NEWSLETTER N° 214 – 14 APRIL 2025

Back from snowy Sofia and Bucharest, straight into the Brussels buzz! And the FEAD team’s suitcases weren’t the only things packed. From a provisional deal between the Council and Parliament on Soil Monitoring Law and plastic pellet losses, to the Parliament adopting its own-initiative report on the Water Framework Directive, EU institutions’ agendas were full with policy work.

REACH revision: Several consumer product brands are calling for an ambitious revision of REACH in a letter to the Commission, dated 31 March, stating that ‘to be competitive, we need REACH to reward the safest substances and products’. 

Soil Monitoring Law: On 10 April, the Council reached a provisional deal with the European Parliament on a directive establishing a framework for soil monitoring to improve resilience and manage the risks of contaminated sites. 

Plastic pellets losses: On 8 April, the Council and the European Parliament provisionally agreed on a regulation on preventing the loss of plastic pellets into the environment. 

Water Framework Directive: On 8 April, MEPs from the Environment committee adopted their own-initiative report on water resilience. 

Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): On 8 April, MEPs from the ENVI Committee adopted their contribution to the own-initiative report of Parliament on the next MFF. This contribution, prepared under the leadership of Michalis Hadjipantela (EPP, Cyprus), consists of forty amendments. 
On 8 April, the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer protection also adopted its opinion on a revamped long-term budget for the Union. 

EU Emissions Trading System (ETS): On 4 April, the European Commission published a news article announcing that EU Emissions Trading System has reduced emissions in the sectors covered by 50% since 2005. 

Chemical recycling – German coalition agreement: In Germany, the CDU/CSU and the SPD achieved on 9 April, a coalition agreement that states their intention to include chemical recycling in the waste hierarchy. 

PFAS – Scientific Committee on Health, Environmental and Emerging Risks (SCHEER) opinions: On 7 April, SCHEER published a scientific opinion on ‘Draft Environmental Quality Standards for PFAS total under the Water Framework Directive’. 

Plastic recycling – France: Between 11 March and 1 April, France consulted on the proposal for legislation on the applicable modulations to the financial contributions of producers incorporating recycled plastics. 

Digital product passport (DPP): On 8 April, the European Commission launched a call for evidence on the DPP. The consultation will be open until 1 July.

State aid scoreboard: On 8 April, the European Commission published a ‘State aid scoreboard’. 

ESRS Set 1 Revision – EFRAG: On 8 April, EFRAG announced that it is seeking stakeholder feedback on the revision and simplification of ESRS Set 1 following the European Commission’s mandate and the omnibus proposals. The deadline for the public call is 6 May. 

FEAD News: FEAD co-hosted a series of events with our Bulgarian member, BRRA on 7 and 8 April. This included our General Assembly where Aarnout Ecker, representing DENUO, was elected as FEAD’s new Board Member. Read our joint press release to find out more!
On 09-10 April, FEAD President and FEAD Senior Legal and Policy Officer, Claudia Mensi and Aizea Astor-Hoschen presented at ‘The Environment and the Challenges of Waste Management and Sanitation / Sustainable Solutions for Waste Management’ conference by ARSMD in Romania.