Autumn 2024

Dear Esteemed Readers,
We hope this EXPRA Newsletter finds you in good health and high spirits.
As autumn unfolds, EXPRA and its esteemed members have experienced a period of dynamic activity, marked by key milestones and focused initiatives that continue to shape the landscape of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Europe and beyond.

In September 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen revealed her proposed College of Commissioners, setting the stage for a more sustainable and competitive European Union. Key appointments, including Teresa Ribera as Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just, and Competitive Transition, and Stéphane Séjourné as Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, reflect the EU’s ambitious green transition agenda. Ribera will oversee the coordination of the Clean Industrial Deal, while Séjourné will focus on harmonizing industrial and Single Market policies to foster Europe’s competitiveness.

In September 2024, Mario Draghi presented a comprehensive report outlining the future of European competitiveness, commissioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This pivotal report addresses Europe’s economic challenges and calls for radical reform to counter the continent’s industrial decline. Draghi’s vision centers on closing the innovation gap, enhancing decarbonization efforts, and achieving strategic independence.

The 29th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP29, is set to convene in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22, 2024. As the deadline for updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) approaches in 2025, this year’s conference carries significant expectations for nations to enhance their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Dubbed the “Finance COP,” COP29 will emphasize establishing a new collective financial goal aimed at supporting climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing countries.