Keres

During its October I plenary session, the European Parliament is expected to adopt its position on a European Commission proposal to revise a core piece of EU chemicals legislation, which requires proper classification, labelling and packaging of hazardous substances and mixtures to protect human health and the environment.

Treating urban wastewater to remove harmful components is essential to protect human health as well as rivers, lakes and seas. During the October I plenary session, the European Parliament is expected to adopt its position on a European Commission proposal that seeks to reinforce existing rules, adopted more than 30 years ago, and to bring them into line with the EU's climate neutrality, circularity and zero pollution ambitions.

Under the European Green Deal, the European Commission tabled a proposal for a recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive in October 2022. Dating back to 1991, and instrumental to the achievement of European Union water policy objectives, the directive needs to be updated and adapted to new challenges and realities. The recast proposal would introduce new obligations to better control pollution due to rainwater, impose stricter standards for nutrient removal and require advanced treatment ...

On 30 March 2023, the European Commission presented a proposal for a directive on common rules promoting the repair of goods. The proposed directive aims to mitigate the current business and consumption pattern, marked by frequent and premature replacement and discarding of goods. According to the Commission, this model generates additional costs for consumers, is a waste of natural resources and does harm to the environment. The proposal seeks to save costs for consumers and facilitate the development ...

In a challenging environment marked by, among other issues, climate change and environmental degradation, the European economy is undergoing significant transformations. The green transition and the move towards sustainability, including the objective of achieving climate neutrality, are affecting how people live and work and changing skills requirements. Against this background, action is needed in the education and training sector to support the green transition and develop the sustainability competences ...

Air pollution is the single largest environmental health risk in the EU and causes significant damage to ecosystems. As part of the European Green Deal's zero pollution ambition, on 26 October 2022 the Commission tabled a proposal for a revision of the Ambient Air Quality Directives. The proposed directive would set air quality standards for 2030 that are more closely aligned with the Word Health Organization's recommendations, as updated in 2021. It would also include a mechanism for the standards ...

As required by EU water legislation, and in line with the European Green Deal's zero pollution ambition, on 26 October 2022 the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise the lists of surface water and groundwater pollutants that need to be monitored and controlled for the purpose of protection of EU freshwater bodies, and the associated environmental quality standards. The proposal also seeks to remedy shortcomings identified in the current framework as regards chemical pollution in waters, ...

This EPRS paper analyses progress made in carrying through the policy agenda set by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and her College of Commissioners when they took office in December 2019. It looks in particular at the state of play with respect to delivery of the agenda's six key priorities, as we enter the final months running up to the 2024 European elections. The von der Leyen Commission – either on taking office or more recently – has announced a total of 610 planned ...

Clean water is essential for healthy ecosystems, as well as for many human uses, including drinking, bathing, and agriculture. During its September plenary session, the European Parliament is expected to adopt its position on a European Commission proposal to revise the lists of chemical pollutants that need to be monitored and controlled in EU freshwater bodies, and the associated environmental quality standards.

During its September session, Parliament will vote on the report adopted by its Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) on a proposal to revise EU air quality legislation. The report as voted would form Parliament's position for negotiations with the Council, which has still to agree on its general approach.