The environment ministers of the EU27 will meet in the ‘Environment’ Council on Tuesday 17 December. Their discussions will include how to prevent the loss of plastic pellets, regulating end-of-life vehicles, the 2040 climate target and the various international meetings held this autumn (COP29, COP16 on biodiversity, the global treaty on plastics, etc.).
Loss of plastic pellets. The Member States are close to reaching a compromise on a ‘general approach’ to the regulation aimed at reducing microplastic pollution. Disagreements over the inclusion of maritime transport and small and medium-sized enterprises have so far prevented them from reaching an agreement (see EUROPE 13543/7). A compromise could be reached around a three-year period granted to maritime transport before the legislation is implemented (which would only apply two years after its entry into force).
The Member States are trying to strike a balance between the size of companies and the volume of plastic pellets they handle, so that small companies handling large quantities are not excluded from the regulation.
The question of the scope of the legislation also arose: should obligations be imposed on third countries or only on EU countries? The Hungarian Presidency of the EU Council supports the first option. A revision clause could allow European regulations to be brought into line with those of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in the event of subsequent agreement at this level, as several countries have requested.
End-of-life vehicles. The Hungarian Presidency of the Council recently presented a first new version of the Commission’s proposal to the Member States and placed this item on the agenda for the Environment Council on 17 December, having identified a number of issues that would require further guidance. Two issues stand out: the scope of the legislation (what types of vehicles should be covered) and the level of environmental protection.
Proposed in July 2023, the regulation (see EUROPE 13222/16) aims to strengthen the circularity of the automotive sector through measures relating to the design and production of vehicles and the treatment of end-of-life vehicles. The Commission has proposed that at least 25% of the plastic used to build a new vehicle should come from recycling, including 25% from end-of-life vehicles. Many Member States may be reticent or cautious, according to a European source. The forthcoming Polish Presidency of the EU Council is aiming for a General Approach by June 2025. Parliament would not vote on this text in plenary until September. There would therefore be no inter-institutional negotiations before the end of 2025.
2040 climate targets. The Hungarian Presidency also included the 2040 climate target on the Council’s agenda, believing that it was time for ministers to exchange views on the future legislative proposal that the new European Commission will present in 2025. The aim of this proposal is to incorporate a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 into European climate law.
Since the publication of the communication on the 2040 target during the previous legislature, in February 2024 (see EUROPE 13433/6), the environment ministers have held two meetings on the subject (see EUROPE 13433/6).
This new debate will aim to present the political positions of each Member State after a long period of transition, which preceded the establishment of the new Commission.
According to a diplomatic source, between 7 and 8 countries openly support the 90% reduction target. Some might call on the Commission to go beyond an independent proposal and present a complete regulatory framework. Others may request for the focus to remain on a single proposal so as not to waste time.
Countries such as Sweden should also call for priority to be given to an energy-neutral approach and ask not to be dependent on the LULUCF (‘Land-Use, Land Use Change and Forestry’) sector targets, covering carbon emissions and sequestration by forest or agricultural ecosystems.
The Hungarian Presidency expects the 2040 target to be at the top of the European Council’s political agenda. The ministers will also present their priorities for the post-2030 climate legislative framework and the elements that each Member State wishes to include in this framework.
Reports on international meetings. The Member States will also be looking back at the lacklustre results achieved this autumn at COP29 in Baku, COP16 on biodiversity in Cali, the International Treaty against Plastic Pollution in Busan and COP16 on desertification in Riyadh. (Original version in French by Florent Servia and Pauline Denys)