The Circular Economy Act and the Clean Industrial Deal are starting to take shape. However, whether they’ll grow into robust frameworks or just awkward policy teenagers remains to be seen…
Circular Economy Act (CEA): On 13 May, the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stéphane Séjourné, shared his vision with MEPs in the ENVI committee on the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
EU carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM): On 13 May, the ENVI Committee endorsed the Commission’s proposal to simplify CBAM as part of the Omnibus I simplification package. On 14 May, the ENVI Committee published a report on CBAM.
Study on linking carbon market between EU and UK: On 15 May, Frontier economics published a study on the impact of linking the carbon market between the EU and the UK, finding that it could have positive impacts for both parties.
Microplastics – Plastic pellet losses: The EU Parliament’s ENVI committee approved on 13 May the agreement on the regulation on microplastics.
Reporting obligations – Hearings: On 13 May, the Committee on Legal Affairs held a public hearing on Reporting obligations.
C3SD & CSRD: On 8 May, the European Central Bank (ECB) published a non-binding opinion on the simplification of CSRD and CS3D.
State aid rules: On 12 May, the European Commission adopted the amendments to its State aid rules to provide public access to justice in environmental matters in relation to EU State aid decisions.
2040 Climate target – Briefing: The European Parliamentary Research Service has published a briefing on the 2040 climate target.
EU Greenhouse gas emissions: According to Eurostat data published on 15 May, EU greenhouse gas emissions reached an estimated 897 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in the last three months of 2024, up 2.2% from the same period in 2023.
Strategic Dialogue on Chemistry: On 12 May, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen received 20 stakeholders (companies, trade unions, consumer representatives and NGOs) to discuss the future of the chemistry industry.
Update of the costs of not implementing EU environmental law – EU study: In April, the EU published a study estimating the costs (foregone benefits) of the lack of implementation of EU environmental law in the EU-27 Member States.
Monitoring trade in plastic waste and scrap 2025 – OECD Working paper: On 06 May, the OECD published its annual update examining the effects of international regulations on the trade in plastic waste and scrap.
LIFE Programme calls: On 28 April, the EU LIFE Programme launched its 2025 call for proposals.
Conferences of the Parties (COPs): On 9 May, after two weeks of negotiations (28 April to 9 May), the 2025 meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions concluded at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG).
Dutch Green Growth Package: On 25 April, the Dutch government presented its Green Growth Package. In this package, the previously announced 567 million euros ‘circular plastic tax’ has disappeared, but only in name. In May, reality, as our Dutch member, DWMA, highlights in a letter to the its government, the cost of the tax has shifted directly to the waste sector with higher waste disposal and operational costs. Read their letter here.
EPPA – new President: On 6 May, the European Alliance of Paper Packaging (EPPA) announced that Annick Carpentier will be taking over as its President.
Subscribe to FEAD via Email
If you want to follow our work more closely, please make sure to subscribe to our news & events mailing list!
