Environment Council, 26/06/2019, 26 June 2019

Main results

Chemicals

Environment ministers adopted conclusions which give political guidance on the development of a sustainable EU chemicals policy strategy. The conclusions address in particular the topics of REACH, endocrine disruptors, nanomaterials and pharmaceuticals.

These important and detailed conclusions will guide the EU’s sustainable chemicals policy strategy with a focus on protecting human health and the environment through a sound management of chemicals. Grațiela Leocadia Gavrilescu, Romanian Deputy Prime-minister and Minister of Environment

The conclusions also highlight the need to improve and mainstream the chemical risk assessment and management of chemicals across EU legislation in order to increase the coherence and effectiveness of EU chemicals-related legislation.

Ministers stressed the need to develop a relevant mechanism for coordinating the protection of vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant and breastfeeding women, and agreed that this should include the introduction of consistent risk management requirements into relevant EU legislation on substances of concern, including neurotoxins and endocrine disruptors.

• Council conclusions on chemicals (26/06/2019)

Water reuse for agricultural irrigation

On 26 June the Environment Council held a discussion in public session on water reuse. Ministers reached a general approach on this new regulation which reduces the risk of shortages of water for irrigating crops and helps Europe adapt to the consequences of climate change.

Water is a precious resource. Today we have taken an important step to put in place new rules which will enable us to reclaim water in a way which is safe for humans and animals, and good for the environment. It makes sense to set harmonised minimum standards for reclaimed water quality and for compliance monitoring so that our farmers can safely use such water for irrigation. Part of this is about learning from the experience of some member states which have been successfully reusing water for decades. Ioan Deneș, Romanian Minister of Waters and Forests

• Water reuse for agricultural irrigation: Council agrees general approach (press release, 26/06/2019)

Environmental Implementation Review

In the afternoon, the Council held an exchange of views on the findings of the 2019 Environmental Implementation Review cycle (EIR). Member states engaged in dialogue and cooperation with the Commission, and gave the Commission valuable feedback which it can use to improve its work. Ministers used this opportunity to address common challenges and share best practices in the implementation of environmental policies and legislation.

Other topics on the agenda

In a public session, the Council had the opportunity to hear a presentation by the Presidency on the state of play of two current legislative proposals: the LIFE regulation and the regulation on monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport. The Presidency also informed ministers on the state of play of discussions on a strategic long-term vision for a climate neutral economy and together with Commission reported on the results of important international meetings. The Commission presented its communications on the draft integrated national energy and climate plans. The Netherlands delegation briefed ministers on a recent conference on carbon pricing and aviation taxes, and the Austrian delegation informed about a workshop on the future Environment Action Programme. The Bulgarian delegation presented possible European measures to support clean mobility, especially electromobility, and the French delegation briefed on the outcome of the recent G7 Environment minister meeting. The Finnish delegation presented the work programme of the incoming Presidency.