Eurobrief May 2010

EDITORIAL EU Climate Change target: the European Commission brought to reason May 2010 - Commissioner Hedegaard’s attempt to prompt the EU to move unilaterally Greenhouse Gases reduction target from a minus 20%, compared to 1990, to a minus 30% attracted furore from all manufacturing industries.

ENVIRONMENT Environment Committee adopts IPPC Recast (IED) Second Reading report Parliament’s Environment Committee adopted the Draft Recommendation for Second Reading on the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Recast on 4 May 2010, by 40 votes in favour to 13 against.

WASTE Commission publishes communication on future of biowaste rules The European Commission has identified several priority areas for strengthening existing waste legislation in a recently published Communication on the future of biowaste policy.

CEMBUREAU CEMBUREAU responds to Commission public consultation on the review of the European Standardisation System From the start, CEMBUREAU expressed doubts at the apparent urge of the European Commission to overhand the standardization process.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Green / EFA group report questions carbon leakage criteria A report commissioned by the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament claims that only 13 industrial sectors in Europe are “truly” at risk of carbon leakage, and that the criteria for deciding which industry sectors should qualify as being at risk of carbon leakage is questionable.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME French Ministry concern over carbon auctioning platform plans The French Environment Ministry has warned that establishing more than one platform for auctioning EU carbon allowances from 2013 could damage the carbon market.

EU EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME Commission launches consultation on new energy strategy A consultation on a new energy strategy has been launched by the European Commission, asking stakeholders to outline ways in which existing legislation can be better implemented over the next ten years.

CLIMATE CHANGE Fall in greenhouse gas emissions in EU ETS industries with the notable exception of Ireland Greenhouse gas emissions from EU industries participating in the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) fell 11.6% last year compared to 2008, according to information provided by Member States.

CLIMATE CHANGE EU Finance Miniters adopt climate finance commitments progress report A progress report on climate finance commitments made by EU Member States and the European Commission to developing countries for the period 2010-12 was adopted by European finance ministers earlier this month.

CLIMATE CHANGE Former Commissioner publishes carbon footprint report A report conducted by former EU Internal Market Commissioner Mario Monti says that EU standards for measuring and auditing carbon footprints are vital if Europe is to create a proper functioning single market for green products.

ENVIRONMENT Convention on Biological Diversity report examines biodiversity loss The Convention on Biological Diversity claims that insufficient attention has been paid to the causes of biodiversity loss.

ENVIRONMENT Some Member States to exceed 2010 NOx emission caps Latest estimates published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) suggest that 11 Member States are likely to exceed their 2010 NOx pollutant caps as set out in the National Emission Ceilings directive (NEC).

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Political agreement reached on Construction Products regulation in 1st reading The Competitiveness Council reached on 25 May 2010, by qualified majority, a political agreement on a draft regulation updating the conditions for the marketing of construction products in the internal market, the successor to the Construction Products Directive.

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Parliament adopts 2nd reading on energy performance of buildings Directive The European Parliament adopted its opinion in second reading on the proposal for a Directive on energy performance of buildings on 18 May 2010.

BUILDINGS & BUILDING MATERIALS Parliament adopts 2nd reading report on energy labelling The European Parliament adopted its opinion in second reading on the proposal for a Directive on energy labelling on 19 May 2010.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Commission study on REACH enforcement A study conducted by Milieu, commissioned by the European Commission regarding REACH enforcement by the Member States, has been published.

HEALTH AND SAFETY REACH: Guidance on Waste and recovered substances published The final version of the Guidance document on REACH and Waste and recovered substances has been published by ECHA.

HEALTH AND SAFETY New REACH Annex II on SDS published in Official Journal The Commission Regulation No 453/2010 of 20 May 2010 amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) was published on 31 May 2010 in the Official Journal.