significantly improve air quality.

Environmental organization ZERO plans to engage the governments of Portugal, Spain, and Morocco to expand the Controlled Emission Area to include the Azores and Madeira archipelagos of Portugal and the Canary Islands of Spain.

The new controlled emissions area will take effect in March 2027 and will encompass Atlantic waters adjacent to Portugal, Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Denmark.

It is estimated that approximately 50,000 ships will pass through Portugal's Exclusive Economic Zone covered by this new regulation each year, contributing to a major reduction in pollution.

This initiative follows previous efforts to establish an Emission Control Area in the Mediterranean, set to begin on May 1, 2025, highlighting ongoing efforts to protect marine environments in Europe.

Portugal has successfully proposed the creation of a new Emission Control Area in the Northeast Atlantic, which has been approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to protect its coast and those of nearby countries from ship pollution.

The agreement was reached during the 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the IMO, which concluded on April 11, 2025, in London.

Starting in 2027, ships passing through this area will be required to use fuels containing no more than 0.1% sulfur, significantly lower than the current limit of 0.5%, potentially reducing sulfur oxide emissions by 82%.

The environmental and public health benefits are substantial, with estimates suggesting that between 2,900 and 4,300 premature deaths could be avoided from 2030 to 2050, resulting in healthcare savings of €19 to €29 billion.

The establishment of this controlled emissions area will also help reduce the risk of heavy fuel oil spills, which pose a threat to marine ecosystems.

Final adoption of the agreement is expected at an extraordinary meeting scheduled for October 2025.