Welcome back to the Brussels bubble – to our readers and to packaging waste guidance making its way back onto the agenda. Some of the top things to keep on your circular economy radar this week: chemical safety, public procurement and waste incineration.
Presidency discontinues discussions on EPR authorised representative proposals under environment omnibus: On 5 June, the Council noted that delegations had assessed negatively the proposals to suspend certain authorised representative rules under extended producer responsibility. The Presidency has therefore discontinued work, also in view of the upcoming Circular Economy Act, while it still expects a general approach on the other environment omnibus files by the end of June.
Parliament legal affairs committee backs split legal basis for vehicle circularity and end-of-life rules: On 10 June, the European Parliament published an addendum to the report on the proposed regulation on vehicle design circularity and end-of-life vehicle management.The Legal Affairs Committee recommended adding Article 192(1) TFEU as a second legal basis for provisions on end-of-life vehicle management and the transfer of used vehicles, while keeping the rest of the proposal under Article 114 TFEU.
PPWR guidance clarifies key concepts and future labelling changes: On 10 June, the Commission notice on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation was published in the Official Journal of the EU, following an initial Commission publication at the end of March.
Draft EU budget plans reduce references to LIFE and restoration funding: On 3 June, the European Parliament’s draft report on national and regional plans for the next MFF was presented. The co-rapporteurs removed links to national restoration plans and reduced the proposed envelope covering LIFE and related actions from €63.223 billion to €10.164 billion.
Cyprus Presidency proposes cuts to energy and decarbonisation budget lines: On 11 June, the Cyprus Council Presidency published a negotiating box for the 2028–2034 MFF, proposing a 2% overall budget cut. Funding for clean transition and industrial decarbonisation under the Competitiveness Fund would fall from €26.21 billion to €25.143 billion.
Parliament groups table motions on Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive: On 10 June, the European Parliament published several motions for resolutions on the implementation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and risks to medicine supply, including from the Greens/EFA and ESN groups.
Environment ministers to discuss REACH, water strategy and biodiversity: Environment ministers will meet in Luxembourg on 25 June, according to the Council agenda, with exchanges planned on nature, economy and competitiveness, the implementation of the water resilience strategy, REACH and the way forward on chemicals.
ECHA risk committee recommends reprotoxic classification for TFA: In early June, ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment adopted a recommendation to classify trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA, as toxic to reproduction.
MEP questions Commission on waste-to-energy integration in the ETS: On 3 June, Renew MEP Grégory Allione asked the Commission how the possible integration of municipal waste-to-energy units into the Emissions Trading System could be aligned with the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
