NEWSLETTER N° 228 – 22 JULY 2025

With big ambitions, come big numbers… Last week the Commission dropped its proposal for the next seven years of EU spending, a casual €2 trillion. Of that, around €700 billion (35%) is earmarked for climate and environmental objectives.

Multi-annual Financial Framework: On 16 July, the European Commission presented its proposal for the 2028-2034 Multi-annual Financial Framework. 

Batteries and waste batteries: The Parliament adopted on 10 July the Commission’s proposal to postpone the due diligence policies on battery without amendment. 

Waste batteries: The European Commission opened on 14 July a public consultation on the Implementing Act setting the format to be used by national authorities to report to the Commission on the quantity of batteries supplied and collected within their territory, by category and chemistry, as well as the recycling efficiency and material recovery rates. 

Corporate Sustainability Reporting and due Diligence requirements (CSRD & CS3D) – Ombudswoman review: As the next step in her inquiry into how the European Commission prepared a legislative package to simplify EU sustainability rules for businesses, Ombudswoman Anjinho has asked for detailed explanations by the 15 September on why a series of procedural steps – foreseen under internal rules – were not carried out. 

Linking EU and UK Emissions Trading Systems – Commission proposal: On 16 July, the European Commission published a recommendation for a Council Decision and its annex to link the EU and UK ETS. 
On 14 July, the European Parliament published a briefing on linking the EU’s and the UK’s emissions trading system. 

Taxonomy: On 9 July, the Commission launched a call for applications for members for the third term of the mandate of the Platform on Sustainable Finance. 

Green Public Procurement: In November 2024, a study by the CE Center was published on Green public procurement and the circular economy. 
The Irish EPA has elaborated a report, which is the fourth annual review of Ireland’s public-sector sustainable purchasing. 
France has published the ‘Eco-responsible purchasing tool sheets’ to provide practical guides for public buyers to integrate sustainability into tenders. 
The City of Espoo has developed a tool to procure plastics in construction.

End-of-life Vehicles (ELVs) – Think Tank Briefing: On 11 July, the European Parliament’s Think Tank published a briefing on the ELVs. 

Simplification of registration of companies in the 28th Regime – In-Depth Analysis: On 14 July, the European Parliament’s Think Tank published an In-Depth Analysis on the simplification of registration of companies in the 28th Regime. 

July Infringements Packages: On 17 July, the European Commission published its July infringements packages. 

Denmark Presidency: On 10-11, the informal meeting of the EU’s environment and climate ministers was held in Aalborg.
On 15 July, Danish Ministers held a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Danish Presidency of the Council.

Water Pollution: NGOs such as the EEB and Seas at Risk sent a letter to COREPER I calling for a swift and ambitious actions for the update of EU water pollution standards.