NEWSLETTER N° 213 – 07 APRIL 2025

While spring brings warmth outside, inside the institutions, things are heating up too! On Tuesday, the European Parliament voted to fast-track its work on the ‘stop-the-clock’ proposal, voting in favour a couple of days later. Meanwhile, the Commission has published its work programme for the months ahead.

Environment Council: On 27 March, the Environment Council took place in Brussels, for which the main results were published. 

Strategic Projects under Critical Raw Materials: On 25 March, the European Commission published the strategic projects chosen under the Critical Raw Materials Act. Commission’s agenda: The latest version of the European Commission’s provisional agenda has been published on 31 March.

Commission work programme – briefing: On 31 March, the European Parliament’s Think Tank published a briefing on the Commission’s 2025 work programme. 

Cohesion policy mid term review: On 1 April, the European Commission presented its proposal for a Regulation as regards specific measures to address strategic challenges in the context of the mid-term review, in which they encourage Member States to redirect their regional funds towards new EU priorities, including water. 

CSRD & CS3D: On 01 April, the Parliament voted on Tuesday to fast-track its work on the stop-the-clock proposal to postpone the application of social and environmental reporting and due diligence measures. Following this vote, MEPs voted on 3 April in favour of the ‘stop the clock’ omnibus proposal on CSRD and CS3D. 

Taxonomy – EU Platform on sustainable finance report: On 1 April, the EU platform on sustainable finance published a 2.0 report titled ‘Advancing Sustainable Finance: Technical Criteria for New Activities & First Review of the Climate Delegated Act’.

Aarhus Convention: On 26 March, the Commission submitted its latest report on the application of the Aarhus Convention for consultation for one month. 

Recycling of critical raw materials: On 1 April, the European Commission launched a call for contributions open until 31 May, focusing on the challenges related to procurement, processing, recycling, the re-use of critical raw materials and opportunities for cooperation between actors in the sector. 

End-of-life vehicles – Commission fines: On 1 April, the Commission announced that it has fined 15 major car manufacturers and the European Automobiles Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) a total of around 458 million eurosfor participating in a long-lasting cartel concerning end-of-life vehicle recycling. 

Competitive bioeconomy: On 31 March, the European Commission opened a consultation on bioeconomy that will run until 23 June. 

REACH restriction of synthetic polymer microparticles: On 1 April, the Commission published an Explanatory guide on the restriction of synthetic polymer microparticles. 

One substance, one assessment: On 1 April, the European Parliament adopted the report on ‘One Substance, one assessment’ in plenary on 1 April. 

CBE JU 2025: On 3 April, the CBE JU announced that its 2025 call for projects was now open. 

FEAD News: Bernat Llorens, General Manager of Industrial Solutions of Urbaser at a global level, has been appointed president of ASEGRE, our Spanish member.