Brussels, 23/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - The way has been paved for the adoption of enhanced rules to control the illegal transfer of waste in the EU better, and also to control the illegal transfer of waste by the EU to developing countries better. During its last plenary session before the European elections on 25 May, the European Parliament confirmed - by a very large majority (524 votes in favour, 12 against and 14 abstentions) - the agreement reached in trialogue to review the current regulation (Regulation 1013/2006).
According to rapporteur Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, Belgium), this is major progress for public health and the environment because until now “EU member states have been dragging their feet on implementing EU rules on waste shipments, with 25% of waste shipments contravening these rules on average. The new law will ensure that member states are obliged to make comprehensive and meaningful inspection plans to check waste shipments, with a minimum number of physical checks in line with the risk of illegal shipments. These inspection plans will also be accessible to the public, as MEPs insisted. Enforcement will be stepped up, with more powers for authorities involved in inspections to check shipments. Cooperation between member states will be significantly strengthened.”
Under the terms of the compromise, the member states will have to establish control programmes by 1 January 2017 that are based on a risk assessment. These programmes will at the very least establish the objectives and priorities of the controls, the geographical area covered and the tasks attributed to the relevant authorities. They will be assessed and updated at least once every three years. All information relating to the controls will have to be published every year by the member states.
This future regulation, for which entry into force is planned for 1 January 2016, will be subject to re-examination by 2020. It aims to amend Regulation 1013/2006 to harmonise the level of controls in all the member states and thus to facilitate implementation of this legislation which is currently easily circumvented. (AN)