With a new packaging regulation the Commission wants to strengthen environmental protection and market opportunities for recycled material. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) sees great potential in an EU-wide circular economy. However, Brussels is only halfway there. Member states may continue to impair the single market with too many national regulations.

In the EU, emissions of pollutants into the air, water and soil from industrial and livestock facilities are to be reduced. To this end, the Commission has proposed amendments to the Industrial Emissions Directive. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) considers parts of the proposals to be contrary to EU law.

Whether refrigerators, lamps, televisions or textiles: The Commission wants to be able to set so-called ecodesign requirements for almost all products in the EU. The goal is to reduce energy and resource consumption in the production, usage and disposal of these products. This should accelerate the transition from a "linear throwaway society" to a circular economy. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) is concerned that too rigid and small-scale requirements will lead to trade-offs - and eventually even negative effects on sustainability.

The Commission plans a "right to repair". It is intended to encourage consumers to use products longer and to oblige companies to extend the life of products as well as to guarantee better reparability. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) warns of a conflict between consumer and environmental protection.

The European Union wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent compared to 1990 by the end of this decade. Just one day before the EU climate package "Fit for 55" was published, France passed its own climate law. This also provides for a reduction of emissions, but only by 40 percent.

The European Union wants to significantly reduce the pollution of air, water, soil and consumer goods by 2050. Pollutants should then be able to endanger neither human health nor the environment. The Centrum für Europäische Politik (cep) has analysed the so-called zero-pollutant target.

The dramatic effects of climate change are forcing the EU to act. Heat waves, droughts, storms, heavy rain and floods lead to damages to the ecosystem and cause economic losses of around twelve billion euros annually in the EU alone. In line with the European Climate Change Act, the Commission has presented an adaptation strategy to make the EU resilient ("climate resilient") to the unavoidable impacts of climate change by 2050.

The "EU Plastic Tax" introduced in 2021 to finance the EU budget is neither an EU tax nor does it oblige member states to levy a national tax on plastic waste. This is the result of a cepInput of the Centres for European Policy Network.

By means of its “Farm To Fork" strategy, the EU Commission wants to create a “food environment” that makes it easier for consumers to choose healthy and sustainable diets. A cepPolicyBrief examines the consumer policy objectives and measures of the strategy.