NEWSLETTER N° 186 – 16 SEPTEMBER 2024

Things are heating up across the pond with Harris slamming Trump during the United States’ Presidential debate. In Brussels however, it’s not just the weather that’s cooling down as von der Leyen has delayed the announcement of the portfolios for the Commissioners to this week.

Draghi report on the future of EU Competitiveness: On 9 September, following a press conference, Mario Draghi published his long-awaited report on the future of EU Competitiveness. The report highlights three key areas the EU needs to focus on: closing the innovation gap, bringing down high energy prices while continuing to decarbonise and shift to a circular economy and increasing security and reducing dependencies. 

Renew’s Ostend Decleration: In a 11 September declaration adopted in Ostend (Belgium), Renew states its priorities and conditions for the upcoming hearings of the Commissioners. The declaration also highlights Draghi’s report. 

NGO Heal’s reaction to Draghi report: For the health NGO Heal, ‘the concerns expressed’ by Mario Draghi on the ban of PFAS ‘are misleading’. 

EU Competitiveness briefing: On 9 September, the European Parliament published a briefing titled ‘EU Competitiveness: Issues and challenges’. The briefing aims to ‘to provide a structure to the debate and point to some of the fundamental political and economic questions EU policymakers need to address during the 2024-2029 political term’.

2040 Climate target: On 12 September, Yvon Slingenberg (from the Directorate-General for Climate Action) stated in front of the ENVI Committee that the new Commission will make a proposal to enshrine the Commission’s proposal to reduce emissions by 90% in 2040 in the EU climate law in early 2025 at the same time as the Clean Industrial Dealexpected for the first 100 days of the mandate. 

2040 Climate target – Initial Appraisal of the European Commission’s impact assessment: On 12 September, the European Parliament’s Think Tank published an initial appraisal of the European Commission’s impact assessment (IA) which accompanied the Communication from the Commission on the 2040 climate target. 

Fluorinated gases Directive: On 9 September, the European Commission published an Implementing Regulation of the Fluorinated gases Directive in the EU’s Official Journal. 

Circular Economy Resource Centre: During the World Circular Economy Forum 2024 (15-18 April 2024), the European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen,announced the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre.

Recovery and Resilience Facility – analysis: On 11 September, the European Court of Auditors published a second report on the post-Covid stimulus fund dedicated to the ‘Recovery and Resilience Facility’ (RRF); the first report was published a week before. 

Impact of EU legislation in the area of digital and green transition – study: On 10 September, the European Parliament published the summary of the study which explores the implications and costs of digital and green legislation on companies, particularly SMEs, to identify the obstacles to its implementation across the EU. 

EU Healthy Air Coalition (EUHAC) – letter to von der Leyen: On 5 September, EUHAC sent a letter to Ursula von der Leyen asking her for the ‘implementation and enforcement of the revised EU Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD)’ and the tackling of ‘the slow pace and narrow scope of mandatory decrease of pollutant emissions at national level.

College of Commissioners: The President of the Commission planned to present the composition of her college of Commissioners to the group leaders of the European Parliament on Wednesday, 11 September. However, the night before the meeting, the institution announced that it will finally take place on 17 September. 

Thierry Breton – resignation: Today, on 16 September, the French nominee for the College of Commissioner, Thierry Breton, announced his resignation on X, citing ‘questionable governance’ by Ursula von der Leyen. Politico reports that it is rumoured that Stéphane Séjourné will replace him. 

EU Commission – DG CLIMA: The Czech Jan Dusík has taken his position as Deputy Director-General Climate. Jan Dusík was the Deputy Minister of the Environment during the Czech Presidency of the Council in the second half of 2022.

FEAD News: On 11 September, FEAD’s Senior Legal and Policy Officer, Aizea Astor-Hoschen, presented FEAD’s proposals in Geneva for the Joint Meeting of the RID Committee of Experts and the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods..

At FEAD, we’re gearing up for an exciting end of the year with two key events: 

On 5 December, FEAD is organising a conference on Circular Economy Priorities in Brussels. 

On 31 October, we will be co-hosting a joint conference on ‘Higher energy and material security in EU countries’ in Prague.