26/06/2023 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 27 June, negotiators from the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament will attempt to reach agreement on the revision of the directive on occupational exposure to asbestos (see EUROPE 13202/31, 13195/21). On the eve of this third trilogue negotiating session, opinions were divided on the chances of a favourable outcome. Some sources felt that an agreement could be reached, as hoped for by the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council, while others pointed out that a further meeting may be necessary in July under the Spanish Presidency, with the rapporteur Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew Europe, French) having indicated that she would not be attending the trilogue. Some progress has been made recently, for example on the notion of sporadic exposure to asbestos. Other points in the legislative revision remain open, such as the exposure value - which the European Parliament has lowered - the duration of the transition and the method for detecting asbestos fibres. (SP)