Hello from Brussels. EU heads of government met up in Brussels, while farmers held protests, shouting ‘this is not the Europe we want’. The European Parliament and the Council reached an agreement in the revision of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive and the Trilogues on PPWR and NZIA are in the preparation phase.
Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (Revision): On 29 January, the Council and the Parliament reached an agreement on the revision of the urban wastewater treatment directive.
Emissions Trading System Directive (ETS): On 30 January, the European Commission published the Delegated Act and its annexes updating the free allocation rules for emission allowances.
Per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS): The NGOs ChemSec and EEB (European Environment Bureau) published on 31 January the results of blood tests conducted on several European politicians, to detect the presence of PFAS in their bodies.
Air Quality Directive (revision): In an article for the International Journal of Public Health on 1 February, several researchers criticised the negotiating mandate adopted by the EU Council.
Fluorinated gases and ozone-depleting substances: On 29 January, the Council adopted two regulations to phase down fluorinated gases (F-gases) and other substances that cause global warming and deplete the ozone layer.
Mercury: On 30 January, the Council adopted its negotiating mandate on the proposal to phase out the use of dental amalgam and prohibit the manufacturing, import and export of a number of mercury-added products, including certain lamps.
Renewables acceleration areas: According to the communication for the European Wind Power Action Plan, the Commission will publish its guidelines to help Member States choose renewable energy acceleration zones by April 2024.
Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): According to Contexte, an agreement was reached at the special meeting of 1 February in Brussels, largely devoted to the revision of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027.
Road to net zero study: According to a Road to net zero study by Institut Rousseau and published on 30 January, the EU needs to invest 10% of its current GDP (40 trillion euros) by 2050 to decarbonise its economy.
Oxo-degradable plastic court case: The Court of Justice of the European Union released a judgement according to which the European legislature did not make an error in banning the placing on the market of products made from plastic containing a pro-oxidant additive.
ECHA’s new chemicals database: ECHA launched its new chemicals database titled ‘ECHA CHEM’. You can now find information from over 100 000 REACH registrations submitted to ECHA by companies.
ECHA’s strategic goals: On 30 January, ECHA published its Strategy Statement for 2024-2028.
United Nations Environment Programme: According to a report presented to several European ministers last week and consulted by the British newspaper The Guardian on 31 January, the United Nations Environment Programme will call for the reduction of the demand for raw materials.
European Commission: Ditte Juul Jørgensen, the Director General for Energy of the European Commission (DG ENER), wants to ‘simplify’ the governance Regulation the energy union and climate action, which provides a framework for the national energy-climate plans (NECPs).
European Parliament: Esther de Lange will become the Chief of Staff of Climate Action for the European Commission reports De telegraaf.
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