Answer given by Mr Hahn on behalf of the European Commission
18.5.2020
The plastic own resource proposed by the Commission on 2 May 2018 is not a tax, but a contribution to the EU budget designed to incentivise Member States to reduce pollution from plastics and increase its recycling. If adopted, Member States will remain primarily responsible for the choice of the most appropriate measures to reduce plastics pollution in their territory in line with EC law.
The own resource contribution will be calculated based on the quantity of plastic packaging waste that is not recycled in each Member State. This includes the plastic films used for packaging purposes that is not recycled.
The own resource is one of the instruments of the plastic strategy. It will contribute to achieving the objective of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD)[1]. The latter provides that Member States achieve a 50% recycling rate for plastics by 2025 and a 55% recycling rate in 2030. The Commission is furthermore working on other measures to support the recycling of plastic packaging waste in the Member States.
This includes, inter alia, financial support to various projects in the area of circular economy or waste management, and the ongoing revision of the essential requirements for packaging[2], which will aim to contribute to the objective that, by 2030, all packaging is to be reusable or easily recyclable in an economically viable manner.
In line with the universality principle of the EU budget, own resources are not earmarked for any specific purpose.