Negotiators from the European Parliament, the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council and the European Commission made progress in their attempt to reach an agreement on the proposed regulation aimed at tightening the rules on the shipment of waste within the EU and to non-OECD countries, at their second ‘trilogue’ (Thursday 21 September), and will meet again on 16 November in the hope of reaching a conclusion (see EUROPE 13250/6).
The total ban on the export of plastic waste proposed by Parliament is clearly the thorniest issue. The Member States want to know the implications of this and whether it complies with WTO rules. Negotiations on this point, and on the audit system for verifying the conformity of the receiving facility in the country of destination, will continue at technical level until 16 November.
On the other hand, progress has been made on procedures concerning shipments between OECD countries, in particular objections raised by the receiving Member State to a notified shipment of waste destined for recovery operations.
The negotiators also agreed on the timeline and procedures for pre-consented recovery facilities.
They also attempted to clarify the exemption for shipments of waste for laboratory analysis or experimental treatment trials, by specifying the weight of such waste. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)