Environment Council, 17 December 2024

Main results

Plastic pellet losses

EU environment ministers reached a general approach for a regulation on preventing losses of plastic pellets – the industrial raw materials used to make plastic products – to the environment.

The new rules will help to improve the handling of plastic pellets all along the supply chain and their transporting in the EU. This could reduce plastic pellet losses to the environment by up to 74%.

Plastic pellet losses to the environment are the third largest source of all unintentional microplastic releases. The new rules, the first of their kind in the EU, will help companies to minimise plastic pellet losses, contributing to the fight against microplastic pollution, which knows no borders or boundaries.

Anikó Raisz, Hungarian Minister of State for Environmental Affairs and the Circular Economy

Building on the Commission's proposal, the Council's general approach strikes a balance between introducing ambitious and effective measures to minimise plastic pellet losses and avoiding unnecessary administrative burden. The text also ensures a level playing field between EU and non-EU carriers and introduces obligations for sea-going vessels transporting plastic pellets.

The general approach agreed today formalises the Council's negotiating position. Negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the regulation are expected to start in early 2025.

• Zero pollution: Council agrees its position on reducing plastic pellets losses, including in maritime transport (press release, 17 December 2024)
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End-of-life vehicles

Based on a note prepared by the Hungarian presidency, ministers held a policy debate on the proposed regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and on the management of end-of-life vehicles. The regulation aims to enhance sustainability and circularity in the automotive sector, by ensuring that the design of new vehicles makes it easier to recycle and re-use their parts and components.

Discussions showed that important progress has been made on several topics at technical level, including the scope of the regulation, related obligations of producers and authorities, as well as final provisions on review and necessary amendments to relating legislation.

During the policy debate, ministers expressed broad support to the addition of article 192(1) TFEU (protection of the environment) as a legal basis besides article 114 TFEU (functioning of the internal market), and to extending certain obligations to heavy-duty vehicles and motorcycles.

Ministers also held an important debate on the target for minimum recycled content for plastics. A number of member states could support the 25% rate, as proposed by the Commission, while others requested a significantly lower rate and warned that it could for instance lead to market distortions in case of shortage of recycled material. The Council will continue discussions in order to find an acceptable compromise on this matter.

Ministers discussed a possible target for a minimum recycled content for steel. A significant number of member states indicated that a feasibility study, to be conducted by the Commission, would first be needed to better evaluate the implications of setting this target.

Lastly, ministers exchanged views on the vehicles parts and components to be removed before shredding.

• Policy debate on the end-of-life vehicles regulation – presidency note
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2040 climate target

Environment ministers exchanged views on the Commission communication on the EU’s 2040 climate target, published on 6 February 2024. The communication recommends a target of 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 compared to 1990.

Ministers focused their discussion on the prerequisites for a successful transition towards the EU’s 2040 climate target. Regarding the full implementation of the agreed 2030 framework, ministers concurred on the need for simplification in order to reduce administrative burden.

They also stressed that stable and predictable regulatory and investment frameworks are key to ensuring competitiveness. Aligning decarbonisation and industrial policies and achieving more competitive energy prices are also crucial elements in this regard.

For a socially acceptable and just transition, ministers acknowledged the important role of the involvement of citizens and businesses alike, as well as re-skilling and upskilling of workers.

• Exchange of views on Europe's 2040 climate target – presidency note
• Communication on the EU 2040 climate target
• Climate neutrality (background information)
• Climate change: what the EU is doing (background information)
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Reporting on international meetings

The Hungarian presidency, together with the Commission, briefed ministers on the main recent international meetings and their outcomes:

• COP29 on climate change (UNFCCC) (Baku, Azerbaijan, 11-22 November 2024)
• UN climate change conference: EU calls for efforts to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach (press release, 14 October 2024)
• COP16 on biological diversity (CBD) (Cali, Colombia, 21 October - 1 November 2024)
• UN biodiversity convention: EU reaffirms global pledge to protect a third of the planet by 2030 (press release, 14 October 2024)
• COP16 on combating desertification (UNCCD COP16) (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2-13 December 2024)
• Combating desertification in the EU: Council urges action for a sustainable future (press release, 14 October 2024)
• The 5th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on a global plastics treaty (INC-5) (Busan, South Korea, 25 November - 1 December 2024)
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Other business

Ministers received an update from the Commission on the progress of Horizon Europe EU missions as a tool for local climate action.

• Update on Progress of Horizon Europe EU Missions as a tool for local climate action ‒ Information from the Commission
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Ministers heard from Sweden, supported by Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg, on key issues in the targeted revision of the REACH regulation.

• Key issues in the targeted revision of the REACH Regulation ‒ Information from Sweden, supported by Denmark, Finland and Luxembourg
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Czechia, together with Denmark, France and Slovakia, raised a point on online marketplaces and non-compliance with extended producer responsibility obligations. Austria also addressed the issue of very large online marketplaces and their non-compliance with extended producer responsibility.

• On-line marketplaces - non-compliance with EPR obligations and how to address it ‒ Information from Czechia, Denmark, France and Slovakia
• Very large online platforms (VLOPs) – non-compliance with extended producer responsibility and how to address it ‒ Information from Austria
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France informed ministers about the need to avoid weakening car manufacturers through penalties, while maintaining the targets and ambition of the regulation on CO₂ standards for cars and vans.

• The need to avoid weakening car manufacturers through penalties, while maintaining the targets and ambition of the regulation on CO2 standards for cars and vans ‒ Information from France
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Lastly, the Polish presidency presented its environmental programme as the incoming presidency.

Lunch debate

Over lunch, ministers held an informal discussion with Commissioners Jessika Roswall and Wopke Hoekstra on the Commission’s priorities for 2024-2029 in the field of environment and climate policy.

• Watch recorded press conference

The Council also adopted without discussion the items on the lists of non-legislative A items.