Today: new rules to support a circular economy, the EU ban on greenwashing, and greener trucks and buses.

News in Brief – 16/02/2024 - English

The European Commission has announced 'right to repair' legislation, with the objective of cutting consumer costs and promoting a circular economy. 'Right to repair' legislation can refer to a variety of issues and circumstances: for example, the right to repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves.

Right to Repair - English

On 17 November 2021, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise EU rules governing shipments of waste. The proposed regulation aims at easing shipments of waste for reuse and recycling in the EU, to support the transition to a circular economy; ensuring that waste exported from the EU is managed in an environmentally sound manner in the destination countries; and stepping up enforcement to counteract illegal shipments of waste. While supporting the proposed streamlining and digitalisation of procedures, stakeholders have stressed the need for significant improvements to ensure that the new regulation fulfils its objectives, in particular as regards exports of waste.

EPRS policy podcast - Revision of the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation

The European Commission has announced the establishment of a 'right to repair', with a view of saving costs for consumers and facilitating the development of a circular economy. The right to repair may refer to different issues and situations: repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves. Rates of repair depend on the type of a product, with the cost of repair being the most important reason consumers avoid repair. Research shows that consumers favour products that are easily repaired, but their willingness to pay for such products depends on the type of product and the way information on the reparability is presented to them...

EPRS policy podcast - Right to repair

The aim of the legislative proposal for a Union certification framework for carbon removals initiative is to ensure high-quality EU certified carbon removals, through a transparent and credible governance framework. In doing so, this would open up the possibility for further investments towards carbon removal activities and increased deployment.

EPRS podcast policy - A Union certification framework for carbon removals

Open strategic autonomy ensures the capacity to cope alone if necessary but without ruling out cooperation whenever possible. It relies on foresight to identify threats and ensures resilience by anticipating the required responses. Can the resulting preparedness also prevent crises (or dissuade others from creating them) by normalising internally situations that would else become emergencies?

EPRS STOA podcast - What if open strategic autonomy could break the cycle of recurring crises?

The proposed directive on liability of defective products aims to bring the European Union's product liability rules up to speed with the digital age, circular economy business models and global value chains. Consumers would be better protected against defective products and the damages they might cause. Compensation for defective products would also extend to those manufactured outside the EU.

EPRS Policy Podcast - New product liability directive

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Therefore in December 2019 the Commission presented a communication on a European Green Deal that sets out a detailed vision to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, safeguard biodiversity, establish a circular economy and eliminate pollution, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected.

Parliament has played an important role in pushing for more ambitious EU climate legislation and declared a climate emergency on 28 November 2019.&nbsp; The European Climate Law writes&nbsp;into law the goal to become climate neutral by 2050 and attain the intermediate target of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 (compared to 1990 levels).&nbsp;After 2050 the EU will aim for negative emissions. In July&nbsp;2021 the European Commission presented its “Fit for 55 in 2030” package-the legislative tool to deliver on the targets agreed in the European Climate law.

The EP adopted the new Nature restoration law during its February plenary. The new law sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050. The EU nature restoration law, agreed with member states, will restore degraded ecosystems in all member states, help achieve the EU’s climate and biodiversity objectives and enhance food security.

To reach the overall EU targets, member states must restore at least 30% of habitats covered by the new law (from forests, grasslands and wetlands to rivers, lakes and coral beds) from a poor to a good condition by 2030, increasing to 60% by 2040, and 90% by 2050. In line with Parliament’s position, EU countries should give priority to&nbsp;Natura 2000 areas&nbsp;until 2030. Once in a good condition, EU countries shall ensure an area does not significantly deteriorate. Member states will also have to adopt national restoration plans detailing how they intend to achieve these targets.

European Green Deal

The European Union produces more than&nbsp;2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year. It is currently updating its&nbsp;legislation on waste management&nbsp;to promote a shift to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

The circular economy is a&nbsp;model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the&nbsp;life cycle of products is extended.

In March 2020, the European Commission presented the circular economy action plan,&nbsp;&nbsp;which aims to promote more sustainable product design, reduce waste and empower consumers, for example by creating aright to repair). There is a focus on resource intensive sectors, such as&nbsp;electronics and ICT,&nbsp;plastics,&nbsp;textiles&nbsp;and construction.

In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the&nbsp;new circular economy action plan&nbsp;demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and&nbsp;binding targets for materials use and consumption&nbsp;by 2030.

In March 2022, the Commission released the&nbsp;first package of measures&nbsp;to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as part of the circular economy action plan. The proposals include boosting sustainable products, empowering consumers for the green transition, reviewing construction product regulation, and creating a strategy on sustainable textiles.

In November 2022, the Commission proposed&nbsp;new EU-wide rules on packaging. It aims to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging design, with for example clear labelling to promote reuse and recycling; and calls for a transition to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Circular economy

Plastics pervade modern life. Global plastics production has been multiplied by 20 since the 1960s and is expected to double by 2036.

In May 2018, the European Commission put forward a legislative proposal seeking to address the issue of marine litter from plastics. The proposal builds on the 2015 circular economy action plan, which announced 'action to fulfil the objective of significantly reducing marine litter', and on the Strategy for plastics in a circular economy published in January 2018.

EU Strategy for Plastics - 8th parliamentary term

Unlike the traditional linear economic model based on a 'take-make-consume-throw away' pattern, a circular economy is based on reuse, repair, refurbishment and recycling, in an (almost) closed loop.

Although waste management in the European Union (EU) has improved considerably in the past decades, almost a third of municipal waste is still landfilled and less than half is recycled or composted, with wide variations between Member States. Improving waste management could deliver positive effects for the environment, climate, human health and the economy. As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Commission made four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. The proposals also strengthen provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamline definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets.

Circular economy - 8th parliamentary term

This package contains the events between 1st July 2019 and 31 December 2020. For latest events, see related links.

In its resolution on the European Green Deal, Parliament called for an ambitious new circular economy action plan aiming to reduce the total environmental and resource footprint of EU production and consumption, with resource efficiency, zero pollution and waste prevention as key priorities.

Circular economy (2019 - 2020)

Worldwide, forests are being lost at the alarming rate of 800 football fields per hour. With deforestation being a critical contributor to climate change and a leading cause of biodiversity loss, it is becoming increasingly clear that a sustainable future cannot be achieved without tackling deforestation and taking measures to protect- and sustainably manage forests.&nbsp; The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)&nbsp;estimates&nbsp;that 420 million hectares of forest — an area larger than the EU — were lost to deforestation between 1990 and 2020. It is estimated that&nbsp;EU consumption represents around 10% of global deforestation.

&nbsp;In October 2020, Parliament made use of its&nbsp;prerogative in the Treaty&nbsp;to ask the Commission to&nbsp;come forward with legislation to halt EU-driven global deforestation.

MEPs have already called for strengthening the overall climate benefits from forests and the forest-based value chain, namely CO2 absorption and carbon storage in wood-based products. Parliament also emphasises the need to increase funding for research into the substitution of fossil fuels and fossil-fuel materials. Forests and the entire forest-based value chain are fundamental to further develop of the circular bio-economy, which delivers important climate change mitigation and adaptation services.Parliament wants binding targets to protect and restore forest ecosystems, especially primary forests (those that have not been been affected by people's actions in recent times).

Forest protection

Launched in 1992, the LIFE programme is the only EU fund entirely dedicated to environmental and climate objectives. It supports the implementation of relevant EU legislation and the development of key policy priorities, by co-financing projects with European added value.

LIFE programme for 2021-2027 will become the EU's most ambitious climate and environmental programme. It would support projects in the areas of nature and biodiversity, circular economy and quality of life, clean energy transition, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The total budget allocated for LIFE is EUR 5.4 billion, of which EUR 3.5 billion will go to environmental activities and EUR 1.9 billion to climate action. The programme is part of the Green deal package proposed by the European Commission.

LIFE

This package contains the events between 1st July 2019 and 31 December 2020. For latest events, see related links.

The ‘European Green Deal’ proposed by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EC, sets several goals for climate and nature in Europe and beyond: 

<ul>
	<li>a European climate law to enact the 2050 target;</li>
	<li>an extension of the emissions trading system; </li>
	<li>a European carbon border tax; more ambitious targets and reduce emissions by at least 50% by 2030; </li>
	<li>a sustainable Europe investment plan to boost private investments; </li>
	<li>a just transition fund so no one is left behind; a biodiversity strategy for 2030</li>
	<li>and a new circular economy action plan.</li>
</ul>

 

See also our media packages on <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/climate-change_13104_pk">climate change,</a> <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/green-house-emissions-trading-systems_2703_pk">green house emissions trading systems</a>, or <a href="https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/circular-economy_4603_pk">cicular economy</a>.

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European Green Deal (2019-2020)

As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Parliament worked on four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. The proposals also strengthen provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamline definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets.

#EUelections2019 - Circular economy

Press conference on the Final vote on the right to repair

EP Plenary session - Common rules promoting the repair of goods

With fast fashion, the quantity of clothes produced and thrown away has boomed. Find out more about the environmental impact and what the EU is doing about it.

Fast fashion is the constant provision of new styles at very low prices.

To tackle the impact on the environment, the EU wants to reduce textile waste and increase the life cycle and recycling of textiles. This is part of the plan to achieve a circular economy by 2050.

The impact of textile production and waste on the environment

Every year 2.2 billion tonnes of waste are generated in the EU. More than a quarter of it (27%) is municipal waste: everyday waste collected and treated by municipalities, which is mainly generated by households. Data shows that the amount of waste and the way it is managed varies a lot across EU countries, but there has been a shift to more recycling and less landfilling.

To reduce waste and its impact on the environment, the EU has adopted ambitious targets on recycling and landfill and is working on packaging waste. The goal is to promote the shift towards a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

Waste management in the EU: infographic with facts and figures

Resumption of the session 

Opening of the sitting

Approval of the minutes of the previous sittings : see Minutes

Composition of Parliament : see Minutes

Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Council&#39;s first reading (Rule 72): see Minutes

Delegated acts and implementing measures (Rule 111(6) and Rule 112(4)(d)): see Minutes

Signing of acts adopted in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (Rule 79): see Minutes

Order of business : see Minutes

European Central Bank – annual report 2020 (debate)

Voting session

New Circular Economy Action Plan: see Minutes (debate)

Composition of committees: see Minutes

Implementation of the Anti-Trafficking Directive (debate)

European Skills Agenda for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience (debate)

Reducing inequalities with a special focus on in-work poverty (debate)

The impact of Covid-19 on youth and on sport

Implementation of Article 43 of the Asylum Procedures Directive

Public access to documents for the years 2016-2018 (short presentation)

Agenda for next sitting: see Minutes

Plenary session

A European Strategy for Plastics in a circular economy - Options to address the interface between chemical, product and waste legislation

Cohesion policy and the circular economy (debate)

Decision adopted on the Circular Economy package (debate)

Resource efficiency: moving towards a circular economy (debate)

EP Plenary session - Empowering consumers for the green transition

Press conference on the gas and hydrogen markets directive

Press conference on The right to repair

EP Plenary session - Union certification framework for carbon removals

EP Plenary session - Batteries and waste batteries

IMCO Committee - EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles

ENVI Committee - Exchange of views with Janez Potocnik, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel, including on aspects related to EU’s work on the circular economy

EP Plenary session - Right to repair

ENVI Committee - Exchange of views with Mr Virginijus SINKEVICIUS, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, on the Circular Economy Package, in particular the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation

EP Plenary session - The need for an ambitious EU Strategy for sustainable textiles

Batteries and waste batteries regulation, laying down a holistic set of rules to govern the entire product life cycle

Stockshot on Circular economy: sustainable textile strategy - Bag factory using technical fabrics from industry

ENVI Committee - Vote on the regulation concerning batteries and waste batteries

EP Plenary session - Implementation of the Construction Products Regulation

Following the final vote on the new rules promoting the right to repair for consumers, rapporteur René Repasi briefs media on its scope and answer questions. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Conference by René REPASI (S&D, DE), rapporteur on Right to Repair

European Parliament approved new rules promoting the repair of goods. This footage shows MEPs debating and voting on the provisional agreement reached with the Member States on the so-called “right to repair” for consumers. Consumers receive a new right to claim repair for products that are technically repairable under EU law (e.g. washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and smartphones). To encourage repair and to revitalise the EU repair market, the rules also put in place a European online platform to find local repair shops or sellers of refurbished goods. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: extracts from the debate (22.04) and from the vote

How can the EU reform its economic model to benefit consumers and the planet? Aimilios in Belgium and Laetitia in France have (part of) the answer!

Aimilios and his Watt4Ever team recondition old electric car batteries to make new energy storage systems, effectively giving batteries a second life and saving precious raw materials and energy while avoiding additional pollution.

Laetitia and “Halte à l'Obsolescence Programmée”, or HOP (“Stop Planned Obsolescence”), campaign for everyday products to last longer and be more repairable.

The European Parliament backs EU-wide measures to promote a circular economy, a right to repair and better recycling of raw materials, to avoid polluting the planet and to benefit your wallet.

EU programmes such as Horizon Europe plus rural and regional development funds make sure such projects get the resources they need.

Making the economy work for you and the planet: meet Aimilios and Laetitia - 9:16 EE24

Making the economy work for you and the planet: meet Aimilios and Laetitia - EE24

René REPASI (S&D, DE), rapporteur, holds a press conference on EU rules to make repairs easier and more convenient. Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur on EU rules to make repairs easier and more convenient

Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. MEPs debate on draft legislation to make it easier for consumers to repair defective goods even after the expiration of the guarantee. The proposal complements other ongoing EU initiatives that pursue the European Green Deal objective of sustainable consumption and the circular economy. Closing statements by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: closing statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner on Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. MEPs debate on draft legislation to make it easier for consumers to repair defective goods even after the expiration of the guarantee. The proposal complements other ongoing EU initiatives that pursue the European Green Deal objective of sustainable consumption and the circular economy.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: MEPs debate

Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. MEPs debate on draft legislation to make it easier for consumers to repair defective goods even after the expiration of the guarantee. The proposal complements other ongoing EU initiatives that pursue the European Green Deal objective of sustainable consumption and the circular economy. Opening statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Sunčana GLAVAK (EPP, HR), and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: opening statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Sunčana GLAVAK (EPP, HR), and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: extracts from the debate (Monday 20/11), votes and statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Therefore in December 2019 the Commission presented a communication on a European Green Deal that sets out a detailed vision to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, safeguard biodiversity, establish a circular economy and eliminate pollution, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected. This infoclip shows factories and emission of polluting gases, consequences of drought, fires and floods, wind farms and natural ecosystems.

Infoclip: Fight against climate change and Green deal

Phones, computers, electric cars… they all use batteries. And demand is increasing rapidly.    
 
The European Parliament has approved new rules to reduce the impact on the environment, ensuring minimum standards for recycling batteries and their component materials.

Circular economy: getting more life from batteries

MEPs debate on the following topics during the plenary session in Strasbourg: Batteries and waste batteries - Achille VARIATI (S&D,IT); Artificial Intelligence Act - Brando BENIFEI (S&D, IT) and by Dragoş TUDORACHE (Renew, RO).

Voting session: Batteries and waste batteries; Artificial Intelligence Act

Parliament gives its final green light to updated rules for the design, production and waste management of all types of batteries sold in the EU. The deal reached with the Council in December 2022 aims to build a stronger and more competitive industrial sector, which is crucial for the EU’s energy transition and for strategic autonomy. It introduces stronger requirements to make batteries more sustainable, more durable and better-performing, as well as including more stringent targets for waste collection, recycling efficiency and material recovery. Closing statements by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and by Achille VARIATI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur.

Batteries and waste batteries: closing statements by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment and by Achille VARIATI (S&D, IT) , Rapporteur

The EU Parliament gives its final green light to updated rules for the design, production and waste management of all types of batteries sold in the EU. The deal reached with the Council in December 2022 aims to build a stronger and more competitive industrial sector, which is crucial for the EU’s energy transition and for strategic autonomy. It introduces stronger requirements to make batteries more sustainable, more durable and better-performing, as well as including more stringent targets for waste collection, recycling efficiency and material recovery.

Batteries and waste batteries: MEPs debate

The EU Parliament gives its final green light to updated rules for the design, production and waste management of all types of batteries sold in the EU. The deal reached with the Council in December 2022 aims to build a stronger and more competitive industrial sector, which is crucial for the EU’s energy transition and for strategic autonomy. It introduces stronger requirements to make batteries more sustainable, more durable and better-performing, as well as including more stringent targets for waste collection, recycling efficiency and material recovery. Opening statements by Achille VARIATI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur, Patrizia TOIA (S&D, IT), ITRE Committee; Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), IMCO Committee; Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and by Erik BERGKVIST (S&D, SE), TRAN Committee. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery.

Batteries and waste batteries: opening statement by Achille VARIATI (S&D, IT), Rapporteur, Patrizia TOIA (S&D, IT), Antonius MANDERS (EPP, NL), Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment and by Erik BERGKVIST (S&D, SE)

MEPs vote on the following topics: European Parliament/European Central Bank (ECB) Interinstitutional Agreement: structuring the practices for interaction in the area of central banking, Salvatore DE MEO (EPP, IT); Geographical Indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, Paolo DE CASTRO (S&D, IT); Arrangement with the Republic of Iceland on the modalities of its participation in the European Asylum Support Office, Jeroen LENAERS (EPP, NL); EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, Delara BURKHARDT (S&D, DE); Sexual harassment in the EU and MeToo evaluation, Michal ŠIMEČKA (Renew Europe, SK); Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation, Sandra KALNIETE (EPP, LV).

Voting session: EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, Foreign interference in all democratic processes in the European Union, including disinformation

MEPs from the ENVI (Environment, Public Health and Food Safety) Committee vote on the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. The European Parliament calls for binding EU legislation to guarantee that fashion is not produced at the cost of environmental destruction and human lives. Requirements should be set that prevent unsold clothes from being shredded or sent to landfill just because they are no longer in fashion or the warehouse is full. Only textiles that meet a minimum standard of sustainability requirements should be imported into the EU or produced within the EU. Extracts from the vote in committee and statement by Delara BURKHARDT (S&D, DE), Rapporteur.

Vote on EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles: extracts from the vote and statement by Delara BURKHARDT (S&D, DE), Rapporteur

On 27 April, ENVI Members vote on the own-initiative report on the Sustainable Textiles Strategy. The EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles is an integral part of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. It sets out to create a coherent framework to facilitate the transition of the textiles industry to a more sustainable and climate-neutral model by 2030. Specific ambitions include ensuring that textile products placed on the EU market are durable, recyclable and made largely of recycled fibres, free of hazardous substances and produced in full respect of human and workers.

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