Commission Work Programme and the circular economy

19.12.2014

Question for written answer E-011117-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL)

The European Commission Work Programme for 2015, announced this week in Strasbourg, provides for the axing of a series of legislative processes of great importance to Europe, which could mean a substantial cutback in the level of environmental protection.

The circular economy plan represents one of the legislative packages that the Commission is intending to drop. It relates to the revision of various Directives on packaging waste, electric and electronic waste and scrap vehicles. According to Commission studies, it is thought that this plan could lead to the creation of 180,000 new jobs across Europe. The same studies point to a reduction of 443 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by means of diverting waste from landfill and recycling materials that would otherwise be extracted and processed from natural resources. It also adds that improved use of resources could represent potential overall savings of EUR 630 billion per year for European industry.

What is the Commission's assessment of these elements, and is it prepared to reconsider the inclusion of this legislative package?