Following a debate on Monday, MEPs will adopt on Tuesday their position on new rules to verify and pre-approve green marketing claims to protect consumers from misleading ads. Andrus ANSIP (Renew, EE) and Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), co-rapporteurs hold a press conference on this topic.

Strasbourg

press conference

ANSIP, Andrus (Renew, EE)

consumers' protection (T)

European Green Deal (T)

ENGERER, Cyrus (S&D, MT)

EP Press conference by Andrus ANSIP (Renew, EE) and Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), co-rapporteurs on Green Claims Directive

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/75311186/1709889694759_I254350Chapters%5BSD-EN%5D.srt

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokeperson, Thank you very much. Good afternoon everybody. We are, here today. Just finished the voting session in plenary. Parliament has just adopted the first reading position on the Green Claims Directive, which aims to ensure that consumers are better informed and protected from misleading environmental claims.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokeperson, The file has been jointly followed by the Committee for Internal Market and Consumer Protection and the Committee for the environment, and the two rapporteurs here, Mr.. Ansip and Mr. Engerer, here to brief you on the details of parliament's position and, answer your questions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokeperson, Just a small, note for logistics. We have interpretation, from an into English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Estonian. And we will be able to take questions, as I said, both from the room and from online ones. Our co-rapporteurs will do the introductory statements. So we will start with Mr. Ansip, please.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, Thank you. Good afternoon. And all those who are also following us live online. Today is a remarkable day. It is a day from a situation where our European markets were under attack by the proliferation of misleading and deceptive green claims, we have finally managed to change the trajectory and take on the greenwashing fight on those who have for far too long deceived European consumers.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, When one enters a supermarket anywhere in the European Union, you would find many claims such as eco friendly labels, biodegradable labels, recycled, recyclable and the list goes on and on. They're all very important claims. But guess what? More than half of these are false. The European Commission has confirmed it, and we have acted in the European Parliament without losing any time.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, But what does this directive ultimately mean? We are protecting consumers. We are protecting citizens. We are protecting honest business. We are protecting the environment. And we are also encouraging more companies to do the same voluntarily. We are ensuring that all green claims that are put on the market are verified and are certified. We cannot have a situation where claims continue to be unverified. We have seen the current situation and it is definitely a no go. So we have acted in the European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, The directive also includes several elements, such as on carbon offsetting claims, where we have built on what has already been agreed, and the carbon removal certification framework. I was shocked to see the investigation from the Guardian in the United Kingdom that found that 93% of offsetting claims done by big multinationals to be false.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, To this effect, we have sought to limit carbon offsetting claims only to residual emissions. We need to move away from the mentality of clapping because a company achieved an emissions reduction target, not by reducing emissions, but by investing in a project on the other side of the world that would lead to some carbon capture. We need to give the right tools and the right incentives to all businesses to reduce emissions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, Recently, I was also concerned that a study conducted by the European Environmental Agency found that 8% of deaths globally are attributed to hazardous chemicals. This is why, as a co-rapporteur, I was vocal on this throughout the negotiations where we managed to bring a ban on traders who wants to put green claims on the market on products which contain a concentration of some of the most hazardous and toxic substances on the market. We can never be permitted products to claim that it is green, while at the same time it is highly toxic and carcinogenic.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, We have also sought to include a reasonable package of penalties that will serve as a deterrent for those companies who try to engage in greenwashing. We have heard of endless cases of companies being big, companies being ordered to remove their claims from the market, some of them two or even three times. This cannot stand that their message is clear. If you greenwash consumers, you need to pay penalties.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, So in short, I would say that this directive is a victory. It is a victory for consumers who have been repeatedly lied to by deceptive businesses. It is a victory for our environment, which has been repeatedly exploited by a group of multinational companies under the pretense of being green, and a victory for those genuine businesses who have done strong environmental efforts against all odds during the past years.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, In the end, I would like to publicly thank the Commission for the proposal. My co-rapporteur, all the shadow rapporteurs as well as the staff in our offices and of our different political groups and Parliament. But before I end, since this is the first time I am officially holding a meeting in this room and probably the last time in this mandate, I cannot not pay homage to Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was assassinated for her investigative work she was doing. This room will remain a stark reminder for justice, perseverance and courage. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokeperson, Thank you very much, Mr. Johnson. Please.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Andrus ANSIP (Renew, EE), Co-rapporteur, Thank you, Cyrus, for your good words. I would like also to thank, my good co-rapporteurs. As Cyrus said, the current situation, with green claims in Europe is not satisfactory. So every second claim is, somehow misleading, vague or, unfounded. So we know that, misleading characterizing is prohibited in the European Union already. But that, on the other hand, every second claim is misleading. So there is a need for intrervention, legal intervention.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Andrus ANSIP (Renew, EE), Co-rapporteur, Our consumers. They are confused. They don't know. Are these kind of green claims about the entire product, or just about some kind of aspects of this product. Then. Exactly the same green claim can have different meanings in different member states. There is a question about translation of those who are claims, but there is clear needs to harmonize those rules about green claims across the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Andrus ANSIP (Renew, EE), Co-rapporteur, Then we cannot talk about a level playing field when every second claim is misleading. So, our companies are ready to pay to get more level playing field, but they are not ready to pay more than they are expecting to gain. Once again, this is a message that we have to intervene. It's the in the interest of all our companies also. So this green claims directive Parliament supported today is, a good solution, reasonable solution. And, it will bring, more clarity to our consumers and, it will not, create, an proportional, administrative burden, to our companies. So thank you very much for being here. We're ready to take your questions.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Spokeperson, Please we will start in the room. Please introduce yourself and the media.

Q&A, Question on what this law will bring in addition to the previous one.

SOUNDBITE (Original), Andrus ANSIP (Renew, EE), Co-rapporteur, -

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, -

Q&A, Question in Estonian regarding penalties

Q&A, Question on carbon offsetting schemes

SOUNDBITE (Original), Cyrus ENGERER (S&D, MT), Co-rapporteur, - -