27/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – A step was taken in Brussels on Tuesday 27 February towards simplifying the reporting rules imposed on the member states by EU environmental law. The European Parliament’s environment committee voted by an overwhelming majority (52 to 1) to pass the provisional inter-institutional agreement reached on 22 November 2017 on a draft decision reducing, simplifying and harmonising member states’ obligations. By virtue of this agreement, an end will be brought to the requirement to submit reports to the Commission on the implementation of certain EU environmental directives, with the repeal of Directive 91/692/EEC. In addition, environmental legislation dating from before 2010 will be adapted to the Lisbon Treaty’s comitology rules (see EUROPE 11911). It will now be for the whole European Parliament to put the agreement to the vote. (AN)