A compilation of statements delivered by the EU and its Member States at the fifteenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG-15), held in Geneva from 23 to 26 June 2026, outlines the bloc's positions on key agenda items ahead of the 2027 COP18 in Panama. The document, published on 14 July 2026, reveals EU support for bringing all plastic waste, including B3011, under Convention controls, urgent action on used textiles, and clearer e-waste classification rules.
On plastic waste, the EU considers the 2019 amendments a breakthrough but notes that global trade has not significantly decreased since 2021. Challenges include classification, contamination testing, and movement under non-waste codes. The EU suggests considering bringing all plastic waste (including B3011) under Convention controls. For used textiles and textile waste, the EU calls for urgent attention and recommends that OEWG propose COP18 decide on implementation in the next biennium, with options including guidance, code review, and capacity building.
Regarding e-waste classification, the EU argues that further work is essential for legal clarity, identifying three key issues: what categories are covered by A1181/Y49, that all controls apply without exemptions, and how procedures apply when one Party has accepted new entries and another has not. On the prior informed consent (PIC) procedure, the EU supports implementing COP17 recommendations and backs options 2, 4, 9, and 11 from the draft report, while ensuring consistency with work on electronic approaches and transit.
The EU supports draft technical guidelines on POPs, waste lead-acid and other batteries, used tyres, and mercury, but sees no priority for updated e-waste guidelines. It agrees to draft decisions on electronic approaches with a minor reservation on a comment deadline, and accepts changes to table 9 for national reporting to improve data quality. The EU also welcomes Norway's proposal on amendments to annexes, to be discussed under the plastic waste item, and agrees to consequential changes for Annex IV and disposal operations.
The document reflects the EU's push for stronger regulatory controls on plastic and textile waste, which would increase compliance costs for exporters and importers of these materials, particularly in the recycling and waste management sectors. Clearer e-waste classification could reduce legal uncertainty for electronics recyclers but may require additional testing and documentation. The positions also imply a strengthening of the Basel Convention's enforcement mechanisms, potentially affecting trade flows between OECD and non-OECD countries. Most technical guidelines are expected to be finalised by COP18 in Panama in 2027.