DEAR READER,
It looks like this summer will be again quite busy for all of us packaging and waste professionals as the Trilogue started on 30 May, after the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) agreed on a mandate to start negotiations with the European Parliament on the legislative proposals on waste.
Alongside the Trilogue, numerous events related to the CEP, organized by stakeholders have taken place.
On the same day, 30 May, EXPRA organised a workshop ‘Towards European EPR requirements in new waste legislation: a blueprint for success’ with the goal to drive a discussion around good European practice that could help set the right framework for these requirements to operate in future.
Another issue of major interest is the Plastic Strategy project of the EC, which is fast gaining speed: in January 2017 the Commission published the Roadmap for the EU Strategy on Plastics in a Circular Economy and currently targeted public consultation led by DG ENV is taking place. In September this year a Commission’s Stakeholder Conference is being planned and the by the end of the year the publication of the strategy on plastics is expected. EXPRA and its members have organized several meetings with DG Environment representatives and will remain actively involved in shaping the developments, inter alia taking part in the targeted consultation.
No need to say that EXPRA will remain actively involved in shaping the developments around legislative proposals on waste. We strongly believe that EPR is a key tool to ensure both economically and environmentally sound waste management. This is why we will continue with our efforts to convince the policymakers to safeguard and reinforce the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) principle and to ensure its streamlined implementation across the bloc, including the setting of strong and clear general requirements for EPR schemes.
Enjoy your reading!