The Council of the European Union (Environment) will meet in Luxembourg on 25 June 2026 to adopt its agenda and discuss a range of legislative and non-legislative items, including a progress report on amending CO2 emission standards for cars and vans, an exchange of views on the Water Resilience Strategy one year after its launch, and a debate on managing biodiversity loss risks for business and competitiveness. The meeting, scheduled for 09:30, will also hear information from member states and the Presidency on international environmental meetings and regulatory challenges.
CO2 standards for cars and vans The Council will review a progress report (doc 10065/1/26 REV 1) on the proposed amendment of Regulation (EU) 2019/631 setting CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The amendment, part of the EU's Fit for 55 package, aims to tighten targets and accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles. The progress report will outline the state of play in negotiations, with member states expected to highlight differing views on ambition levels, compliance flexibilities, and the phase-out timeline for internal combustion engines. The file has been under discussion in the Council's Environment Working Party since the Commission's proposal in 2023.
water resilience, biodiversity, and REACH Ministers will hold an exchange of views on the Water Resilience Strategy (doc 10288/1/26 REV 1), one year after its adoption, focusing on implementation progress and remaining challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, and infrastructure investment. A second exchange of views on "Nature, Business and Competitiveness: Managing the Risks of Biodiversity Loss" (doc 10286/26) will explore how businesses can integrate biodiversity risks into their operations and the role of EU policies like the Nature Restoration Law. The Council will also discuss the way forward for the REACH Regulation (doc 10294/26), the EU's main chemicals legislation, with member states expected to address concerns over regulatory burden, enforcement, and the substitution of hazardous substances.
international meetings and member state initiatives Under any other business, the Presidency will provide information on the Cyprus Presidency's stocktaking of preparations for COP 31 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Several member states will flag specific issues: Italy, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic will present an action on high-voltage switchgear (doc 10693/1/26 REV 1); Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain will report on results from the LIFE Regulation (doc 10548/1/26 REV 1); Croatia will brief on the MED9 Meeting on Water Supply Resilience and Marine Environment Protection (doc 10918/26); and the Presidency and Commission will update on COP15 on Migratory Species held in Campo Grande, Brazil, in March 2026 (doc 10878/26). The Commission will also inform on preparations for UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, scheduled for 17–28 August 2026 (doc 10879/26).
Regulatory challenges flagged by member states A group of eight member states—Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia—will present a note on challenges related to the packaging waste Regulation (doc 10712/1/26 REV 1), likely highlighting concerns over implementation costs and recycling targets. France will raise two issues: the International Treaty on Plastic Pollution (doc 10949/26) and invasive alien species (doc 10911/26). Germany, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Slovenia will jointly flag ultra-fast fashion (doc 10797/1/26 REV 1), calling for stricter EU measures to curb textile waste. Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands will present a Benelux non-paper on the Circular Economy Act (doc 10993/26), advocating for ambitious EU-wide circularity targets. France will also push for accelerating permitting procedures for renewable energy and infrastructure projects (doc 11052/26), while the Netherlands will call for a transition away from fossil fuels (doc 10738/26). Finally, Ireland will present the work programme of the incoming Presidency, which will take over from the Cyprus Presidency in July 2026.
Stakeholder impact The meeting's outcomes will affect several stakeholders. EU car manufacturers face tighter CO2 targets that could accelerate investment in electric vehicles but also raise compliance costs; the progress report may signal whether the Council leans toward stricter or more flexible rules. Water-intensive industries, such as agriculture and chemicals, will watch the Water Resilience Strategy debate for potential new usage restrictions or efficiency mandates. Chemical producers under REACH may face stricter substance controls or simplified registration processes depending on the direction set by ministers. Environmental NGOs will monitor biodiversity and circular economy discussions for signals on the EU's commitment to the Nature Restoration Law and waste reduction targets.
Institutional follow-up The legislative deliberation on CO2 standards will inform the Council's position for trilogue negotiations with the European Parliament, which adopted its amendments in early 2026. The exchange of views on water resilience and biodiversity may lead to Council conclusions at a future meeting, while the REACH discussion could feed into the Commission's ongoing evaluation of the regulation. The incoming Irish Presidency will take forward these files from July 2026.