European environment ministers are expected to reach a political agreement on Wednesday 26 June in Luxembourg, on the proposed legislation for the safe reuse of wastewater for irrigation purposes in agriculture.
This is the only formal decision expected from this session, which will be dominated by debates, in particular on improving the implementation of EU environmental legislation by Member States. This will be the last session chaired by Romanian ministers Gratiela Leocadia Gavrilescu and Ioan Denes, before the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU starts, which is very active on the climate front, takes up the torch.
Reuse of wastewater for agricultural irrigation. The EU Council should adopt a "general approach" on the proposal for a regulation to tackle water scarcity while ensuring the protection of the environment and public health. The amended compromise has a good chance of rallying the Member States (see EUROPE 12273/5).
Chemicals. The EU Council will discuss the priorities for an EU strategy for a sustainable chemicals policy in the broad sense (endocrine disrupters, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals) and is expected to adopt conclusions. In particular, it should insist on the EU strategy for a non-toxic environment that it would like to see finally presented by the European Commission for a better protection of the environment and of human health (see EUROPE 12074/6).
Climate. Under 'other' items, the Presidency will take stock of the work of the Commission’s Communication 'A Clean Planet for all'. It will be an opportunity for ministers to react to the European Council’s results (see EUROPE 12279/2) and to reflect on the next steps, with a view to the Osaka G20 (28-29 June) and the UN Climate Action Summit (23 September in New York), but also to continue work under the future Finnish Presidency on the adoption, early in 2020, of an EU long-term climate strategy for a carbon-neutral European economy.
The Commissioner for Climate Action, Miguel Arias Cañete, will present his communication on the draft Integrated National Energy/Climate plans calling for an increase in Member States' ambition (see EUROPE 12277/4).
Ministers will be informed of the results of the conference on the CO2 emissions aviation tax, held in the Netherlands on 20 and 21 June (see EUROPE 12270/6).
The outgoing Presidency will review the MRV Regulation on the monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions from the shipping sector in the light of progress made at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The Bulgarian delegation will raise the question of possible European measures to support clean mobility and, in particular, electromobility.
Single-use plastic. Over lunch, ministers will have an exchange of views on what could be envisaged to strengthen the recently adopted legislation restricting single-use plastic products.
Under ‘other' items, the Presidency will take stock of the LIFE programme for the environment post-2020, the financial instrument specifically dedicated to the environment and climate, pending a final "trilogue" (interinstitutional negotiations) subject to agreement on the EU's 2021-2027 budget (see EUROPE 12274/29). The Finnish Presidency will present its priorities in the field of environment and climate. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)