EU Environment Policy

Latest news on the environment policies of the European Union.

EU states reach agreement on nature restoration law — 22 June 2023, 23:14 CET

The EU Council reached draft agreement Tuesday on a proposal for nature recovery measures to cover 20% of EU land and 20% of sea areas by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050.

EU 'repairability index' to make phones last longer — 19 June 2023, 17:31 CET

The European Commission set out proposals Friday for new rules to help consumers make informed and sustainable choices when purchasing mobile and cordless phones, and tablets.

MEPs vote to make sustainable products the norm — 17 June 2023, 00:13 CET

A European Parliament committee put forward proposals Thursday with the aim of making products in the EU more environmentally friendly, circular and energy efficient throughout their lifecycle.

Progress on sustainable fishing, more needed: EU — 14 June 2023, 18:59 CET

The sustainability of EU fisheries has improved with fewer stocks being overfished, however more efforts are needed to ensure the resilience of fishing activities and improvement of fish stocks.

Brussels to strengthen sustainable finance framework — 13 June 2023, 23:35 CET

The European Commission put forward a number of measures Tuesday to strengthen the EU's sustainable finance framework and its move away from carbon-emitting energy sources.

Europe's bathing waters remain at high standard: report — 12 June 2023, 00:15 CET

The majority of bathing water sites in Europe met the European Union's most stringent 'excellent' water quality standards in 2022, the EU's latest annual Bathing Water reported Friday.

State of bathing waters in 2022 interactive map — 11 June 2023, 23:56 CET

The Bathing Water Directive requires Member States to monitor and assess bathing water. Check out the interactive map that will allow you to view on-line the quality of the bathing water in the almost 22,000 coastal beaches and freshwater bathing waters across Europe.

Brussels issues guidance for eighteen states at risk of missing EU waste targets — 08 June 2023, 23:10 CET

Eighteen EU Member States are at risk of not meeting 're-use and recycling' targets for municipal and all packaging waste, the European Commission said in a report published Thursday.

EU accepts WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies — 08 June 2023, 22:53 CET

The EU formally accepted the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Thursday, bringing the Agreement closer to entry into force and to delivering on UN sustainable development goals.

EU strikes draft deal on new rules to combat overfishing — 01 June 2023, 13:48 CET

The EU institutions reached provisional agreement Wednesday on updated rules to help prevent overfishing and modernising the way fishing activities in EU waters are controlled.

EU doubles firefighting fleet in readiness for summer wildfires — 31 May 2023, 00:01 CET

The EU's Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic announced Tuesday a doubling of the rescEU aerial firefighting fleet for this year's wildfire season.

EU calls for agreement on global rules to end plastic pollution — 30 May 2023, 23:25 CET

With plastic production forecast to triple by 2060, the EU will Monday call for legally binding provisions to address the production of primary plastics, with a view to making production and consumption sustainable.

Wildfires: EU response 2023 - guide — 30 May 2023, 23:11 CET

The fire risk in Europe and the rest of the world is expected to continue increasing due to climate change and this wildfire season will likely be increasingly characterised by massive fires that cost lives and burn areas that take longer to fully recover. In 2022 alone, wildfires burnt an area about the size of Montenegro, and the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was activated 10 times to mobilise cross-border firefighting assistance. To be better prepared to support Member States this wildfire season, the EU has doubled its firefighting air capacity.

EU approves WTO agreement on fisheries subsidies — 25 May 2023, 23:01 CET

The EU approved Thursday the conclusion of a World Trade Organization protocol establishing a fisheries subsidies agreement, the first WTO agreement that focuses on environmental sustainability.

MEPs support stricter rules to reduce industrial emissions — 25 May 2023, 23:01 CET

The European Parliament's Environment Committee adopted its position Wednesday on EU rules to further reduce pollution and steer large agro-industrial installations in the green transition.

EU launches EUR 122m call for innovation ecosystems — 17 May 2023, 17:31 CET

The EU made EUR 122m available Wednesday under the 'European Innovation Ecosystems' initiative, whose aim is to strengthen European innovation ecosystems and respond to societal challenges.

Final EU go-ahead for new rules to cut deforestation worldwide — 16 May 2023, 18:30 CET

EU states gave their final go-ahead Tuesday to a regulation to minimise the risk of deforestation and forest degradation associated with products that are placed on or exported from the EU market.

Brussels mulls ban on export of hazardous chemicals — 11 May 2023, 19:06 CET

The European Commission launched an open public consultation Wednesday to seek views on how to address the production for export of hazardous chemicals that are banned in the EU.

MEPs, Council reach deal on greener aviation fuels — 26 April 2023, 23:23 CET

European Parliament and Council negotiators reached political agreement Tuesday to increase the uptake of sustainable fuels, such as advanced biofuels or hydrogen, in the aviation sector.

New EU endocrine disruptors rules into force — 20 April 2023, 18:36 CET

A new EU regulation on classification and labelling of chemicals entered into force Thursday, with new hazard classes for endocrine disruptors and chemicals that do not break down in the environment.

Green light for new EU law to fight global deforestation — 19 April 2023, 23:25 CET

The EU Parliament gave the green light Wednesday to a new law which obliges companies to ensure products sold in the EU have not led to deforestation and forest degradation.

Euro-MPs greenlight laws to reach 2030 climate target — 18 April 2023, 16:29 CET

MEPs adopted reform of the EU’s Emissions Trading System including for aviation and maritime Tuesday, as well as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and a new Social Climate fund.

EU proposals for the International Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) - guide — 11 April 2023, 22:36 CET

The European Union on 11 April made public four ambitious proposals for the next Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) session taking place from 8 to 12 May 2023. The objective is to improve the conservation of tuna and the management of fisheries.

Brussels updates state aid guidance for green transition — 07 April 2023, 00:11 CET

The Commission updated state aid guiding templates Tuesday to assist EU states in designing measures to be included in their recovery and resilience plans, in line with EU State aid rules.

EU strikes deal to boost use of renewable energy — 30 March 2023, 22:02 CET

European Council and Parliament negotiators reached provisional political agreement Thursday to set a renewable energy target of 42.5% by 2030 with an additional 2.5% indicative top up for 45%.