After weeks of renegotiations, the EU member states have now agreed to the European Packaging Regulation. The permanent representatives of the member states adopted the compromise text between the Council, Commission and Parliament on Friday. Germany also voted in favour despite the FDP's attempts to block it. The coalition government had surprisingly agreed to give its consent after all, but added a protocol declaration with reservations.
The BDE Federal Association of the German Waste Management, Water and Recycling Industry, for example, reacted with relief to the agreement on the Packaging Ordinance in the Council of Permanent Representatives of the Member States.
„We are very relieved that the deputy ambassadors in the Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Member States voted in favour of the political agreement reached in trilogue with the Parliament by a qualified majority, also with the support of Germany. This gives us confidence for the formal adoption in the Council of Ministers, which is still pending. The mandatory recyclate use quotas that have been correctly set here are precisely the instrument we need to achieve a functioning circular economy for plastics and achieve the EU's climate targets.“
Andreas Bruckschen, BDE Managing Director
The Council of Permanent Representatives of the member states had previously voted in favour of adopting the trilogue agreement on Friday afternoon. The Belgian EU Council Presidency had worked until the very end to find a compromise that worked for everyone. In order to achieve this, Belgium has made further amendments and clarifications to the text of the political agreement reached on 4 March. In particular, they also aim to reach a compromise on the regulations regarding the recyclates that can be counted towards the minimum recyclate input quotas, which had recently led to disagreements with the European Commission.
Changes after trialogues are unusual. In order to be able to make these nevertheless, the Council Presidency had to consult the Parliament, which gave its green light. According to the so-called mirror clause the recyclate to be used in plastic packaging in the future may either originate from the EU or have been recycled outside the EU, if it fulfils European quality and sustainability requirements for recyclates. The plastic waste required for this can also have been collected both in the EU and in third countries. However, the environmental standards for collection and recycling in third countries must be equivalent to the standards applicable in the EU. This has eliminated concerns under trade law.
BDE Managing Director Andreas Bruckschen: „The result achieved today with Germany's vote must also be achieved in the final vote in the Council. The Circular economy needs clear rules for packaging as soon as possible, to achieve the ambitious targets for packaging design and the stabilisation of the recyclate markets.
Environmental organisation Deutsche Umwelthilfe also welcomed the agreement, despite significant weakening.
„Germany's approval of the EU Packaging Regulation today is a slap in the face for the FDP and seals the failure of its shadow diplomacy to sabotage EU laws. The legislative compromise reached is an important success - even if significant weakening could no longer be prevented. Although binding targets for reusable packaging quotas and the reduction of packaging waste have been set for the first time, these are far too low. Other loopholes, such as the exemption of cardboard packaging from the targets for the reuse of transport packaging, show the pressure exerted by the single-use paper lobby. Nevertheless, today's agreement provides important impetus for avoidance, promotion of reusable packaging and better recycling throughout Europe. These must now be secured in the final votes.“
Barbara Metz, Federal Managing Director of Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH)
Sources: BDE, DUH
