A warm hello from the Brussels heat wave, where both the city and EU environmental policy were keeping the temperature high. In the spotlight last week: the environmental omnibus, EPR-related discussions, circular economy files, and public procurement reform.
Council agrees position on environmental omnibus: On 24 June, the Council agreed its negotiating stance on parts of the Omnibus VIII simplification package.
ENVI debate environmental omnibus reports: On 22 June, ENVI Members held an exchange of views on two draft reports on the temporary suspension of authorised representative requirements under EPR schemes, broadly welcoming the rapporteur’s draft report. ENVI Members will hold a joint debate on 2 July on two other draft reports concerning the environmental omnibus on industrial emissions, waste, batteries and environmental reporting. This second debate follows the publication on 18 June, of rapporteur Susana Solís Pérez draft ENVI report on the proposed simplification of the Industrial Emissions Directive.
Packaging Regulation implementation timeline questioned by Member States: During the Environment Council on 25 June, thirteen Member States asked the Commission to clarify the timetable for publishing secondary legislation under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Benelux countries call for stronger Circular Economy Act: At the Environment Council on 25 June, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands placed the Circular Economy Act on the Environment Council agenda through an informal note, calling for circular products to compete on a level playing field, stronger implementation of the waste hierarchy and European criteria for end-of-waste status.
France, Germany and the Netherlands push action on ultra-fast fashion: At the Environment Council on 25 June, France, Germany and the Netherlands put ultra-fast fashion back on the Environment Council agenda through a note, calling for a coordinated approach and additional measures to tackle ultra-fast fashion.
Environment ministers discuss REACH simplification and enforcement: On 25 June, Environment ministers were also invited to discuss REACH simplification at the Environment Council meeting, while civil society organisations published recommendations on modernising the regulation within the current framework.
Europeans defend ambitious plastics treaty: France used the Environment Council on 25 June to reaffirm, through a note, support for an ambitious global plastics treaty covering plastic production and hazardous products.
ENVI holds public hearing on Circular Economy Act: On 23 June, ENVI held a public hearing on ‘Less waste, more value: Towards an EU Circular Economy Act’. MEPs and stakeholders broadly agreed that the Act should harmonise a fragmented single market, including common definitions, EPR governance and end-of-waste criteria.
Commission procurement reform delayed again: On 24 June, the Commission’s latest agenda showed that the Public Procurement Act is now expected on 9 September.
Commission launches biomethane matching platform: On 18 June, the Commission unveiled its biomethane mechanism and opened the platform for applications ahead of a first matching round planned for September.
Ombudsman finds shortcomings in omnibus preparation: On 25 June, the European Ombudsman concluded that there were procedural shortcomings in the preparation of several omnibus proposals aimed at simplifying EU legislation.
