NEWSLETTER N° 231 – 01 SEPTEMBER 2025

We’re back from the summer break and hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Time to sharpen those pencils (or… recharge those laptops), because we’re going straight into the thick of it with the International Plastics Treaty, which is starting to feel like a never-ending homework assignment…

International plastic treaty: After ten days of negotiations (from 5 to 15 August), the international community left Geneva without a plastic treaty or a general consensus. The Committee agreed to resume negotiations at a future date to be announced. 

Platform on sustainable finance: The European Commission has launched a call for application which is open until 10 September. 

ESMA and EEA partnership on sustainable finance: On 18 August, the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) and the European Environment Agency (EEA) signed a a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) . 

Technical updates of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) State aid guidelines: The European Commission opened a public consultation on the technical updates of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) State aid guidelines. 

Costs of ETS and ETS2: On 17 July, MEP Jacek Ozdoba (ECR, Poland) submitted a question for written answer to the Commission on the costs of ETS and ETS2.

Reassessing the timetable and safeguards for ETS2: On 22 July, several EPP MEPs submitted a question for written answer to the Commission concerning reassessing the timetable and safeguards for ETS2, preventing price shocks and ensuring social readiness.

Carbon purchasing EU removal program: The European Commission published on 21 August a report titled ‘An EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals’ which highlights that the institution is exploring a mechanism to support demand for permanent carbon removals. 

PFAS restriction proposal: On 20 August, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published the updated proposal to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the EU’s chemicals regulation, REACH. 
On 27 August, ECHA announced that it will split the restriction proposal due to the complex nature of the work and named 8 sectors (printing, sealing, machinery, explosives, military, technical textiles, broader industrial uses, and other medical applications) that will be left out of the process for now. 

Update of PFAS restriction proposal – NGOs reactions: In response to ECHA’s publication of the update on the PFAS restriction proposal, French NGO, Générations Futures, stated that they feared a ‘drop in ambition’, while Chemsec called the decision to split the proposal ‘a disaster’, highlighting that this restriction proposal should be a ‘priority’.

Classification of titanium dioxide as carcinogen: On 1 August, the Court of Justice of the EU confirmed the annulment of the classification of titanium dioxide as a carcinogen. 

Fertilising Products Regulation: The EU Commission published a call for evidence for evaluation of the Fertilising Products Regulation. 

Nitrous oxide for recreational use: On 11 June, MEP Nadine Morano (EPP) submitted a question for written answer to the Commission concerning nitrous oxide for recreational use. On 11 August, Mr Brunner on behalf of the European Commission, answered.

Legislative initiative on CO2 transportation infrastructure and markets: The European Commission published on 31 July, a public consultation on CO2 transportation infrastructure and markets. 

Heating and Cooling Strategy: On 28 August, the European Commission opened a public consultation on the Heating and Cooling Strategy.

Refashion financial support: The increase in the financial support granted to the French PRO Refashion, responsible for textiles, shoes and household linen has been published in the Official Journal of France. The increase aims at supporting acute collection and sorting difficulties.

Shein fined by Italian competition authority: On 4 August, the Italian competition authority published a press released announcing that Infinite Styles Services Co. Ltd, the company responsible for managing Shein’s product trading websites in Europe, had been fined 1 million euros for misleading and omissive green claims in the promotion and sale of Shein-branded clothing products.

State aid for companies in difficulty – revision of the Rescue & Restructuring guidelines: The European Commission has published a public consultation on the revision of the Rescue & Restructuring guidelines. 

Danish Presidency – Informal meeting of ministers: The agenda for the 4-5 September informal meeting of ministers has been published.