A debate is expected on Monday evening, 22 October, followed by a crucial vote by the European Parliament on Wednesday, 24 October, in Strasbourg, on the proposal for a European directive last May aimed at reducing the consumption of single-use plastic products in the EU to combat a major ocean scourge and stimulate innovation (see EUROPE 12028).
The objective of this text, which meets a public expectation, is unanimously supported by Parliament as to its purpose and even enjoys broad support from the plastics industry itself - less from the industry that uses this material, such as the packaging industry, or from specialised producers, such as oxo-degradable plastics.
But the modalities will divide the Chamber with, on the one hand, the majority of groups that will be able to support the very ambitious vote of the Environment Committee (90 amendments), and on the other hand the EPP, which wants to stay closer to the initial proposal.
The Environment Committee of the European Parliament has followed its rapporteur, Belgian Frédérique Ries (ALDE), by adding ultra-light plastic bags, oxo-degradable plastics and fast food packaging made of expanded polystyrene to the list of products that would be banned by 2021 (see EUROPE 12114).
The level of ambition is largely in the hands of the European right, which, through its amendments, seeks to weaken its final scope. This applies in particular to the amendment to slightly modify the definition of a single-use plastic, which is of concern to NGOs.
While the text on the table provides for the definition of a single-use plastic as a product of which the plastic is 'a' main structural component, the EPP would like to see a product of which the plastic is 'the' structural component defined as such. "This is a detail that can make a big difference, as the second definition would allow many products to be excluded from the scope of the directive," Dutch MEP Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA) told the press.
Parliament will vote on both the text and a mandate to open negotiations with the Council, which has not yet given its opinion. The Austrian Presidency is working towards a general approach in October in order to be able to start inter-institutional negotiations in November and finalise an agreement before the end of the year. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)