EU Environment Policy

Latest news on the environment policies of the European Union.

Green light for energy performance of buildings law — 12 April 2024, 22:19 CET

The EU Council formally adopted a revised directive on the energy performance of buildings Friday, with the aim of helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy poverty in the EU.

Revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) - guide — 12 April 2024, 22:04 CET

The EU Council formally adopted on 12 April a revised directive on the energy performance of buildings. The directive will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy poverty in the EU.

MEPs approve reforms for sustainable gas market — 12 April 2024, 22:20 CET

The EU Parliament adopted plans Thursday to facilitate the uptake of renewable and low-carbon gases, including hydrogen, into the EU gas market and lead to a market which is more sustainable and resilient.

2023 wildfire season among worst in EU: report — 10 April 2024, 23:32 CET

Last year, over half a million (504,002) hectares - an area twice the size of Luxembourg - was scorched by wildfires, according to an advance report published Wednesday by the EU's research centre.

EU funding of EUR 424m for zero-emission projects — 10 April 2024, 23:26 CET

The European Commission announced Wednesday the selection of 42 new projects deploying alternative fuels infrastructure that will receive over EUR 424 million in EU support.

EU commits to boosting cycling across Europe — 04 April 2024, 00:12 CET

Cycling received a boost as a sustainable, accessible and affordable means of transport Wednesday when the EU adopted a European Declaration on Cycling, a significant step in reducing transport emissions.

EU passes new law on environmental crime — 03 April 2024, 00:33 CET

The EU Council formally adopted Wednesday a new law to protect the environment through criminal law, to improve the investigation and prosecution of environmental crime offences.

EU awards climate-neutrality to 23 European cities — 21 March 2024, 23:46 CET

The EU awarded its 'EU Mission Label' to 23 cities Thursday, recognising their plans to achieve climate-neutrality by 2030 and aiming to facilitate access to private and public funding to that end.

EU, Norway sign deal on critical raw materials, batteries — 22 March 2024, 20:50 CET

The EU and Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding Thursday to launch a strategic partnership to develop sustainable land-based raw materials and battery value chains.

MEPs approve 'due diligence' bill on firms' impact on environment — 19 March 2024, 20:49 CET

A European Parliament committee gave its approval Tuesday to a bill, agreed with EU governments, which requires firms to mitigate their negative impact on the environment and human rights.

Euro-Parliament backs tightening of EU toy safety rules — 13 March 2024, 19:17 CET

The EU Parliament approved its position Wednesday on revamped EU rules on toy safety, offering better protection to children from the number of unsafe toys sold in the EU single market.

EU targets microplastics for improved water quality — 11 March 2024, 22:52 CET

The European Commission adopted two new measures Monday designed to enhance the EU’s water resilience and to improve water quality and quantity throughout the continent.

EU revisions to strengthen plant health law — 06 March 2024, 23:39 CET

The EU Council and Parliament reached provisional agreement Wednesday on a targeted revision of the Plant Health Law, which aims to improve and streamline its application and enforcement.

EU sets targets to reduce packaging consumption — 05 March 2024, 18:51 CET

The EU Council and Parliament reached agreement Monday to revamp rules to reduce, reuse and recycle packaging, including a ban on 'forever chemicals' in food contact packaging.

Euro-Parliament extends list of environmental crimes — 27 February 2024, 22:52 CET

MEPs extended the list of environmental crimes Tuesday to include illegal timber trade, depletion of water resources, and serious breaches of EU chemicals legislation and pollution caused by ships.

MEPs seal deal to restore degraded ecosystems — 28 February 2024, 18:59 CET

The European Parliament adopted a law Tuesday which sets a target for the EU to restore at least 20 per cent of the EU’s land and sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

EUR 233m EU funding for eco projects across Europe — 22 February 2024, 23:56 CET

The EU is investing over EUR 233 million in twelve strategic environmental projects benefitting nature and biodiversity, climate change and air quality, the EU Commission announced Thursday.

Electricity from renewable sources up to 41% in EU in 2022 — 21 February 2024, 23:50 CET

Renewable energy sources made up 41.2 per cent of the European Union's gross electricity consumption in 2022, according to figures released Wednesday by the EU's statistics agency Eurostat.

Political agreement on EU-wide certification scheme for carbon removals — 20 February 2024, 18:40 CET

The European Parliament and EU Council reached a provisional agreement Tuesday on a first EU-wide voluntary framework for the certification of high-quality carbon removals.

EU to tackle ship-source pollution to clean up Europe's seas — 19 February 2024, 16:59 CET

The EU Council and Parliament reached political agreement late Thursday to amend Directive 2005/35/EC on ship-source pollution and on the introduction of penalties for pollution offences.

EU economy's greenhouse gas emissions down 7 pct in Q3 2023 — 14 February 2024, 23:31 CET

EU economy greenhouse gas emissions showed a 7.1% decrease compared Q3 in 2022, at 787 million tonnes of CO2-equivalents (CO2-eq), Eurostat, the EU's statistics agency reported Wednesday.

MEPs look to bring an end to greenwashing claims — 16 February 2024, 19:49 CET

A European Parliament committee adopted new rules Wednesday on how firms can validate environmental marketing claims, and the information they need to provide to justify these claims.

European farmers to be exempted from EU rules on land lying fallow — 13 February 2024, 23:52 CET

The European Commission officially adopted a regulation Tuesday which grants a partial exemption for European farmers from the conditionality rule on land lying fallow.

New EU rules on toy safety to protect children from harmful chemicals — 13 February 2024, 23:42 CET

An EU Parliament committee approved stricter rules on toy safety Tuesday, aiming to bring down the number of unsafe toys on the single market and protect children better from toy-related risks.

Remaining intentional uses of toxic mercury to be banned in EU — 08 February 2024, 22:21 CET

EU institutions reached political agreement Thursday to phase out use of dental amalgam and prohibit the manufacturing, import and export of a number of mercury-added products, including certain lamps.