The wind of change is blowing away! From Bulgaria and Romania finally cutting the Schengen ribbon, new Commissioners finding their way around the Berlaymont and the upcoming Polish Presidency publishing their priorities, EU institutions are getting their own makeover, and just in time for the new year.
| Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: Today, 16 December, the Council formally adopted a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. The regulation will now be published in the EU’s Official Journal and will enter into force. It will be applied 18 months after the date of entry into force. Certification of Carbon Removals: Following its adoption by the Council on 19 November 2024, Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 on establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products was published in the EU Official Journal on 6 December. It will enter into force on 26 December 2024. Antwerp Dialogue on Industrial Electrification & Competitiveness: Eurelectric, WindEurope, SolarPower Europe, Cefic, Eurométaux and seven other associations have published their recommendations for the upcoming Clean industry Deal. European Environment Agency briefing on recycling: On 5 December, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a briefing on the quality of recycling. European Environment Agency report on PFAS: On 9 December, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published a report on the presence of PFAS in water levels in Europe. European Environment Agency report on air pollution: On 10 December, the European Environment Agency published a briefing on the harm to human health caused by air pollution in Europe. National Greenhouse Gas Emissions – OECD Paper: On 29 November, the OECD published a Working Paper on National Greenhouse Gas Emissions. It comes up with a methodology for a dataset on National Greenhouse Gas Emissions using official data reported to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the OECD and estimates based on unofficial datasets, such as PRIMAP, in order to track progress towards climate change mitigation goals. Microplastics: On 11 December, one week after an unsuccessful first attempt, COREPER I agreed on a proposal for a general guidance on the Regulation to prevent microplastic losses. The general approach now needs to be agreed on by ministers at the Environment Council on 17 December. REACH enforcement – ClientEarth report: In a report published on 9 December, ClientEarth presents its analysis of how ‘lenient enforcement of REACH authorisations lets companies get away scot-free’. The analysis has for basis a 2023 ECHA report that revealed that ‘40% of companies across the EU do not meet their obligations under REACH Authorisation’. Hazardous chemicals – Letter by Member States: On 11 December, seven Ministers of the Environment of Member States (Denmark, Austria, France, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden) wrote a letter to Jessika Roswall, Commissioner of the Environment and the Circular Economy, on the need to end export of hazardous chemicals that are banned in the EU in order to protect the human health and environment worldwide. Extended Producer Responsibility in the garments sector – OECD Paper: On 11 December, the OECD published a Working Paper that evaluates the potential for the extended producer responsibility (EPR) approach to help achieve public ambitions for the adoption of circular economy principles in the garments product sector. It reviews the environmental impacts of garments, the landscape of current policy and the impacts of existing EPR schemes. LIFE Programme subvention: During his hearing at the Committee on Budgetary Control on 9 December, Budget Commissioner Piotr Serafin stated that operating grants, such as the ones under the LIFE programme, given to NGOs, should not include language asking the beneficiaries to undertake specifically detailed activities directed at EU institutions, even though it is not illegal. He explained that ‘the fact that there are such prescriptive obligations in contracts to influence the European Parliament but also the Commission’s directorates-general’ is a problem to ‘eliminate’. LIFE Programme subvention – NGOs letter: In a letter to the Commission’s President published on 5 December, 31 environmental NGOs (including HEAL, CAN, T&E, Zero Waste Europe and PAN) expressed their concerns about a potential restriction of EU financial support for them. Copernicus data on global temperature: Copernicus has published 2024’s climate data which confirms that 2024 is on track to be the warmest year and the first year above the 1.5°C target set by the Paris agreement. Towards a Climate and Energy Union – European Parliament study: A 12 December study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the AFCO Committee, considers the legal space for an EU Climate and Energy Union. It assesses the major limits at the EU and national level, as well as the question if (informal) Treaty change is possible and necessary to create the space needed. Poland Presidency – Priorities, Programme & Calendar: On 10 December, Poland unveiled its priorities for its Presidency of the EU Council, from January to June 2025. Though the upcoming Presidency has put an emphasis on security, the environment is not included in its priorities. The Presidency also published its official calendar. Energy councils are scheduled for 17 March and 16 June, with an informal meeting on 12-13 May. And the Environment Councils are scheduled for 27 March and 17 June. A detailed version of its work programme was also published on 11 December. FEAD news: Though the year is not yet over, FEAD is already busing planning our events for 2025. Stay tuned for more information! These events include: Hazards Out Workshop – FEAD, ACR+ and Hazardous Waste Europe on 11.02.25 |
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