Environment Council, 17/12/2014, 17 December 2014

Council reaches political agreement on CO2 emissions from ships

Meeting on 17 December 2014 in Brussels, EU environment ministers reached political agreement on new EU-wide rules for monitoring, reporting and verification of CO2 emissions from ships.

International maritime shipping is currently the only means of transport not included in the EU's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Monitoring CO2 emissions from ships is the first step in a staged approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in this sector as well. 

A formal common position will be adopted at a later stage, after legal linguistic experts have checked the text.

• Reducing emissions from the shipping sector

Plastic bags

The Council reached a political agreement on a draft directive to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags. The new rules aim to limit the negative environmental impacts of litter from plastic carrier bags.

Under the new EU law governments will have to choose either to introduce a charge on single-use plastic bags by the end of 2018 or to take measures to reduce their use.

A formal common position will be adopted at a later stage, after legal linguistic experts have checked the text.

Other main items on the agenda

The Council reached a general approach on a draft directive to limit emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants.  Ministers also:

• discussed the Commission's 2015 work programme, in particular the circular economy package and the clean air package
• confirmed a political agreement on the Doha amendment ratification package, with a view to enabling its ratification and technical implementation
• discussed the state of play on a draft decision to establish a market stability reserve for the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS)