Big developments in the EU this week! The official timeline for the Commissioners-designate is finally out, and the race is on to meet the European Parliament’s high expectations. Meanwhile, there’s a whirlwind of action on industrial emissions, climate targets, CO2, energy, critical raw materials, and more. Dive into the text to get the full scoop!
| Hearings for Commissioners-designate: The European Parliament published the official programme for the confirmation hearings of the Commissioners-designate. Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD): On 8 October, the European Parliament approved the ‘corrigenda’ to the UWWTD (ENVI 2022/0345(COD). The Directive must now be validated by the Council of the EU before it can be published in the Official Journal of the EU and enter into force. Construction Products Regulation: The corrigenda on the Construction Products Regulation has been approved by the European Parliament (IMCO 2022/0094(COD). Council approves conclusions ahead of COP29: On 8 October, the Council approved conclusions on climate finance ahead of the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November 2024 (COP 29). October infringement package: On 3 October, the European Commission launched a new infringement package. On environmental issues, the Commission calls on Portugal to ensure proper collection and treatment of urban waste water and referred the country to the Court of Justice of the EU for not having fully transposed into national law the obligations set out in the IED 2010. It also calls on France to correctly transpose the Single-Use Plastics Directive and Austria to improve its national rules on the prevention of major accidents involving dangerous substances. Emissions trading system (ETS) Directive: The Rules on carbon chemically bound to a product have been published in the EU’s Official Journal on 4 October. Prices on carbon market (ETS): The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, published on 7 October the 2024 EU Carbon Markets report. 2040 Climate targets: On 3 October, the Bruegel think tank published a policy brief on Europe’s 2040 climate target: four critical risks and how to manage them. Eurelectric report on EU electrification: Eurelectric published on 3 October its Power Barometer 2024 Zeroing in on industrial electrification, energy security and decarbonisation. Renewable Energy – International Energy Agency (IEA) report: On 9 October, the IEA published its 2024 report on the renewable energy market with an analysis and forecast to 2030. Critical Raw Materials Act (CRM): The NGO InfluenceMap issued a report analyzing EU industry advocacy on the EU Critical Raw Materials Act. G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG): On 3 October in Brazil, the environment and climate ministers of the G20 countries reached a consensus on climate and sustainability. Union database (UDB): The Commission has published a draft delegated regulation that extends the scope of the ‘Union database’, intended to enable the tracing of liquid and gaseous renewable fuels and recycled carbon fuels. FEAD news: On October 8, 2024, an international seminar “Experiences of the Polish municipal industry 1989-2024” was held in Gliwice (Poland). The seminar was organized by the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Energy of the Silesian University of Technology and was held under the honorary patronage of the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment. The main topic of the seminar was to summarize the functioning of the waste market and municipal industry in Poland since 1989. The extraordinary value of the event resulted from the fact that statements, opinions and positions were presented by both renowned scientists (university environments) and long-time practitioners. During the event, particular attention was paid to the issue of fair competition in the municipal (waste) industry. The plans to introduce a new competition policy, announced suddenly by the European Commission, were discussed. Participants expressed concern that the changes may not lead to the expansion of the free market (including waste) – but to its wide restriction. It was noted that the restrictions may be a response to the ongoing expansion of Chinese public companies on the European market and the war economy announced by EU representatives. It was discussed that the crisis situation in the EU may lead to the transfer of control over the market (including municipal) to public entrepreneurs (State-Owned Enterprises). The alarm was raised that the urgent action is necessary. It was emphasized that the way out of this situation is to form a coalition of various industries (including waste) for the introduction of the new Directive on Competition – ensuring that the EU takes the direction of economic freedom, not its restriction. The participants responded with great approval to the idea of the new Directive on Competition – expressing full support its introduction and the need to take urgent and joint action in this direction. The event was the subject of great interest from both the private and public sectors. The website of the event, along with the recording of the live broadcast, is available at the following link. An example publication in a polish national daily can be found at the following link. PIGO took part to this Seminar, available in the video from min 26:04. At FEAD, we’re gearing up for an exciting end of the year with two key events: On 31 October, we will be co-hosting a joint conference on ‘Higher energy and material security in EU countries’ in Prague. On 5 December, we’re organising a conference on Circular Economy Priorities in Brussels. |
Subscribe to FEAD via Email
If you want to follow our work more closely, please make sure to subscribe to our news & events mailing list!
