European environment ministers are meeting in Luxembourg on Thursday 25 June, notably to take stock of the revision of the text on CO2 emissions from cars and vans (see EUROPE 13889/19).
On climate, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council will brief ministers on action aimed at strengthening the EU’s negotiating position in international climate meetings, ahead of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), which will be held from 9 to 20 November in Antalya, Türkiye. The Netherlands will present the results of the first conference on the gradual phase-out of fossil fuels, held in April in Santa Marta, Colombia.
Over lunch, ministers will hold an informal discussion on progress made and challenges linked to climate resilience in Europe. This will feed into preparation of the integrated framework on climate resilience, which the European Commission is due to adopt by the end of the year.
Environment. Ministers will debate the future of the regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemical substances (REACH).
The European Commission has repeatedly confirmed that this revision will probably not be presented. It intends to prioritise simplification and adaptation of the REACH Regulation by working with Member State experts on secondary legislation and by strengthening checks, particularly regarding imports from third countries. Discussions will focus on how to reduce breaches of the rules, particularly for imported substances and online sales (see note: https://aeur.eu/f/miv ).
In a document (https://aeur.eu/f/mj8 ), France, Austria, Denmark, Luxembourg and the Netherlands take note of the Commission’s decision not to pursue a revision of the REACH Regulation. The five countries consider that the conditions are no longer in place for carrying out this reform. They nevertheless call for action on two priorities: strengthening checks and adapting the Regulation to technical and legislative developments. The signatory States are concerned in particular by the increase in imports of non-compliant products from third countries, especially via online sales platforms. They advocate stronger customs checks, better cooperation between national authorities, greater accountability for digital platforms and the possible creation of a specific legislative act devoted to the enforcement of REACH.
The five countries call for a targeted update of the Regulation to incorporate the new hazard classes defined by European legislation on the classification of chemical substances (CLP), to promote alternative methods to animal testing and to simplify certain procedures for businesses and authorities.
The options put forward include the digitalisation and harmonisation of safety data sheets, simplified procedures for certain authorisations and better account taken of the circular economy.
In their view, a debate on a thorough revision of REACH will have to be relaunched as soon as the competitiveness of the chemical industry has been sufficiently strengthened.
In addition, ministers will discuss the risks posed by biodiversity loss to businesses, competitiveness and the economy.
They will discuss the resilience strategy in the field of water (https://aeur.eu/f/mit ).
Miscellaneous items. The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Italy, Latvia, Romania and Slovenia will ask the Commission to clarify implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, applicable from 12 August. Many obligations remain insufficiently defined regarding packaging labelling and PFAS testing, according to the note (https://aeur.eu/f/mif ).
Spain will present its assessment on the results of 34 years of implementation of the LIFE Programme, the EU financial instrument dedicated to the environment, nature protection, climate action and the energy transition (https://aeur.eu/f/mix ).
Belgium will inform ministers about a position of the Benelux countries on the upcoming Circular Economy Act (https://aeur.eu/f/mj3 ).
Germany, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Slovenia will call for a coordinated EU approach to tackle ultra-fast fashion (https://aeur.eu/f/mj4 ).
France will inform ministers of the state of international negotiations on the global treaty against plastic pollution. That country will also raise the issue of coordination between Member States in the fight against invasive alien species and will argue for greater consistency between the provisions applicable to the energy sector and the legislative package on the environment.
The Commission will provide information on the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS COP15), held at the end of March in Campo Grande (Brazil).
Croatia will raise the issue of water management in the Mediterranean (https://aeur.eu/f/mig ). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur, with Nadège Delépine and Juliette Verdes)