NEWSLETTER N° 226 – 07 JULY 2025

Just when you thought summer in Brussels meant siestas and spritzers, policymakers cranked up the regulatory thermostat. From climate targets hotter than July pavements (hello, -90% GHG by 2040) to ELVs, back on the legislative runway and CBAM which is eyeing your downstream goods. Plus, a new Water Strategy is about to make a splash, and Denmark’s taken the Council wheel! Dive in, stay cool, and prepare to impress at your next policy BBQ.

Clean Industrial Dialogue on Circularity: On 2 July, FEAD participated to the Clean Industrial Dialogue on Circularity, a meeting hosted by Commissioners Teresa Ribera, Stéphane Séjourné and Jessika Roswall.  

End-of-life vehicles (ELVs): The vote on the text in ENVI and IMCO Committees is foreseen for today, 7 June.

2040 Climate target: On 2 July, the European Commission proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a 2040 EU climate target of 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 

Critical Raw Materials: On 27 June, the Commission published a consultation on the list of products and waste streams that are considered as having potential to recover critical raw materials. 

Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM): On 1 July, the European Commission opened a public consultation on CBAM. It aims to extend the CBAM scope to downstream products to reduce the risk of carbon leakage.

PFAS: Le Monde reports that on 26 June, in Italy, 11 managers of a chemical plant were deemed guilty by the court for PFAS contamination of the drinking water of 350.000 inhabitants for more than forty years. 

Delays in hazardous chemical approvals: The EU Ombudsman has criticized the European Commission for taking too long to approve the use of hazardous chemicals under the REACH rules. 

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive revision: On 2 July, the Commission published a series of initiatives under the future Circular Economy Act, foreseen by the end of 2026. 

E-commerce: On 26 June, MEPs in the European Parliament’s IMCO Committee adopted an own-initiative report on ‘Product safety and regulatory compliance in e-commerce and non-EU imports’. The report is available here.

Fast fashion: On 27 June, France submitted a TRIS notification of a draft law aimed at reducing the environmental impact of the textile industry to the Commission. The law defines the industrial and commercial practices categorised as ultra-express fashion (Article 1), in line with the definitions contained in the recently adopted Waste Framework Directive. 

Exemptions to the ban on the destruction of unsold textiles: On 30 June, the European Commission has launched a public consultation (until 11 August) on exemptions to prohibiting the destruction of unsold apparel and footwear. These include unsafe or non-compliant products, Intellectual Property-infringing items, or goods that are too damaged or cannot be rebranded. Destruction is also allowed if donations fail despite efforts. 

EPR – Medef recommendations: On 23 June, the French employers’ association Medef published its ten proposals to ‘reform the EPR system in France’. It includes ensuring European coherence, entrenching the EPR in an economic purpose, fight against illegal practices, guarantee a real competition between eco-organisations and more. 

Eurobarometer on climate change: In June, the February-March 2025 Eurobarometer report on climate change was published.
 

Future of Emissions Trading in the EU – ERCST Report: On 26 June, the European Roundtable on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition published a report on the removal of carbon dioxide. 

Water Resilience Strategy: On 7 July, Commissioner Roswall will present the 2025 Water Resilience Strategy to the ENVI Committee. 

Battery materials: On 3 July 2025, ENVI Members voted on amendments to a Commission proposal delaying the application of new due diligence rules for battery materials, following the decision to apply the simplified procedure.

Denmark holding the EU Council Presidency since July 1: On 30 June, the new Presidency published the Draft agendas for Council meetings during the second semester of 2025.