César LUENA

Policy topics César LUENA is active on

What César LUENA has said (80)

• 2026-06-17 “(16:12:00 – 16:13:08): I'd say that this electrification action plan could increase our competitiveness and our sovereignty, but, commissioner, I'll say 1 thing. We need to ensure consistency because we continue to invest millions and millions of euros in fossil fuel investments. We need to have a date set for eliminating those that aid. Now also, we can't talk about energy efficiency while continuing to talk about energy of the past, which is nuclear. It's expensive, it's dirty, and it's very dangerous. And I don't think we should be reopening debates that have already been closed, such as the end of the sale of combustion vehicles for 2035. So the plan is good, but we need to ensure consistency, commissioner. We need to ensure energy security, yes, but we also need to have regulatory security, rules that are clear and stable and increased energy independency, but it must be based on clean energies. So increase competitiveness, increase sovereignty, but please let's be consistent when we do it. Thank you. Thank you very much, mister Anotoglou. Thank”
  Fossil fuels
• 2026-03-19 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission 27.5.2026 Written question The draft restriction proposal on lead in ammunition, like most restrictions under the regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) [1] , is based on publicly available opinions [2] of the European Chemical Agency’s scientific committees, including a cost/benefit assessment and possible risk management measures. Based on the Agency’s opinion, bullets provide a minor contribution to the lead emissions targeted by the restriction. Delaying the application of the restriction to bullets by extending certain transitional periods by up to 5 years will only decrease by 0.12% (-675 tonnes in total) the total emission savings expected from the restriction (558 000 tonnes over 20 years), as these savings mostly come from the proposed measures restricting lead gunshot. Even if, after discussions with the Member States, lead bullets would be excluded from the scope of the restriction, this would only decrease the total emission savings by 1.5% (-8 232 tonnes over 20 years). Consequently, extending the transitional periods for bullets, or even excluding bullets from the scope, would have a very limited impact on the overall effectiveness of the restriction measured as emission savings. Against this background, the proposed restriction still ensures a high level of protection of human health and the environment from exposure to lead. The Commission is discussing this proposal with the Member States in the REACH committee with the aim of reaching consensus. [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02006R1907-20251023. [2] https://echa.europa.eu/registry-of-restriction-intentions/-/dislist/details/0b0236e1840159e6.”
  Chemicals regulation
• 2026-03-10 “E-000987/2026 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Article 5 of the Birds Directive 1 requires Member States to establish the general system of protection prohibiting, among other actions, the deliberate killing or capture by any method of individuals of all wild birds in the EU, including the red kite (Milvus milvus). Also, the red kite is listed in Annex I of the Directive, which means that it must be subject to special conservation measures concerning their habitat, and Member States must classify special protection areas for its conservation. The Commission considers that the new data on illegal killing of red kites and other birds of prey provided by the LIFE EUROKITE project under the EU programme for the environment and climate action 2 are important and must be given the necessary attention by the competent authorities in the affected Member States, who are primarily responsible for the correct implementation of the Directive. The Commission actively promotes cooperation, monitoring and data collection on bird protection among Member States, mainly through dialogue with national authorities, including in the framework of the Nature Directives Expert Group and its Task Force on the Recovery of Birds. In 2023, the Commission published a review of good practices on prevention in relation to combatting the illegal killing, taking of and trade in birds in the EU 3 . On 31 March 2026, the Commission adopted the guidance document on the general system of protection of bird species under Articles 5 and 9 of the Directive 4 . This interpretative guidance clarifies legal provisions and compiles the applicable case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, to assist Member States in their implementation and enforcement actions. 1 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25. 2 https://www.life-eurokite.eu/. 3 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/3287d532-fdd4-11ed-a05c-01aa75ed71a1. 4 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_26_760.”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU · Environmental crimes and justice
• 2026-03-09 “Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 7.5.2026 Written question Availability of complete and reliable data on status and trends of forest health, resources and disturbances is key to support the development of a resilient and sustainable forest bioeconomy and achieving biodiversity and climate mitigation and resilience policy objectives and targets. The forest monitoring law proposal [1] was intended to improve such data . However, since the European Parliament did not give this proposal the necessary support , the Commission announced its intention to withdraw the proposal. The Commission remains committed to a robust EU-wide knowledge base for effective and efficient action in response to growing pressures such as droughts, wildfires or pest outbreaks. In line with the EU Forest Strategy for 2030 [2] , the Commission will strengthen the monitoring of climate effects and other natural or human induced disturbances on forests as part of the Forest Information System for Europe [3] . A forest science partnership has been set up to support the development of new methods for indicator monitoring based on remote sensing, with a focus on the existing EU policy framework. Furthermore, the Commission just published new guidelines to future-proof Natura 2000 sites against climate change [4] , and it plans to improve in its forthcoming European climate resilience framework [5] the overall monitoring of progress towards climate resilience and adaptation. Yet, it is too early to tell whether this framework will include a specific focus on forests. Under Horizon Europe [6] , a co-funded research and innovation partnership on Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future [7] has been proposed which will also support the improvement and alignment of forest monitoring in Europe. [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-regulation-forest-monitoring-framework_en. [2] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/forest-strategy_en. [3] FISE : https://forest.eea.europa.eu/. [4] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/guidance-adapting-natura-2000-sites-climate-change_en. [5] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-and-resilience-climate-change_en. [6] https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/horizon-europe_en. [7] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2025-01-CIRCBIO-15.”
  Management of EU forests · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2026-03-04 “Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 8.5.2026 Written question Better implementation and enforcement of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) [1] is and will continue to be a priority for the Commission. The Commission is conducting Structured Water Dialogues with Member State to accelerate action on the ground. The call for evidence of the environmental omnibus highlighted possible problems in granting permits for the extractive industry, resulting from the WFD, hindering the achievement of the benchmarks for 2030 set out in the Critical Raw Materials Act [2] . These possible challenges arise against a backdrop of intensifying global competition for critical raw materials and the EU’s growing reliance on single suppliers, creating systemic economic security risks. This has led to a decision to review and revise the WFD. The online Call for Evidence [3] , which closed on 14 April 2026 , allowed all stakeholders to provide their views on this targeted revision. This will be complemented by ad hoc consultations of experts representing all interested parties in the context of the Strategic Coordination Group under the Common Implementation Strategy of the WFD. As for the specific meeting referred to by the Honourable Member, it had to be rescheduled on short notice since the President of the Commission called an emergency Security College focused on the evolving situation in Iran and the Middle East. The Commission will be conducting an Impact Assessment for the targeted revision of the WFD that will be based on the evidence provided by all stakeholders in the Call for Evidence as well as other sources, including extensive data provided by the European Environment Agency [4] . [1] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32-35. [2] Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020, OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024. [3] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-launches-call-evidence-water-legislation-2026-03-17_en. [4] https://www.eea.europa.eu/en.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials · EU policy on water management
• 2026-03-02 “P-000846/2026 Answer given by Mr Kadis on behalf of the European Commission The conservation and management of critically endangered European eel must be based on fisheries and environmental considerations to tackle all human-induced mortalities. Member States take various measures through their eel management plans (EMP) under the Eel Regulation 1 and other legal instruments, such as the Fishing Opportunities Regulation 2 , Water Framework Directive 3 , Wildlife Trade Regulation 4 . The implementation of the EMPs is variable and the targets of the Eel Regulation have mostly not been met, as confirmed by the evaluation of the Eel Regulation 5 and by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) 6 . There are no signs of eel recovery. Further ambition is needed to address environmental mortalities, while continuing taking fisheries measures. Temporary fishing closures are set at the EU level and promoted by the EU at international level. Member States do not allow trade from and to the EU, whereas marketing in the EU is allowed. Some Member States took more stringent measures by listing European eel as strictly protected or prohibiting eel fishing all year. Under the Marine Action Plan 7 , the Commission called on Member States to improve the protection of eels and revise their EMPs or adopt the new plans in light of new knowledge and scientific advice 8 , and to strengthen a transboundary cooperation. The Nature Restoration 1 Council Regulation (EC) No 1100/2007 of 18 September 2007 establishing measures for the recovery of the stock of European eel, OJ L 248, 22.9.2007, pp. 17–23. 2 Council Regulation (EU) 2026/249 of 26 January 2026 fixing for 2026, 2027 and 2028 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks, applicable in Union waters and, for Union fishing vessels, in certain non-Union waters, and amending Regulation (EU) 2025/202,OJ L, 2026/249, Council Regulation (EU) 2026/266 of 26 January 2026 fixing for 2026 the fishing opportunities for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks applicable in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, OJ L, 2026/266, 30.1.2026. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32000L0060. 4 Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein. 5 Commission’s evaluation report (SWD/2020/0035 final) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52020SC0035 and external study in support of this evaluation https://op.europa.eu/fr/publication-detail/-/publication/afe6ca55-5f58-11ea-b735-01aa75ed71a1. 6 Details about a most recent progress of Member States in implementing their EMPs and measures under the Eel Regulation are provided in the ICES advice in subject published in 2025 https://iceslibrary.figshare.com/articles/report/EU_request_for_technical_evaluation_of_the_Eel_Management_Plan_progre ss_reports/28381268?file=54121004 and in the ICES report from the Workshop in support of this advice https://iceslibrary.figshare.com/articles/report/Workshop_for_the_Technical_Evaluation_of_EU_Member_States_Eel_Reg ulation_Progress_Reports_for_Submission_in_2024_2025_WKEMP4_/28788749?file=54098411. 7 EU Action Plan: Protecting and restoring marine ecosystems for sustainable and resilient fisheries, COM/2023/102 final, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52023DC0102. 8 Most recent ICES advice published in November 2025: https://iceslibrary.figshare.com/articles/report/European_eel_i_Anguilla_anguilla_i_throughout_its_natural_range/2720302 8?file=59290940 and ICES report from the Workshop in support of this advice, where country reports are annexed https://ices-”
  Environmental regulation of fisheries
• 2026-02-17 “E-000672/2026 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission welcomes the report by the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change (ESABCC), which underlines the urgency of action to strengthen resilience to climate change both through horizontal and sector measures, reinforcing the messages in the European Climate Risk Assessment. The Commission is developing an Integrated European Framework for Climate Resilience 1 , planned for the end of 2026, and has collected evidence through various channels, including a Call for Evidence and an Open Public Consultation 2 . The ESABCC report and its recommendations are an important element for preparing the Integrated Framework, including its messages regarding the need for a coherent, cross-cutting and science-based framework. As part of the Impact Assessment that will accompany its proposal, the Commission will carefully assess the balance of approaches and measures, including the use of legislative obligations and implementation mechanisms. The Commission confirms that nature-based solutions and ecosystems resilience are central for European climate adaptation and mitigation. The importance of stepping-up nature-based solutions for adaptation is addressed in horizontal adaptation policies 3,4 and guidance documents 5,6 , and the Integrated Framework should also look at incentives for nature-based solutions 7 . It is also a core part of EU climate mitigation policies, for example the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation incentivises nature-based practices and the Commission will set up an EU Buyers’ Club to stimulate private investment in naturebased solutions. 1 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-and-resilience-climate-change/european-climate-resilienceand-risk-management-integrated-framework_en. 2 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14770-European-climate-resilienceand-risk-management-integrated-framework_en. 3 Communication on the EU adaptation strategy, COM (2021) 82 final. 4 Communication Managing climate risks – protecting people and prosperity, COM(2024) 91 final. 5 European Environment Agency, 2021, 'Nature-based solutions in Europe: Policy, Knowledge and practice for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction', EEA report 01/2021, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, ISBN 978-92-9480-362-7, ISSN 1977-8449, doi: 10.2800/919315. 6 European Investment Bank, 2023, 'Investing in nature-based solutions, State-of-play and way forward for public and private financial measures in Europe’, pdf: QH-04-23-551-EN-N ISBN 978-92-861-5572-7 doi: 10.2867/031133. Available at: https://www.eib.org/attachments/lucalli/20230095_investing_in_nature_based_solutions_en.pdf 7 The Mission letter of Commissioner Hoekstra of 1 December 2024 states that the European Climate Adaptation Plan ‘[…] should, for example, cover the impact on infrastructure, energy, water, food and land in cities and rural areas. You should also look at incentives for nature-based solutions’.”
  EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.) · Climate efforts
• 2026-02-16 “E-000650/2026 Answer given by Ms Albuquerque on behalf of the European Commission Addressing circumvention of sanctions, which is now a crime under EU law, is a key priority for the EU. The Commission monitors trade flows, especially goods on the Common High Priority 1 and Economically Critical Goods 2 lists, from the EU to third countries considered to be at high risk of being used as a platform for circumvention, and from these countries to Russia. The EU has several anti-circumvention tools at its disposal. These include imposing sanctions on individuals and entities facilitating circumvention of EU sanctions as per Council Decision 2014/145/CFSP and Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 3 , strengthening export controls towards entities involved in the circumvention of sensitive items to Russia 4 , or the prohibition on export of sensitive goods to a country whose jurisdiction is used to circumvent EU sanctions 5 . The Commission remains determined to fight sanctions evasion and will continue its rigorous monitoring of trade flows and targeted outreach on the issue of sanctions circumvention and will not hesitate to propose any measures considered necessary. Particular importance is placed on monitoring trade flows which show that EU exports of sensitive goods to third countries are at high risk of re-export to Russia, thus circumventing existing export restrictions. In this context, the Commission can propose to activate the Anti-Circumvention Tool (Article 12(f) of the Council Regulation (EU) 833/2014). The Council decides unanimously on the amendment or adoption of new sanctions. 1 https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/list-common-high-priority-items_en. 2 https://finance.ec.europa.eu/publications/list-economically-critical-goods_en. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec/2014/145(1)/2025-12-15 and https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/269/oj/eng. 4 Annex IV of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/833/oj/eng. 5 Article 12f of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014.”
  EU-Russia relations (from March 2022)
• 2026-02-04 “P-000447/2026 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Protecting Europe’s environment is imperative for prosperity and competitiveness, health and well-being of Europeans. Economic resilience and strategic autonomy depend on the environment and the availability of sufficient, clean natural resources. Implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation 1 is just starting and it is too early to draw lessons on its impact. As stated in the environment omnibus communication 2 , the Commission will intensify its support to Member States and regional authorities preparing draft national restoration plans. It will work with Member States and stakeholders to consider additional measures in secondary legislation, support affected parties, attract investment, and reduce reporting burdens. It will stress‑test the Birds 3 and Habitats 4 Directives in 2026, considering inter alia climate change, food security, competitiveness, resilience, evolving case law and the need for legal certainty. The Commission will complete the evaluation of the Nitrates Directive 5 . Following the RESource EU Action Plan 6 and the environment omnibus communication the Commission will review and revise the Water Framework Directive 7 building on stakeholders’ input and experiences in Member States, emphasising simplification and the removal of potential bottlenecks to promote circularity and secure access to critical raw materials in the EU, while protecting the environment and human health. The Commission remains firmly committed to the EU’s environmental and climate objectives 8 . 1 Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024. 2 COM(2025) 980 final,Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions;:Simplifying for sustainable competitiveness. 3 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25. 4 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 5 Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1–8. 6 https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/document/download/01c448d6-dc93-40d7-9afe-4c2af448d00c_en. 7 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32–35. 8 As explained in its answer to written question E-004283/2025.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU · Nature protection and restoration in the EU · EU policy on water management
• 2026-02-03 “E-000426/2026 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Under the Soil Monitoring Law 1 , the Commission will establish an indicative list of soil contaminants including pesticides and their metabolites which Member States will take into account when setting the soil contaminants to be monitored. The cited study will be considered in this exercise. Decisions on the approval of active substances in plant protection products are based on a scientific risk assessment considering effects on human health and the environment, including soil organisms, in accordance with criteria set in Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 2 . The Commission mandated the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in June 2024 3 to review the risk assessment methodology for non-target arthropods other than bees, in-soil organisms and non-target terrestrial plants. EFSA clarified procedural aspects, timelines, deliverables and methodologies 4 . Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the EU and all Member States committed to reduce the risk from pesticides on biodiversity by at least half by 2030. Additional measures are set through the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD) 5 , which requires farmers to apply the principles of integrated pest management (IPM), prioritising preventive measures and natural pest control before chemicals as a last resort. Member States must adopt national action plans for reducing the risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment including soils. Horizon Europe, notably the Mission Soil 6 and Cluster 6 7 , funds research and innovation and Living Labs (e.g. SoilRes 8 and MultiSoil 9 ) that apply IPM, reduce the use and risks of pesticides, and improve soil health and biodiversity, with further funding opportunities in the Work Programme 2026–2027 10 . 1 Directive (EU) 2025/2360 of the European Parliament and of the Council on soil monitoring and resilience, OJ L, 2025/2360, 26.11.2025. 2 Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1. 3 https://open.efsa.europa.eu/questions/EFSA-Q-2025-00658?search=terrestrial+ecotoxicology. 4 https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/sp.efsa.2025.EN-9216. 5 Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides, OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, pp. 71–86. 6 Mission Soil ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’, https://mission-soil-platform.ec.europa.eu/. 7 Cluster 6 ‘Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment’, https://research-andinnovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizoneurope/cluster-6-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_en. 8 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101218994. 9 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101218951. 10 https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/calls-for-proposals.”
  Reduction targets for pesticides · Soil protection policy · EU policy on pesticides
• 2026-01-20 “Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 7.4.2026 Written question The omnibus package [1] aims to reduce administrative burdens and reporting obligations while streamlining environmental procedures. It does not seek to affect the environmental objectives of the underlying legislation. The Commission proposal provides [2] that certain projects in strategic sectors or categories shall be considered to be of public interest and may be considered to have an overriding public interest and to serve public health and safety [3] . Member States may restrict this application to certain territories, types of technology or projects with certain technical characteristics. Competent authorities will need to assess projects on a case-by-case basis to consider their ‘overriding’ public interest and the absence of alternative solutions. Regarding the Industrial Emissions Directive [4] , its core elements remain unchanged, with Commission proposals focusing on simplification without compromising its objectives. The Substances of Concern in articles or in Products (SCIP) database has been considered ineffective and costly, as waste operators struggle with its complex information requirements. Regulation (EU) 2025/2455 [5] (One Substance One Assessment) introduces the Common Data Platform on Chemicals, which will incorporate data from the SCIP database. Regarding the revision of the Water Framework Directive [6] , in line with the Better Regulation Guidelines [7] , the Commission will conduct a proportionate impact assessment and consultation process ensuring that proposals are evidence-based. A call for evidence has been launched [8] . [1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/simplification-administrative-burdens-environmental-legislation_en. [2] Under Article 14 and the toolbox for strategic sectors or categories in the annex to the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on speeding-up environmental assessment, COM(2025) 984 final, 2025/0391 (COD). [3] For the purposes of Article 4(7) of the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, Article 9(1), point (a), of the Birds Directive 2009/147/EC, and Articles 6(4) and 16(1) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. [4] Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 on industrial and livestock rearing emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) (Recast), OJ L 334, 17.12.2010, p. 17-119, as amended by Directive (EU) 2024/1785 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 April 2024 OJ L, 15.7.2024. [5] Regulation (EU) 2025/2455 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2025 establishing a common data platform on chemicals, laying down rules to ensure that the data contained in it are findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable and establishing a monitoring and outlook framework for chemicals, OJ L, 2025/2455, 12.12.2025. [6] Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1-73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32-35. [7] https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/better-regulation/better-regulation-guidelines-and-toolbox_en. [8] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/17034-EU-water-policy-targeted-revision-of-the-Water-Framework-Directive_en.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU · EU policy on water management · Industrial emissions directive (IED)
• 2026-01-15 “Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission 18.3.2026 Written question The initial draft restriction proposal was split into two separate proposals, one on lead in ammunition, the other on lead in fishing tackle, at the request of Member States in the Committee established [1] under the regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). The aim was to make each restriction simpler and easier to understand, improve legal clarity, facilitate discussions and speed up adoption. The Commission intends to continue discussing the two restriction proposals with the Member States in parallel until one, or both, are mature for a vote in the REACH committee. The transitional periods for lead gunshot were not changed. Changes to the transitional periods for certain bullets for hunting were introduced to address Member States’ concerns. The Commission is striving to strike a careful balance between minimising lead emissions and limiting socioeconomic impacts, with the aim to achieve consensus among Member States on this important restriction. The Commission remains fully committed to protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of lead, a toxic substance. The extended transitional periods for bullets for hunting will have a negligible impact on total lead emission, considering that emissions from lead bullets from hunting represent less than 0.5% of the total emissions targeted by the restriction. [1] Article 133 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02006R1907-20251023.”
  Chemicals regulation · Water pollution
• 2026-01-14 “E-000151/2026 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The exchanges between the Commission and Slovakia since 30 June 2025 have aimed at ensuring that any culling of brown bears in Slovakia is based on derogation decisions which meet the requirements of the Habitats Directive 1 . Slovakia explained to the Commission the methodology used for estimating its bear population and that it was launching a DNA-based bear census which will provide up-to-date information on the country’s bear population. The Commission continues to closely follow the situation in Slovakia. During these exchanges the Commission has received reassurance by Slovakia that any further culling of bear specimens required for the protection of human life and health would be done in full compliance with the provisions of the relevant EU legislation. 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC, of 21 May 1992, on the protection of natural habitats and wild fauna and flora (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/1992/43/oj/eng), OJ L 206, 22.7.1992.”
  Large Carnivores
• 2026-01-12 “Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 23.3.2026 Written question Under EU law, the Spanish wolf populations north of the Duero has been listed in Annex V of the Habitats Directive [1] since adoption, i.e. as a ‘protected’ species. This protection level gives authorities the flexibility to manage their local wolf populations, so that they can take measures that are well adapted to regional circumstances. However, pursuant Article 14, any taking in the wild of a species in Annex V, such as the wolf, must be carefully regulated since the Member State is still obliged to ensure that the favourable conservation status of the concerned populations is achieved and/or maintained . Member State authorities have the discretion to maintain or introduce more stringent protective measures [2] . Compliance with such measures, above what is required in EU law, is for the national authorities to ensure. It is important that the conclusion on the conservation status of the wolf is based on the best available scientific data obtained through the surveillance to be carried out by Member States under the directive [3] , which holds particular importance for the implementation of Article 14 [4] . This should also consider potential errors in sampling methods. Moreover, it is reasonable that surveillance takes into account factors that may have a negative impact on species’ conservation status, such as illegal killing [5] . A species cannot be hunted if effective surveillance of its conservation status is not ensured [6] . The competent administrative and judicial authorities in the Member States are primarily responsible for the correct implementation of the above obligations . The Commission is monitoring the situation closely and has urged Spain to submit its report under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive [7] for the period 2019-2024. [1] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, pp. 7-50. [2] As enshrined in Article 193 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. [3] Article 11. [4] Case C-436/22, paragraph 65, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A62022CJ0436. [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=PI_COM:C(2021)7301. [6] Decision Court of Justice of the EU in relation to Article 14: Case C-436/22, paragraph 59. [7] INFR(2025)2214, https://ec.europa.eu/implementing-eu-law/search-infringement-decisions/?langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byDecision&refId=INFR(2025)2214&page=1&size=10&order=desc&sortColumns=decisionDate.”
  Large Carnivores · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-11-12 “E-004495/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Landfill Directive 1 aims to reduce landfilling and prevent pollution of air, soil, surfaceand groundwater and resulting health risks. A permit may not be granted unless the characteristics of the site or the corrective measures to be taken indicate that the landfill does not pose a serious environmental risk 2 . The location of the landfill must consider distance to residential areas or urban sites; and existence of nature protection zones in the area 3 . The national authorities are better placed than the Commission to assess conditions on site and risks involved. Member States must ensure that the standards of the Ambient Air Quality Directives 4 are met. If limit values are exceeded, measures shall be taken to keep it as short as possible. Directive 2024/2881 5 shall be transposed by 11 December 2026 and requires air quality roadmaps to meet the new limit values set therein. The municipality of Pinto is part of air quality zone ES 1309 Urbana Sur where nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter (PM) 10 , PM 2.5 and Ozone are measured. No limit value 6 was exceeded in 2024 in this zone, according to information from Spanish authorities. National authorities, including judicial, are primarily responsible to ensure compliance with EU law. The consequences of a breach depend on national law, provided penalties are effective, proportionate and dissuasive 7 . In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will continue monitoring the situation and may decide to take appropriate action. In line with its strategic approach on enforcement, the Commission focuses on systemic noncompliance 8 . 1 Council Directive 1999/31/EC of 26 April 1999 on the landfill of waste, OJ L 182, 16.7.1999, p. 1–19, amended by Directive (EU) 2018/850 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 100–108. 2 Article 1, 7-11 and Annex I, Section 1.2 of the Landfill Directive. 3 Annex I, Section 1.1 of the Landfill Directive. 4 Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air, OJ L 23, 26.1.2005, p. 3–16; Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, OJ L 152, 11.6.2008, p. 1–44. 5 Directive (EU) 2024/2881 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2024 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (recast) OJ L, 2024/2881, 20.11.2024. 6 Of those established in Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 May 2008 on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe, OJ L 152, 11.6.2008, p. 1–44. 7 Article 36(2) of the Waste framework directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives, OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3–30, as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 109–140, applicable by analogy. 8 As set out in the Communication of 19 January 2017: EU law: Better results through better application C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10–20 and in the Communication of 13 October 2022: COM(2022) 518 final - Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2025-10-31 “E-004283/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission In line with the Competitiveness Compass, the Commission is committed to simplify Union legislation 1 . The Commission remains firmly committed to the Union’s environmental objectives and has made clear that simplification and efficient achievement of policy objectives should go hand in hand. Article 5 of Protocol (No 2) of the Treaties requires that draft legislative acts minimise financial burdens on public authorities, citizens and economic operators commensurate with the objectives to be achieved. The Commission’s longstanding policy on Better Regulation 2 integrates these aspects and aims to achieve policy objectives as efficiently as possible. This policy predates the European Green Deal 3 . For this mandate, the Political Guidelines 4 focus on reducing administrative burdens and simplifying implementation: less red tape and reporting, more trust, better enforcement, faster permitting. The aim is to achieve the objectives of the laws with a leaner legal framework that is easier and less costly to implement. When exercising its prerogative to initiate legislation, the Commission respects the parameters of the appropriate legal basis and supports its proposals with relevant evidence, and wide consultation as required by Protocol (No 2) taking into account the interinstitutional agreement on better-law-making from 2016 5 . It is always open to discuss amendments by the co-legislators to the Commission’s proposals in line with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. 1 COM(2025) 30 final of 29 January 2025, A Competitiveness Compass for the EU. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/better-regulation_en. 3 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en. 4 https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/towards-new-commission-2024-2029_en. 5 Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making; OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p.1.”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU · Overall simplification of regulation in the EU
• 2025-10-27 “E-004213/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is aware of recent reports by non-governmental organisations regarding the data collected by the European Environment Agency on the CO 2 emissions of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The data shows a large gap between the real-world measurements for PHEVs and the CO 2 values stated in the Certificate of Conformity and communicated to vehicle owners, and that these vehicles are currently not realising their potential, largely because they are not being charged and driven electrically as frequently as anticipated. Still, according to the report quoted by the Honourable Member, average real-world CO 2 emissions of PHEVs were 19% lower than those of conventional cars. The ‘zero- and low-emission vehicle’ (ZLEV) classification is based on the calculated CO 2 emissions during type-approval and is independent of the vehicle powertrain. ZLEVs are defined in the CO 2 standards Regulation 1 as light-duty vehicles with tailpipe emissions from zero up to 50 grammes CO 2 /km. In 2023, the Commission introduced changes 2 to the utility factor calculation, applicable as of 2025, to ensure that the official CO 2 emissions determined for PHEVs are representative of real driver behaviour. This factor determines the expected share of distance driven electrically based on the electric range of a PHEV. It is used for calculating the fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions during their type-approval. The Commission has accelerated the work on preparing the review of the CO 2 standards, which will be based on a fact-based analysis, taking into account all relevant technological developments, including as regards plug-in hybrid technologies, and the importance of an economically viable and socially fair transition towards zero-emission mobility. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02019R0631-20231203. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32023R0443.”
  Road transport environmental policy
• 2025-10-13 “E-004007/2025 Answer given by Ms Albuquerque on behalf of the European Commission The Commission notes that many technologies needed for the green transition rely on the use of substances that present certain health hazards. To avoid that excessively strict requirements prevent from investing in crucial transition technologies, urgent changes to Appendix C 1 were needed. The requirement for substances ‘self-classified’ to display one of the hazard classes mentioned in Article 57 of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 2 has been repealed. Undertakings reported major difficulties or even impossibility to show proof of compliance with this requirement. The proposed changes will reduce the administrative burden and improve the usability of EU taxonomy in practice which supports the aim of scaling up sustainable investment. The Commission deleted the separate templates on fossil gas and nuclear activities as they were considered burdensome, especially for companies with limited exposures to those sectors. Non-financial undertakings will still report on those activities in the ‘per activity' template and financial undertakings in an aggregated form in their standard template. The flexibility of the cumulative materiality threshold of 10% will allow companies to focus their reporting on core business activities. It will reduce the cost and administrative burden of Taxonomy reporting where assessing the alignment of non-material assets would be overly complex. Transparency is ensured as non-financial undertakings will have to separately report in the templates the proportion of turnover, CapEx 3 , or OpEx 4 that was not assessed as a result of being considered non-material. This applies also for financial undertakings which will report non-material assets separately as non-material exposures in the templates. 1 OJ L 442, 9.12.2021, pp. 1–349, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R2139. 2 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC, OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, pp. 1. 3 Capital expenditure. 4 Operating expenditure.”
  Green Taxonomy
• 2025-10-13 “E-004009/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission is of the opinion that the new Detailed Rules 1 for the application of Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 2 on access to documents are fully in line with the said regulation and the case-law of the Court of Justice of the EU, ensuring full compliance with the Aarhus Convention and Regulation 3 . They enhance transparency for all documents, including those pertaining to health and the environment, by incorporating provisions that guarantee, for instance, the proactive publication of a wide array of documents and the highquality of responses to requests for access to documents. 2. The Commission is firmly committed to upholding the principles of access to documents and democratic participation as enshrined in the Treaties and EU legislation. Moreover, the Commission consistently assesses how to further improve the effectiveness of these principles in accordance with the applicable rules. The Commission is a party to two pending Court cases 4 in which the review of selected provisions of the detailed rules is at stake, amongst which ClientEarth’s action for annulment. This action for annulment concerns the reply given by the Commission to their request for internal review introduced on the basis of the Aarhus Regulation. This reply is publicly accessible 5 and expresses the position of the Commission on this matter. The Commission is not at liberty to further comment pending cases. 1 Commission Decision (EU) 2024/3080 of 4 December 2024 establishing the Rules of Procedure of the Commission and amending Decision C(2000) 3614, OJ L, 2024/3080, 5.12.2024, http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/3080/oj. 2 Regulation (EC) No 1049/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2001 regarding public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents, OJ L 145, 31.5.2001, pp. 43–48. 3 Regulation (EC) No 1367/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 September 2006 on the application of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters to Community institutions and bodies, OJ L 264, 25.9.2006, pp. 13–19. 4 T-146/25, De Capitani and Others v Commission and T-641/25, ClientEarth v Commission. 5 See internal review request number 102 on this website: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/law-andgovernance/aarhus/requests-internal-review_en#repository-of-requests-for-internal--review-lodged-with-theeuropean-commission-pursuant-to-article-10-of-regulation--ec-no-13672006-aarhus-regulation.”
  Transparency requirements of EU institutions
• 2025-10-02 “P-003874/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Information System is an independent module of the Trade Control and Expert System 1 platform, established by Regulation (EU) 2017/625 2 . It adheres to the protection-by-design and protection-by-default principles, ensuring the high level of security and privacy from the outset, following strictly Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46 of 10 January 2017 3 . The Commission adhered also to the principles outlined in the Communication of the Commission on the Commission digital strategy/Next generation digital Commission 4 . Stakeholders brought information to the attention of the Commission during summer 2025 on their planned number of interactions with the Information System, and the use of automated transactions for the submission of due diligence statements that are expected to trigger a multiplicity of hits to the Information System and to impact the load significantly. After verifying the information and conducting a substantial upward reassessment of the projected load of the Information System, the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy communicated the need to take action to ensure the smooth functioning of the Information System. The Commission cannot risk potential disruptions to the Information System, which would negatively affect companies and undermine the overall objectives of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 5 . The Commission presented a proposal to amend the EUDR in order to reduce the load on the EUDR Information System and ease the administrative burden for economic operators, while maintaining the Regulation’s environmental integrity. On 4 December 2025, the co-legislators agreed on the revised EUDR 6 . The new date of entry into application will be 30 December 2026 for all companies except for most micro- or small operators, for which it will be 30 June 2027. For micro- or small operators already covered by the EU Timber Regulation 7 , the entry 1 https://food.ec.europa.eu/horizontal-topics/traces_en. 2 Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1069/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 1151/2012, (EU) No 652/2014, (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2016/2031 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Regulations (EC) No 1/2005 and (EC) No 1099/2009 and Council Directives 98/58/EC, 1999/74/EC, 2007/43/EC, 2008/119/EC and 2008/120/EC, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 89/608/EEC, 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 96/23/EC, 96/93/EC and 97/78/EC and Council Decision 92/438/EEC (Official Controls Regulation), OJ L 95, 7.4.2017, pp. 1–142. 3 Commission Decision (EU, Euratom) 2017/46 of 10 January 2017 on the security of communication and information systems in the European Commission, OJ L 6, 11.1.2017, pp. 40–51. 4 C(2022) 4388 final, Brussels, 30.6.2022. 5 Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206–247. 6 Regulation (EU) 2025/2650 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2025 amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 as regards certain obligations of operators and traders, OJ L, 2025/2650, 23.12.2025. 7 Regulation (EU) No 995/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 laying down the obligations of operators who place timber and timber products on the market, OJ L 295, 12.11.2010, pp. 23–”
  Trade impact on forests
• 2025-10-02 “E-003872/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission According to the Habitats Directive 1 , Member States must prohibit the use of all indiscriminate means capable of causing local disappearances of, or serious disturbance to, populations of species mentioned in Annex V, including the wolf 2 . The applicability of Article 15 would therefore depend on the means and forms employed when engaging in recreational hunting. In any case, under Article 14, measures must be taken to ensure that exploitation of species mentioned in Annex V is compatible with maintaining favourable conservation status. The Court of Justice of the EU ruled that Article 14 of the Directive prohibited Spanish regional legislation permitting wolf hunting, as the conservation status in Spain was classified as ‘unfavourable poor’ 3 . The competent authorities must be able to verify that the exploitation of an Annex V species is compatible with the obligation to maintain their favourable conservation status. This requires knowledge of the status of the populations concerned and the extent of the exploitation. Without clear quotas or scientific underpinning, acquiring such knowledge will not be possible. Equally, if the conservation status cannot be determined, for example because it is reported as unknown under Article 17 of the Directive, the competent authority must refrain from authorising exploitation. Without this information, it would not be possible to determine the impact on conservation status 4 . When assessing conservation status, it may be necessary to consider cumulative impacts, including hunting in other neighbouring regions. The determination of whether conservation status is favourable must refer to population dynamics, range and habitat availability, in line with Article 1(i) of the Directive 5 . 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 2 Directive (EU) 2025/1237 amending the Habitats Directive as regards the protection status of the wolf, OJ L, 2025/1237, 24.6.2025. 3 Case C-436/22 ASCEL, https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&num=C-436/22. 4 Case C-436/22 ASCEL, paragraph 72. 5 Guidelines on Concepts and Definitions - Article 17 of Directive 92/43/EEC, Reporting period 2019 2024, https://cdr.eionet.europa.eu/help/habitats_art17.”
  Large Carnivores
• 2025-09-26 “E-003751/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member on the threats posed by wildlife trafficking. The study referred to by the Honourable Member assessed the need for, added value, and feasibility of criminalising all trade in illegal wildlife across the EU. It concluded that such criminalisation is legally feasible under Article 83(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, provided it complies with criminal law principles. However, significant data and traceability gaps on species not covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 1 currently prevent a full assessment of its proportionality and necessity. The study was exploratory, and no decision has been taken at this stage on a legislative proposal. Wildlife trafficking is addressed under the new Environmental Crime Directive 2 , which Member States must transpose by May 2026. In parallel, fighting wildlife trafficking remains a political and enforcement priority for the Commission, which works closely with the EU Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) 3 , the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) 4 , and international partners. On traceability, the Commission recognises the importance of data on wildlife trade and will continue to explore possible options to improve the current system. 1 https://cites.org/eng. 2 Directive (EU) 2024/1203 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on the protection of the environment through criminal law and replacing Directives 2008/99/EC and 2009/123/EC. 3 https://www.europol.europa.eu/. 4 https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/.”
  Environmental crimes and justice
• 2025-09-16 “E-003563/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission recognises the significant impact that catastrophic wildfires have on biodiversity. Large and intense fires are increasing in frequency as a result of climate change and other factors such as land abandonment and subsequent fuel accumulation. To address these challenges, ongoing research is informing policy development 1 , and the Commission is preparing a comprehensive guidance document on climate change and Natura 2000. This document will assist Member States in implementing wildfire risk management strategies in sensitive areas, aiming to mitigate the adverse effects on protected species and habitats and to promote the adoption of ecosystem-based prevention techniques. 2. Species listed in Annex V of the Habitats Directive 2 can be exploited under the condition that their exploitation is compatible with their being maintained at a favourable conservation status. The responsibility for implementing specific management measures, such as regulating hunting following catastrophic wildfires, resides with the Member States. In this framework the Common Agricultural Policy 3 offers measures and funding for fire prevention and restoration that could be availed in the country strategy. 3. The European Environment Agency 4 and the Commission will assess the data reported by Member States under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive on the conservation status of protected habitat types and species, including the wolf. Where wildfires have a significant impact on the habitat condition, or on protected species directly, this is likely to be reflected in the reported data. 1 For example, the FIRE-ADAPT project, funded under Horizon Europe, focuses on integrated fire management across the Mediterranean and beyond. More information: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101086416. 2 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/food-farming-fisheries/key-policies/common-agricultural-policy_en. 4 https://www.eea.europa.eu/en.”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU · Large Carnivores
• 2025-09-15 “E-003532/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Several EU legislative acts, policies and financing possibilities, address microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive 1 requires Member States to monitor and reduce quantities of marine litter, including microplastics, to avoid harm to coast and ocean. In 2020 experts agreed a maximum of 20 items for every 100 metres of coastline 2 ; its revision announced in the Water Resilience Strategy 3 and the Ocean Pact 4 will further enhance marine environment protection. Other threshold values are being developed as required by the ‘good environmental status’ Decision 5 . The EU’s Plastics Strategy 6 , the Single-use Plastics Directive 7 and the Port Reception Facilities Directive 8 aim to reduce litter. Measures against marine plastic litter also tackle microplastic pollution, largely generated by plastic waste. The Commission restricted the use of microplastics in products 9 . The forthcoming regulation on plastic pellets losses will strengthen this framework 10 ; initiatives against microplastics from paints, tyres, textiles and detergents are in place or about to be adopted. Measures targeted at the Mediterranean include the EU-funded project Marine Litter Med Plus 11 supporting the updated Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management. The EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030’, contributes also to the prevention and elimination of microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean 12 . While there was no agreement on the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Geneva 1 Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy, OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19–40. 2 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/marine-environment/descriptors-under-marine-strategy-frameworkdirective_en. 3 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en. 4 https://oceans-and-fisheries.ec.europa.eu/european-ocean-pact_en. 5 Commission Decision (EU) 2017/848 of 17 May 2017 laying down criteria and methodological standards on good environmental status of marine waters and specifications and standardised methods for monitoring and assessment, and repealing Decision 2010/477/EU. 6 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/plastics-strategy_en. 7 Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, OJ L 155, 12.6.2019, p. 1–19. 8 Directive (EU) 2019/883 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, amending Directive 2010/65/EU and repealing Directive 2000/59/EC, OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 116–142. 9 Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 of 25 September 2023 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards synthetic polymer microparticles, OJ L 238, 27.9.2023, pp. 67–88. 10 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1023. 11 https://www.unep.org/unepmap/what-we-do/projects/MarineLitterMED-Plus. 12 More information on the mission ocean and waters service portal and Horizon projects dashboard: https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmesand-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/restore-our-ocean-and-waters/horizon-missionprojects#content-paragraph-658; and https://ec.europa.eu/info/fundingtenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/horizon-dashboard.”
  EU ocean policy · Microplastics
• 2025-09-15 “E-003533/2025 Answer given by Mr Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission Reducing the impact of pesticide use and risk 1 is an objective of the EU, and significant progress is being made 2 in this regard. The Commission withdrew 3 the sustainable use of plant protection products Regulation proposal since no agreement was foreseeable, considering its rejection by the Parliament and a lack of progress in Council. The Commission’s focus is on implementation of the sustainable use of pesticides Directive 4 . Member States must have national action plans aimed at reducing risks and impacts of pesticide use, including via better implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The Commission will propose a simplification package on food and feed safety 5 , including measures to accelerate access to the EU market for biocontrol substances and products. In addition, through the Horizon Europe programme, the Commission supported projects to reduce hazardous pesticides use 6 and to develop bio-based alternatives for crop protection 7,8 . Member States can include measures to protect biodiversity from pesticides impacts in their National Restoration Plans under the Nature Restoration Regulation 9 . Such measures may include restrictions of pesticide use in areas under restoration or incentives for biocontrol or other measures. Beyond its conditionality requirements, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 10 provides a range of tools, including eco-schemes, agri-environmental and climate commitments and advisory services, supporting the reduction of pesticide use 11 . Funding opportunities will also continue to exist in the CAP post-2027. 1 https://food.ec.europa.eu/plants/pesticides/sustainable-use-pesticides/pesticide-reduction-targets-progress/eutrends_en. 2 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/w/ddn-20250513-1. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/3117/oj. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2009/128/oj/eng. 5 As announced in the Vision for Agriculture and Food COM/2025/75 final. 6 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101137089. 7 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101214981. 8 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101209410. 9 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1991/oj. 10 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/2115/oj/eng 11 On a total of 43 million hectares (27% of the EU agricultural area) https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-06/approved-28-cap-strategic-plans-2023-27.pdf.”
  EU policy on pesticides · Reduction targets for pesticides
• 2025-09-10 “E-003508/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission As part of its proposal on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 1 , the Commission proposed to establish a European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) 2 . It also proposed to repeal a number of funding programmes in the current MFF 3 , including the EU programme for the environment and climate action (LIFE) 4 . It is important to note that activities funded under LIFE would remain under the remit of the new MFF, including the ECF 5 . The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation FP10 6 will support collaborative research for clean transition, decarbonisation and bioeconomy, with its overall budget subject to a 40% green target. LIFE activities have therefore been firmly anchored in the ECF. Additionally, support for strategic environmental initiatives, as well as cross-national projects, have been included in the new MFF proposals under the National and Regional Partnership Plans and specifically within the EU Facility 7 . To uphold and strengthen the EU’s commitments with respect to environment and climate 8 , the Commission has proposed a dedicated 35% spending in the next MFF to mobilise EUR 700 billion for climate and environment objectives. This target encompasses climate mitigation, climate adaptation and resilience, and the environment, including biodiversity. It will apply to most of the funds 9 , with 43% of the national and regional partnership plans and 43% of the ECF, for actions supporting the green transition, renewables, industrial decarbonisation, the protection of water and biodiversity, reduction of pollution, or the recycling of critical raw materials. The proposals allow for a coherent tracking of the next MFF’s contribution to environmental and climate goals, through a unified tracking methodology that avoids double counting of expenditure for climate and environment. Importantly, the new MFF includes mechanisms to integrate climate and environment aspects, as activities supported by the European budget will have to comply with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/eu-budget-2028-2034_en. 2 COM(2025) 555, Article 85. 3 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/2021-2027/documents_en. 4 Regulation (EU) 2021/783 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2021 establishing a Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE), and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1293/2013, OJ L 172, 17.5.2021, p. 53–78. 5 as stated in Articles 33 and 37 of the proposed Regulation. 6 The successor of Horizon Europe - https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-research-andinnovation-news/horizon-europe-2028-2034-twice-bigger-simpler-faster-and-more-impactful-2025-07-16_en. 7 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the committee of the Regions - A dynamic EU Budget for the priorities of the future - The Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0570. 8 established for the EU or pledged at international level. 9 The target does not apply to AgoraEU, Erasmus+, and the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and Union support for health emergency preparedness and response.”
  Climate efforts
• 2025-08-25 “E-003291/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The land sector is EU’s perhaps most important natural resource. It provides food and material for the bioeconomy, sustains a wealth of biodiversity and regulates climate. Forests in Europe are vital for the climate transition, and the Commission shares the concern regarding the declining trend of the annual carbon sink between 2016 and 2022 1 . One of the key objectives of the ongoing evaluation of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation is to better understand the driving factors behind the declining sink, such as natural disturbances and management practices. It is nevertheless clear that climate change increases pressures on forests through droughts, fires, storms and pests. Several initiatives seek to strengthen the incentives to enhance forest sinks, including to boost their resilience. This includes, among others, the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Certification Framework 2 and the Nature Restoration Regulation 3 . Collaboration with foresters and other actors across the forest-based value chain must continue to reverse this trend and promote long-term resilient forests for the EU bioeconomy and climate. High quality, comparable and timely data is a prerequisite for efficient and evidence-based policy making. This is why the Commission proposed a Forest Monitoring Law 4 in November 2023 to create a common EU framework for improved monitoring. With cost-efficiency and simplification as guiding principles, the proposal builds on making good use of existing advanced technologies such as satellites. At the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 23 June 2025, the Commission in its statement expressed major concerns about the draft Council position, following which it may consider withdrawing the proposal. 1 EU Biomass supply, uses, governance and regenerative actions, Joint Research Centre, Figure 84: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC140117. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202403012. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1991/oj/eng. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52023PC0728.”
  Management of EU forests · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-08-25 “E-003289/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Despite the temporary setback in negotiations, the EU remains steadfast in achieving its internal targets concerning plastic pollution reduction and the transition to a circular economy. It will be important to progress with the implementation of existing EU legislation, including those related to single-use plastics 1 , packaging waste 2 , plastic pellets 3 and quality of the marine environment 4 . These measures already deliver results, such as reduction of beach litter abundance by almost 30% at the EU level 5 . Strengthening the implementation both of the EU legislation and pollution-related Multilateral Environmental Agreements 6 is critical, as well as bilateral cooperation to reduce plastic pollution. The EU’s position is clear on the need for a global agreement that addresses the full lifecycle, to effectively tackle the crisis of plastic pollution. A majority of the United Nations’ Member States, businesses and civil society are aligned in their commitment to finalise a global binding treaty for a clean, competitive, circular economy and public health and well-being. The Commission will continue active engagement with all the stakeholders with this objective. The Commission remains committed to the achievement of climate neutrality by 2050 and ‘Zero pollution’ 2030 reduction targets, such as for plastic litter at sea (by 50 %) and for microplastics released into the environment (by 30%) 7 , inter alia, through the abovementioned legislation and overall EU environmental and climate policies. 1 Directive (EU) 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, OJ L 155, 12.6.2019, p. 1–19. 2 Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC, OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025. 3 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-regulation-preventing-pellet-losses_en. 4 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-evaluates-sea-protection-and-bathing-water-quality-laws2025-03-06_en. 5 https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC138907. 6 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/international-cooperation/multilateral-environmental-agreements-meas_en. 7 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/zero-pollution-action-plan/zero-pollution-targets_en.”
  EU policy towards plastics · Circular economy
• 2025-07-25 “E-003097/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission welcomes the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change, which broadly reflects the EU’s position as submitted to the ICJ proceedings. The Court confirms the importance of the challenge faced and the importance of climate and environmental protection efforts. It also reaffirms the obligation for States to cooperate and take collective and ambitious climate and environmental measures. The Commission does not envisage specific action as an immediate follow-up to the Advisory Opinion. The Commission considers that its proposal for a 2040 target of a reduction of net greenhouse gas emissions of 90% compared to 1990 levels, including starting from 2036 a possible limited contribution of high-quality credits from outside the EU, is in line with its obligations under the Paris Agreement and international law, and calls on co-legislators for a swift political agreement on the 2040 target so as to enable the communication of an Nationally Determined Contribution ahead of the next COP30 in Belem. The Commission will continue to lead international efforts to stay on the Paris Agreement trajectory, and to further develop, implement and enforce EU climate and environmental policies to comply with the obligations and commitments under other applicable law specifically identified by the ICJ.”
  Climate efforts
• 2025-07-15 “E-002887/2025 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission 1. The simplification Omnibus for chemicals proposal published on 8 July 2025 1 will not weaken consumer protection. It introduces clearer, more enforceable rules for the prohibition of carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic (CMR) substances 2 that remain banned by default in cosmetics. A derogation is only possible under strict conditions, including a positive safety assessment by the independent Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). A CMR classification under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging Regulation 3 is hazard-based and does not consider real-world exposure in cosmetics (e.g. concentration, application method, frequency). The proposal allows for a risk-based assessment, ensuring that substances posing no proven risk via skin contact may be considered safe for use, following an assessment by the SCCS. The possibility of risk via inhalation or oral exposure can and will be considered, where relevant. 2. The proposal obliges the SCCS to conduct a thorough safety assessment of the substance under the derogation procedure. Only if the SCCS concludes that the substance is safe for human health under specific conditions of use, it can be used in cosmetics. 3. The proposal maintains a high level of health protection while addressing regulatory gaps that have made the current derogation process very difficult to implement. It supports better implementation, legal certainty, ensuring that CMR substances are only allowed when multiple criteria are fulfilled including safety. 1 https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/publications/simplification-certain-requirements-and-procedureschemical-products_en. 2 Chemical substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction. 3 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1272/2025-02-01.”
  Pharmaceuticals regulation in EU
• 2025-07-15 “E-002874/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission is aware both of the positive achievements - e.g. on air pollution and climate change mitigation - and of the areas of concern pointed out by the European Environment Agency. The Commission takes those very seriously. It has already discussed the matter with ministers in the Environmental Council and stands ready to do the same with the European Parliament. The Commission’s simplification efforts aim to achieve agreed policy objectives in the simplest, most targeted, effective and least burdensome way 1 . 2. In addition to measures already agreed but not yet implemented, the Commission is committed to taking additional measures in areas that require further action. It has proposed a net 90% emission reduction target for 2040 2 , sending a strong signal of policy continuity. It has presented a Water Resilience Strategy 3 tackling both water quantity and quality and will present a European Plan for Climate Resilience 4 , and a Circular Economy Act 5 . For the next multiannual financial framework 6 , the Commission proposes a 35% climate and environment spending target, which should mobilise over EUR 700 billion to support ambitious green investments. The ‘Do No Significant Harm’ and a new ‘climate resilience by design’ principle applied will ensure that EU funding does not run counter to climate and environmental goals. 3. The Commission is committed to stay the course on the Green Deal 7 and is proposing simplification 8 not deregulation. It wants to allow businesses and administrations to deliver on common objectives more flexibly and at lower cost, facilitating effective implementation. The engagement to simplify and reduce administrative burden without lowering the standards was stressed at numerous occasions by the Commission. 1 COM(2025) 30 final of 29 January 2025. 2 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1687. 3 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en. 4 https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/eu-adaptation-policy/european-climate-adaptation-plan. 5 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/commission-launches-consultation-upcoming-circular-economy-act2025-08-01_en. 6 https://commission.europa.eu/publications/multiannual-financial-framework_en. 7 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en. 8 COM(2025) 47 final of the 11 February 2025.”
  Overall simplification of regulation in the EU · Climate efforts
• 2025-06-25 “E-002562/2025 Answer given by Mr Jørgensen on behalf of the European Commission Each Member State has the right to determine the conditions for exploiting its energy resources, choose between different energy sources and decide on the general structure of its energy supply 1 . As an aggregated reflection of national energy perspectives, the Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC) aims at facilitating Member States’ coordinated development of investments in nuclear energy 2 . The updated PINC provides aggregated quantitative and qualitative information on the scope of investment needs across the nuclear energy life-cycle for Member-States’ to deliver on their national plans regarding nuclear energy deployment 3 . The classification of nuclear energy related activities as ‘transitional’ is based on Article 10(2) of Regulation (EU) 2020/852 4 . The assessment underlying the Commission’s decision to include notably nuclear activities as transitional is explained in the Explanatory memorandum to the Delegated Act 5 . It concludes that nuclear energy related economic activities should be classified as transitional in the absence of technologically and economically feasible lowcarbon alternatives at a sufficient scale to cover the energy demand in a continuous and reliable manner. The Commission monitors that Member States remain on track to meet the EU climate neutrality objective, as well as the related agreed renewable energy and climate targets for 2030. This is achieved through the governance framework 6 , including by assessing Member States’ National Energy and Climate Plans and monitoring of progress. 1 In accordance with the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), art. 194. 2 Consolidated version of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community, art. 40. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12012A/TXT. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12012A/TXT. 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0852&from=EN. 5 Document C(2022)631, available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=PI_COM:C(2022)631. The Complementary Delegated Act further specifies that the construction and safe operation of new nuclear installations, for which the construction permit has been issued by 2045, is considered taxonomy-compliant. Available at: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32022R1214. Given the average lifetime of a nuclear power plant, the operation of nuclear installations can be taxonomy-compliant at least until the end of this century, not contradicting the long-term investment plans outlined in the PINC. 6 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1999.”
  Nuclear energy
• 2025-06-17 “E-002442/2025 Answer given by Mr Dombrovskis on behalf of the European Commission Under the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) Regulation 2021/241, biodiversity is one of the areas that should be supported by reforms and investments for the green transition. The Regulation acknowledges the importance of tackling the biodiversity loss and sets out RRF as a contributor to the mainstreaming of biodiversity action in Union policies. With more than EUR 11 billion 1 dedicated to biodiversity, the RRF is the third EU instrument per contribution after the Common Agricultural Policy and the Cohesion funds. In the RRF, the Commission used the climate tracking methodology outlined in Annex VI of the RRF Regulation 2 . As the RRF ends by 31/12/2026, the focus is now on implementing each RRP and there is therefore no on-going work to change monitoring systems. The Commission proposal on the next Multiannual Financial Framework provides for a new monitoring system for horizontal priorities where a 35% ‘climate and environment spending target’ and a streamlined application of the ‘do no significant harm’ principle, where feasible and appropriate to achieve the set objectives of the programmes and activities, will in particular apply. 3 1 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/83ae884a-db42-4423-aca03cf8dfb0e02d_en?filename=Budget%20contribution%20-%20biodiversity.pdf. 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R0241. 3 Article 4 and 5, respectively, in https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52025PC0545&qid=1753797488776.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-06-16 “E-002417/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Water Resilience Strategy (WRS) 1 promotes nature-based solutions (NbS) by leveraging nature 2,3,4 , water 5 and climate policy 6 , which advocate using ecosystems like soils, wetlands, and forests for natural water management. To further these efforts, the Commission supports research and innovation to promote NbS 7 and plans to create a Sponge Facility. This will establish a coordinated framework to boost water retention on land, leveraging the natural abilities of ecosystems and innovative ‘sponge cities’ 8 . Additionally, the Commission seeks to foster public-private initiatives to advance cost-effective, innovative solutions for water management that reduce reliance on traditional grey infrastructure. To align with long-term climate scenarios and avoid stranded investments, the WRS emphasises integrated, sustainable planning. The Commission will enforce the Water Framework and Floods Directives by reviewing Member States' plans and offering climatealigned recommendations during the upcoming structured dialogues. These dialogues will also incorporate the guidance on adapting river basin management plans to climate change 9 . Furthermore, the Commission intends to adopt an Integrated Framework for Climate Resilience and Risk Management in 2026, which will help ensure that the right climate scenarios are considered for any water management planning decisions. The Commission will support tackling water scarcity and drought by developing indicators and releasing Technical Guidance on Drought Management Plans. In preparing their national restoration plans 10 , Member States must identify synergies with climate change adaptation and disaster prevention, and prioritise restoration measures accordingly. 1 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/european-water-resilience-strategy_en. 2 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en. 3 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/nature-restoration-regulation_en. 4 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/forest-strategy_en. 5 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/floods_en#law. 6 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/adaptation-climate-change/eu-adaptation-strategy_en. 7 https://rea.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-grants/horizon-europe-cluster-6-food-bioeconomy-natural-resourcesagriculture-and-environment/nature-based-solutions_en. 8 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101112738 and https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101156116. 9 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/river-basin-management-changing-climate_en. 10 due by 1 September 2026, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/912 of 19 May 2025 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards a uniform format for the national restoration plan. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/912/oj.”
  EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.) · EU policy on water management
• 2025-06-16 “E-002419/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission In its Water Resilience Strategy (WRS) 1 , the Commission has underlined the importance of the Water Efficiency First principle. The Commission also recognises that desalination of sea water can provide a steady water supply beyond the hydrological cycle, where necessary. Sustainable desalination was already addressed in Horizon 2020 projects 2 and the Commission continues supporting research and innovation in this area, for instance through the EU Blue Economy Observatory 3 , Horizon Europe 4 and the EU programme for the environment and climate action 5 . Desalination projects are subject to EU environmental legislation, including the Water Framework Directive 6 , the Marine Strategy Framework Directive 7 , and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive 8 . These EU laws require thorough assessments to ensure that desalination does not adversely affect marine ecosystems through brine discharge or excessive energy use. Furthermore, EU support for desalination requires that environmental degradation risks related to preserving water quality and avoiding water stress are identified and addressed in line with the relevant legislation 9 . EU co-funding of desalination projects also requires a Do No Significant Harm check, which addresses among others the sustainable use and protection of water and climate change mitigation objectives. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en. 2 Horizon 2020 projects: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101022686 and https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/869474 and https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/869703. 3 https://blue-economy-observatory.ec.europa.eu/index_en. 4 Horizon Europe: e.g. https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/190150864, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101188559, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101091915. 5 e.g. https://lifedesirows.eu/life-desirows-project/, https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE23-ENV-ES-SALTEAU-101148475/sustainabledrinking-and-irrigation-water-production-from-saline-alternative-water-resources. 6 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32–35. 7 Directive 2008/56/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 establishing a framework for community action in the field of marine environmental policy, OJ L 164, 25.6.2008, p. 19–40. 8 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 9 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2485 of 27 June 2023 amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 establishing additional technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which certain economic activities qualify as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation and for determining whether those activities cause no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives, OJ L, 2023/2485, 21.11.2023 (section 5.13).”
  EU policy on water management
• 2025-06-16 “E-002418/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. While the European Water Resilience Strategy 1 sets no binding targets for individual sectors, the Water Framework Directive 2 obliges Member States to achieve a good quantitative status of groundwater bodies and good ecological status of surface water bodies. Where abstractions put these objectives at risk, Member States must adopt in their river basin management plans measures to reduce pressures from all relevant sectors. The Commission Recommendation on Water Efficiency First 3 also encourages Member States to set water efficiency targets at the most suitable level, taking into account national circumstances. Various sectoral EU policies and legislation contribute to promoting water saving and efficiency in areas such as agriculture, energy and industry. 2. Existing EU legislation provides a comprehensive and solid regulatory framework for sustainable freshwater management. This is why the Strategy focuses on enabling action that can accelerate implementation by Member States, as well as on better enforcement. The Commission has already launched a horizontal investigation with all Member States to verify compliance with controls on abstractions. As a result, several infringement procedures have been launched 4 and more could follow for Member States that are not regularly reviewing abstraction permits, to ensure they do not lead to over-abstractions affecting water body status. The subject will also be addressed – where relevant – in the context of the Structured Dialogues 5 . Furthermore, the Commission will continue to cooperate on the subject with Member States in the context of the Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive 6 . 1 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en. 2 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p.1. 3 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2025/1179 of 4 June 2025 on guiding principles of water efficiency first, OJ L, 2025/1179, 16.6.2025. 4 As of June 2025, infringement procedures have been launched against the Netherlands (INFR(2022)2161) Austria (INFR(2024)2162), Slovenia (INFR(2024)2170), Finland (INFR(2024)2196), Cyprus (INFR(2024)2227), Belgium (INFR(2024)2231), Sweden (INFR(2024)2236), Czechia (INFR(2025)2027), Lithuania (INFR(2025)2028) and Portugal (INFR(2025)2042). For further information: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_3228 (NL, AT and SI), https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_4561 (FI), https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_5223 (CY and BE), https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_24_6006 (SE), https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_25_982 (CZ and PT), and https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/inf_25_1241 (LT). 5 to take place in 2025 and 2026. 6 In particular, within the Working Groups on Water Reuse and on Water Scarcity and Droughts.”
  EU policy on water management
• 2025-06-16 “E-002420/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission As the Commission stated in its reply to written question E-002119/2025, the Commission is currently carrying out an evaluation of the Nitrates Directive 1 and plans to finalise and publish the evaluation report by the end of 2025. The Water Resilience Strategy 2 , adopted on 4 June 2025, as well as the Vision for Agriculture and Food 3 refer to the ongoing evaluation. The Commission will decide on the appropriate follow up to the evaluation in light of its findings which are based, inter alia, on extensive stakeholder consultations. The European Parliament own initiative report of 7 May 2025 on the European Water Resilience Strategy 4 was also well noted. 1 Council Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1–8. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/environment/water-resilience-strategy_en. 3 https://transition-pathways.europa.eu/policies/vision-agriculture-and-food. 4 https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/en/procedure-file?reference=2024/2104(INI).”
  Water pollution · Use of fertilisers
• 2025-06-03 “E-002224/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. Brown bears are strictly protected by the Habitats Directive 1 , which prohibits the keeping, transport, sale or exchange of bear specimens taken from the wild. Article 16 of the Directive allows for derogations from this prohibition in limited cases provided there is no satisfactory alternative and the derogation is not detrimental to the maintaining the species at a favourable conservation status. As regards the sale of brown bear meat, the bear is listed in Annex A of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 2 . Commercial activities within the EU involving bears or bear meat are thus generally prohibited, except in situations described in Article 8(3) of that Regulation. Exemptions can however be granted by a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 3 national Management Authority on a case-by-case basis, if the specimen was taken from the wild in a Member State in accordance with national legislation. 2. Bears are large wild game as defined in Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 4 . Hunted animals must be brought to a game-handling facility for inspection before being declared fit for human consumption. Food business operators handling bear meat must comply with general requirements on food (e.g. traceability), with general and specific good hygiene practices and with procedures based on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point principles. 3. The Commission recommends that Member States put in place effective measures to prevent conflict with bears in the first place 5 . The availability of garbage, slaughter remains, etc. to bears is often the main cause of human-bear conflicts. Therefore, limiting access to such food sources is considered effective to prevent (or at least strongly reduce) human-bear conflicts. 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7‐50. 2 Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein OJ L 61, 3.3.1997, p. 1–69. 3 https://cites.org/eng. 4 Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55. 5 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/report-defining-preventing-and-reacting-problem-bearbehaviour-europe_en.”
  Large Carnivores
• 2025-05-19 “E-001994/2025 Answer given by President von der Leyen on behalf of the European Commission The Commission considers phasing out of harmful fossil fuel subsidies as essential to fulfilling the Green Deal objectives, fostering competitiveness and strengthening the EU’s energy security. Commissioners for Energy and Housing and for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth have been mandated to work on this 1 . Several Commission actions aim at tackling this issue. Country-specific recommendations under the European Semester call on 10 Member States to continue phasing out harmful fossil fuel subsidies on the basis of a dedicated analytical framework to ensure coherent and consistent approach for harmful fossil fuel subsidies. In the Commission’s assessment of the National Energy and Climate Plans, Member States are encouraged to set clear and credible phase-out timelines. The Commission remains committed to this goal 2 , notably through the upcoming revision of the Regulation on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action 3 . The Commission has already put in place mechanisms to prioritise EU funding for the green transition. The EU is set to spend at least 30% of its current budget to climate-related investments 4 . Furthermore, the Recovery and Resilience Facility allocates a minimum of 37% of its envelope to green measures, with Member States exceeding it (43%). Moreover, the Commission ensures that funding from the EU budget, to the largest degree, does not do harm to the environment 5 . Finally, the Financial Regulation requires the next Multiannual Financial Framework to apply the 'do no significant harm principle' where feasible and appropriate. 1 Mission Letters: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/1c203799-0137-482e-bd184f6813535986_en?filename=Mission%20letter%20-%20JORGENSEN.pdf and https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/27658b9f-f1f8-4e3a-b2651ccbd7c2af82_en?filename=Mission%20letter%20-%20HOEKSTRA.pdf. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/97168210-2a5c-4d1a-9ed86a063e011537_en?filename=COM_2025_274_1_EN_ACT_part1_v6.pdf. 3 Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/1999/oj/eng. 4 MFF Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union of 16 December 2020, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv%3AOJ.LI.2020.433.01.0028.01.ENG&toc=OJ%3AL%3A2020%3A433I%3AFU LL. 5 Commission SWD (2022) 225 final Climate Mainstreaming Architecture in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework, https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/202206/swd_2022_225_climate_mainstreaming_architecture_2021-2027.pdf.”
  Energy transition (state support) · Fossil fuels
• 2025-05-19 “E-001993/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission According to the Commission’s analysis 1 , carbon removals are necessary for the EU to achieve its climate targets including negative emissions after reaching climate neutrality at the latest by 2050. The Commission is currently assessing different policy options and support mechanisms that would efficiently support the deployment of carbon removals, ensuring their environmental integrity and without undermining our emission reduction efforts. The integration of permanent carbon removals in the Emissions Trading System (ETS) is one of those options. By July 2026 the Commission will assess if and how the negative emissions resulting from greenhouse gases that are removed from the atmosphere and safely and permanently stored could be accounted for and covered by the ETS. Maintaining environmental integrity of emissions reductions under the ETS is an indispensable requirement for any integration. Directive 2003/87/EC 2 requires strict criteria and safeguards to ensure that the integration of removals would not lead to a delay in necessary emission reductions in accordance with Union climate targets. The Commission is analysing possible safeguards, such as limiting the total volume of permanent carbon removals that could be used in the ETS (e.g. supply-side limits on the type or amount of permanent removals that can be used). While our framework must signal that removals are not an alternative to emissions reductions, it should also give early signals for the removals market to develop in time the amounts of removal required to reach our climate targets. 1 Impact assessment on Europe's 2040 climate target: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN. 2 Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC, OJ L 275, 25.10.2003.”
  Carbon capture storage and utilisation · Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
• 2025-05-13 “E-001897/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is currently assessing the recently adopted resolution 1 of the Slovak government on culling 350 bears, which lays down the obligation on the Minister of Environment to issue derogations for the culling. The Commission has been in contact with the Slovak authorities and asked for more information about the implementation of this resolution and the derogation decisions issued by Slovakia. The Commission has also sought clarification on the new methodology used by Slovakia to estimate its bear population. Without prejudice to the Commission’s role as the guardian of the Treaties, Member States’ national administrative and judicial authorities are primarily responsible to ensure that EU legislation is complied with. In that respect the Commission recalls that national courts play an essential role in ensuring that the derogations adopted at national level are in full compliance with the provisions of the Habitats Directive 2 . Nonetheless, the Commission is closely following the situation and in case of an established breach would take any action deemed necessary. 1 Slovak Government resolution 182/2025 of 2 April 2025: https://rokovania.gov.sk/RVL/Resolution/22363/1. 2 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7.”
  Large Carnivores · Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-05-13 “E-001898/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission At this stage, the Commission does not plan to propose extending the scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) 1 to other wooded land, other ecosystems or raw materials. No preparatory work is currently being undertaken yet on an impact assessment in this regard. On 21 October 2025, the Commission adopted a proposal 2 to amend the EUDR. The amendment aims to reduce the load on the EUDR Information System and ease the administrative burden for farmers, foresters, and other economic operators, while maintaining the Regulation’s environmental integrity. It introduces targeted simplifications and transitional periods to ensure a smooth and effective entry into application. In addition, the proposal also streamlines the review clause by including all aspects of Article 34 within the general review clause of 2030. This proposed change will allow the Commission to assess the different aspects of the review by taking into account the new proposed deferred entry into application and factual evidence from EUDR implementation on the ground. 1 Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206–247. 2 Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 as regards certain obligations of operators and traders, COM/2025/652 final.”
  Management of EU forests · Trade impact on forests
• 2025-05-13 “E-001899/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has adopted the proposal to amend the European Climate Law to include the net 90% 2040 target on 2 July 2025. This will allow for communicating the EU’s new ‘nationally determined contribution’ under the Paris Agreement, including an indicative figure for 2035 that will be derived from the 2040 target, ahead of the climate conference (COP30) in Belem. As outlined in the proposal for a modernised Cohesion Policy 1 , given the significant investment required to meet the EU's decarbonisation and competitiveness goals, Member States must continue investing in projects that support the climate and energy transitions. Consequently, the climate spending targets for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF, 30%) and the Cohesion Fund (CF, 37%) remain in place. The mid-term proposal enhances flexibility by allowing excess climate expenditure from the ERDF to contribute to the CF's climate target, and vice versa. Thus, Cohesion Policy will maintain a substantial allocation of funding towards climate action, which is necessary to meet the forthcoming 2040 target. The current EU budget, including NextGenerationEU, is on track to exceed its overall 30% climate spending target (approximately 34% or EUR 660 billion 2 ) as well as the sectoral targets set in EU fund-specific legislation. The EU budget’s ‘climate adjustment mechanism’ ensures that the Commission will propose corrective action in line with the specific basic act provisions in case of deviations in the programming that could endanger the overall 30% target. The EU budget will therefore continue to make a considerable contribution to the EU’s climate goals. 1 Available at https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/publications/communications/2025/amodernised-cohesion-policy-the-mid-term-review_en. 2 Based on recent projections, see the How much do we spend? section available at https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/performance-and-reporting/horizontalpriorities/green-budgeting/climate-mainstreaming_en.”
  EU policy on sustainability criteria in public funding · Climate efforts
• 2025-04-07 “E-001406/2025 Answer given by Mr Síkela on behalf of the European Commission The Commission has set out a road to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in a Communication 1 , outlining the broader policy and budgetary challenges that will shape the design of the next MFF and calling for an ambitious budget. While it is too early to comment on the upcoming proposal for EU external action spending programmes and financing instruments, the next MFF should continue to address the full range of objectives of EU international cooperation, including support to the green transition. The Commission has established ‘Green and Clean’ as one of the core principles of the Global Gateway, and developed tools, trainings and support facilities for the mainstreaming of environment and climate in all actions, such as the Greening EU Cooperation Toolbox 2 , whose relevance and operational duration will continue into the next MFF. To enhance investments in nature, the Commission aims to leverage additional finance using guarantees, blending or supporting partners in developing green bonds frameworks. It established a ‘Natural Capital’ window for the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) 3 and is developing new initiatives to promote nature-based solutions and nature-positive approaches. The Commission supports civil society organisations, indigenous peoples and local communities to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework 4 through various initiatives, some examples include NaturAfrica 5 , the Green Corridor Kivu-Kinshasa 6 or contributions to the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund 7 . 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52025DC0046. 11 February 2025. 2 https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/spaces/ExactExternalWiki/pages/135299291/Greening+EU+Cooperation+Toolbox. 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52023DC0299. 4 https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/cop-15-dec-04-en.pdf. 5 https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/programming/programmes/naturafrica_en. 6 https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/news-and-events/news/global-gateway-green-corridorpreserving-last-lungs-earth-through-green-economic-growth-2025-01-22_en. 7 https://www.cepf.net/.”
  EU approach to sustainability criteria in private investments · EU policy on social & environmental impact of foreign investments
• 2025-04-02 “E-001375/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission On 2 July 2025, the Commission proposed an amendment to the European Climate Law to include the net 90% 2040 climate target, as set out in the Political Guidelines. It will provide investment certainty, strengthen energy independence and economic security for enhancing the competitiveness of EU industry. The adoption of the proposal follows substantial engagement with Member States, European Parliament Groups, stakeholders, civil society and citizens, launched with the Commission’s recommendation on the target in February 2024. The proposal setting a 2040 climate target has been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for examination under the ordinary legislative procedure. The proposal provides for a limited number of flexibilities and supports the creation of the right enabling environment in order to implement the target. The proposal provides for the Commission to ensure that these flexibilities are appropriately reflected in designing the post2030 legislation needed to achieve the 2040 target, and the future architecture should be based on robust impact assessments. Real and timely investments on the ground to drive domestic reductions in emissions and carbon removals are and must remain a priority. Any flexibility needs to be compatible with the temperature objective of the Paris Agreement to hold the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and staying the course towards climate neutrality in 2050 and be part of a broader policy mix ensuring a just and costefficient transition.”
  Extension of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme · Climate efforts
• 2025-03-27 “E-001288/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission As stated in recital 6 of the Commission proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council amending the Habitats Directive 1 as regards the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus) 2 , pursuant to Article 193 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Member States are allowed to maintain or introduce more stringent measures to protect the environment than those already in place, as long as they are compatible with the Treaties and are notified to the Commission. In case Member States intend to maintain a higher protection level of the wolf at national level, this should be signaled at the time of the notification of their transposition measures to the Commission, within 18 months from publication of the amending directive in the Official Journal of the European Union. This does not require adopting any specific new legal instrument. 1 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 2 Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92/43/EEC as regards the protection status of the wolf (Canis lupus), COM/2025/106 final.”
  Large Carnivores
• 2025-03-26 “E-001260/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Water Resilience Strategy will offer a comprehensive vision for water-related policies. It will build on the solid existing acquis and focus on how to better implement rules for sustainable freshwater management, including the Floods Directive 1 and marine protection. It aims to improve source-to-sea water governance and awareness, enhance prevention and preparedness across economic sectors and society, enhance access to information and funding, and boost innovation. This will increase the EU’s preparedness against rapid swings between weather extremes. 2. The Drinking Water Directive 2 mainly regulates the quality of drinking water by setting standards for certain pollutants and requires Member States to comply with them. The Directive includes provisions on risk assessment and management, meaning that local authorities must monitor changes in source water quantity and quality due to drought or floods, and adjust treatment processes accordingly. The Directive’s provisions on reducing water leakage levels, restrictions of use, derogations, access to water and information to the public could also prove relevant in case of ‘climate whiplashes’. Cities vulnerable to these phenomena may need to adapt local regulations 3 or introduce temporary measures 4 to maintain water quality. 3. The Commission has published guidance 5 and helps Member States through the EU Biodiversity Platform 6 and its sub-groups on the Nature Restoration Regulation 7 and on Green Infrastructure 8 . Moreover, nature-based solutions are being supported through the Water Sensitive City 9 thematic partnership under the European Urban Initiative 10 , the Green Cities Accord 11 and the European Green Capital and Leaf Awards 12 . 1 Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood, OJ L 288, 6.11.2007, p. 27–34. 2 Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast), OJ L435, 23.12.2020, p.1-62. 3 e.g. encouraging citizens to save water. 4 Such as restricting water use. 5 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment/urban-nature-platform_en. 6 https://green-forum.ec.europa.eu/business-and-biodiversity_en. 7 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/nature-restoration-regulation_en. 8 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/green-infrastructure_en. 9 https://www.urbanagenda.urban-initiative.eu/partnerships/water-sensitive-city. 10 https://www.urban-initiative.eu/. 11 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment/green-city-accord_en. 12 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/urban-environment/european-green-capital-award_en.”
  EU policy on water management
• 2025-03-05 “E-000936/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The EU has a variety of competences shared with Member States that have an impact on forest protection and forestry, including climate, environment, energy and agriculture, which the Union has exercised respecting the principle of subsidiarity 1 . The EU has exercised these competences through the adoption of legislation using the appropriate legal basis. As forests are natural resources and an integral part of the environment, the Habitats 2 and Wild Birds Directive 3 , the Land Use, Land Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation 4 , the Deforestation Regulation 5 , the Nature Restoration Law 6 , the Carbon Removal Certification Framework 7 are based on Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), and so is the proposal for a Regulation on a Forest Monitoring Framework 8 , currently in the co-decision procedure. The Renewable Energy Directive 9 has multiple legal bases under TFEU (Article 114 - internal market, Article 192(1) - environment and Article 194(2) – energy), while the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development 10 is based on Articles 42 and 43(2). EU action on climate, biodiversity and circular economy as well as their benefits inherently relate to natural ecosystems, including forests. The mentioned Commission proposal for a Forest Monitoring Framework aims at having accurate, timely and comparable data on forests across the EU, in view of increasing pressures and stressors, and their cross-border impacts. 1 Court of Justice of the European Union judgement of 25 February 1999 in Joined Cases C-164/97 and C165/97, EU:C:1999:99. 2 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 3 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds, OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25. 4 Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU, OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 1–25. 5 Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206–247. 6 Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024. 7 Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 establishing a Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products, OJ L, 2024/3012, 6.12.2024. 8 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-regulation-forest-monitoring-framework_en 9 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, as amended, OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82–209. 10 https://commission.europa.eu/funding-tenders/find-funding/eu-funding-programmes/european-agriculturalfund-rural-development-eafrd_en”
  Management of EU forests
• 2025-03-05 “E-000935/2025 Answer given by Mr Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission The Commission deplores violations of the fundamental rights at work committed against any worker, including high-risk jobs such as fishers. In line with this, the Commission actively promotes the effective implementation of fundamental international labour standards from the International Labour Organization (ILO) within the EU and by partner countries 1 , including the conventions setting out standards on adequate working conditions for fishers 2 and the elimination of forced or compulsory labour 3 . As a member country of the ILO, China has the obligation to uphold the fundamental principles and rights at work. Through its human rights dialogue with China, the EU raises its concerns about labour rights and the use of forced labour with the Chinese authorities 4 . In addition, the EU adopted in 2024 the Forced Labour Regulation 5 , which prohibits products made with forced labour on the EU market. From the entry into application of the Regulation in December 2027, the Commission and Member States’ competent authorities will be able to investigate allegations about the presence of forced labour practices in the manufacturing products intended for the EU market and eventually ban the products concerned when sufficient evidence is found. 1 For an overview of policies and measures, see the Communication from the Commission on decent work worldwide for a global just transition and a sustainable recovery (COM/2022/66 final) https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=25260&langId=en, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52022DC0066 2 ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188). 3 ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29); ILO Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105). 4 https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/china-39th-human-rights-dialogue-european-union-took-place-chongqing_en 5 Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 on prohibiting products made with forced labour on the Union market and amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 (OJ L, 2024/3015, 12.12.2024), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/3015/oj/eng”
  Trade relations with China · EU policy on labour exploitation in global supply chains · Due diligence in supply chains (environmental and human rights)
• 2025-03-05 “E-000934/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The resumed session of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Conference of the Parties (COP)16 agreed on the crucial issues of resource mobilisation, technical updates to the monitoring framework and procedures for the global review of implementation at COP17 and 19. This allows CBD processes to continue and provides wider impetus for multilateral environmental negotiations. 48 Parties submitted revised national biodiversity strategies and action plans whilst 125 Parties uploaded national targets aligned with the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). There is ongoing work in other Parties. Parties also implement the GBF through other policies. The seventh national reports to be submitted by all Parties by February 2026 will allow a more complete analysis. A further increase of resources from all sources will be necessary for achieving target 19 of the GBF. The Commission and Member States will continue work in this regard, leveraging private finance and public budgets – including through the multiannual financial framework 1 . The identification, phasing out or repurposing of harmful subsidies remains extremely important. The Commission is implementing the updated GBF monitoring framework at EU level. This will continue in the years to come and will support the assessment of progress in implementation of the GBF in the seventh and eighth national reports to the CBD, which are due in 2026 and 2029, respectively. The Commission is consulting the Member States on the use of indicators in view of increasing synergies in the reporting exercise, facilitating this work, maximising coherence and minimising duplication of efforts. CBD COP17 will review the use of indicators at the global level. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/long-term-eu-budget/2021-2027_en.”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-02-20 “E-000800/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is committed to fighting greenwashing in business to consumer communication. In 2024, the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) 1 was amended based on a Commission proposal on the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive 2 . The amended UCPD contains a prohibition of generic environmental claims unless an excellent environmental performance can be demonstrated, and detailed rules on ‘future environmental performance claims’ such as net-zero commitments. Relevant for such claims and climate claims more broadly is also the proposal for a Green Claims Directive 3 , under discussion by co-legislators. Aiming to prevent greenwashing in explicit voluntary environmental claims made by traders to consumers, the proposal sets detailed rules on substantiation and communication of environmental claims and on governance of environmental labelling schemes. The proposal explicitly tackles climate claims by requiring that the substantiation assessment: 1) separate any offsetting (based on carbon credits) from the calculation of greenhouse gas emissions, 2) specify whether those offsets relate to emission reductions or removals, and 3) describe how the offsets relied upon are of high integrity and accounted for correctly to reflect the claimed impact on climate. Moreover, the term ‘net-zero target’ is defined in EU law 4 in a delegated act under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. The Commission expects the above instruments to provide a framework for companies to make transparent and credible environmental, including climate claims, helping restore consumers’ trust in these, and thereby also mitigate any ‘greenhushing’. 1 Directive 2005/29/EC (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02005L002920220528). 2 COM/2022/143 final (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:52022PC0143). 3 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-directive-green-claims_en 4 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2772 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legalcontent/EN/ALL/?uri=OJ:L_202302772#ntc37-L_202302772EN.000301-E0030).”
  Green claims
• 2025-02-19 “E-000762/2025 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The general objective for United Nations (UN) resolutions remains to address the overall human rights situation, and in the case of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to address the systemic, gross and widespread human rights violations. While the outcome and final text of such resolutions always depends on negotiations in Geneva and New York with the wider UN membership, it remains the EU’s policy to maintain the emphasis on the overall human rights situation, including recent developments and systemic violations. It does not preclude that on rare occasions, such as the ones referred to by the Honourable Member, there can be exceptions. The EU calls attention to individual cases in its statements, notably during general debates or interactive dialogues at the UN. In addition, there is also a constraint in the sense that referring to an individual case requires having reliable sources of information. Due consideration is given to applying the ‘do no harm’ principle, sought through contacts with civil society and representatives of victims and their families. Following the Honourable Member’s written question (E-002674/2024) and input received from other stakeholders, the EU in 2025 has made a particular effort to strengthen the UN Human Rights Council resolution on the situation of human rights in the DPRK with additional language on the topic of arbitrary detention of foreigners in the DPRK.”
  EU competences on human rights
• 2025-02-17 “E-000720/2025 Answer given by Ms Albuquerque on behalf of the European Commission On 26 February 2025, the Commission adopted Omnibus proposals to simplify the regulatory framework and boost competitiveness 1 . Those proposals cover sustainability reporting, sustainability due diligence, the taxonomy, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) 2 , and the Invest EU programme 3 . The Commission remains deeply committed to building a greener and fairer society and economy. The proposed measures aim to ensure that the transition to a decarbonised economy is achieved in the simplest, most cost-effective and least burdensome way for EU businesses. This package will reduce complexity of EU requirements for all businesses, focus the regulatory framework on the largest companies which are likely to have a bigger impact on the climate and the environment, while still enabling companies to access sustainable finance for their clean transition. The proposed measures exempt companies up to 1 000 employees from mandatory sustainability reporting and protects them from excessive sustainability information requests that they receive from larger companies or from financial institutions (trickle-down effect). As regards the CBAM, the proposal introduces a de minimis exemption for goods below a threshold of 50 tonnes. This measure affects importers who import small quantities of CBAM goods, representing very small quantities of embedded emissions entering the EU from third countries. At least 99% of emissions will remain in the CBAM scope, while around 90% of the importers, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises will be exempted. 1 https://commission.europa.eu/publications/omnibus-i_en and https://commission.europa.eu/publications/omnibus-ii_en 2 Regulation (EU) 2023/956 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism, OJ L 130, 16.5.2023, p. 52. 3 https://investeu.europa.eu/investeu-programme_en”
  Climate efforts · EU approach to sustainability criteria in private investments
• 2025-02-17 “E-000719/2025 Answer given by Mr Serafin on behalf of the European Commission The Commission considers that tackling environmental issues and strengthening competitiveness deserve the highest attention. This is highlighted in the Mission Letters to the Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth 1 and the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy 2 by improving Europe’s natural capital, protecting the natural world, boosting the circular economy and ensuring water resilience are intrinsic parts of the EU priorities, from climate change, security, competitiveness or food security and sovereignty. As indicated in the Commission Communication on ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’ 3 , further efforts are needed to achieve a true policy-based budget to ensure synergies between EU policies and the financial action of the EU. The next long-term budget should focus on objectives where EU action is mostly needed, including investment to support competitiveness and to achieve the EU’s climate and environmental goals. The planned European Competitiveness Fund 4 will offer strong support to innovative industries for sustainable investment and a one-stop-shop simplified access to EU funds. Moreover, the ambition of the Clean Industrial Deal is to make the EU the global leader on circular economy by 2030, and to use financing as a business driver. The ‘green toolbox’ designed to support green policies across the whole EU budget includes the ‘Do No Significant Harm’ principle, which all EU programmes must take into account, wherever relevant and possible, under the EU Financial Regulation 5 . 1 https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/wopke-hoekstra_en 2 https://commission.europa.eu/about/organisation/college-commissioners/jessika-roswall_en 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=celex:52025DC0046 4 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0030 5 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L_202402509”
  EU industrial funding · Climate efforts
• 2025-02-17 “E-000721/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission In line with Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 1 , the European Environment Agency (EEA) is responsible for supporting Member States’ reporting and for providing objective, reliable and comparable information to the Commission for the design, implementation and assessment of environmental and climate policies. The EEA is actively engaged with the Commission on improving the process and infrastructure to collect data, which will contribute to the simplification agenda. The Commission is taking steps to tackle data gaps in the context of new EU legislation as well as projects and initiatives to rationalise data campaigns 2 . The GreenData4All 3 initiative aims to improve environmental data sharing in support of evidence-based decision-making. The use of Earth observation, through Copernicus 4 and EU space programme 5 , opens up further unprecedented opportunities for enhanced biodiversity monitoring. The Commission will also coordinate the implementation of the European Parliament’s preparatory action for the development and deployment of an EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC) 6 . As concerns funding for restoration, the Commission encourages Member States to ensure that available EU funds are invested in biodiversity, while exploring further opportunities to finance nature restoration, including public and private finance and market-based instruments. The Commission intends to submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on restoration funding in line with Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 7 . 1 Regulation (EC) No 401/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network (Codified version), OJ L 126, 21.5.2009, p. 13–22. 2 Such as: European Monitoring of Biodiversity in Agricultural Landscapes (EMBAL): https://wikis.ec.europa.eu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=25560696 Environmental monitoring of pesticide use through honey bees (INSIGNIA): https://www.insignia-bee.eu/ Land use and land cover survey (LUCAS): https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statisticsexplained/index.php?title=LUCAS_-_Land_use_and_land_cover_survey, and its new modules The Horizon Europe Biodiversity Partnership (Biodiversa+): https://www.biodiversa.eu/ Horizon Europe projects such as Biodiversity Meets Data: https://bmd-project.eu/ 3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13170-GreenData4All-updated-ruleson-geospatial-environmental-data-and-access-to-environmental-information_en 4 https://www.copernicus.eu/en 5 https://www.euspa.europa.eu/eu-space-programme 6 https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/news/proposal-eu-biodiversity-observation-coordination-centreebocc_en 7 Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024.”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU
• 2025-02-17 “E-000722/2025/rev.1 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Virkkunen on behalf of the European Commission The initiatives of the artificial intelligence (AI) Continent Action Plan 1 are aligned with the EU Green Deal. The hosting sites of the AI Factories were notably selected on sustainability criteria. The AI Factory initiative emphasises green computing through energy-efficient supercomputers, dynamic power saving methods, and advanced cooling systems. The AI Factory in Jülich will be built around the JUPITER Exascale Supercomputer, whose first module currently is the world’s most energy-efficient system 2 . Additionally, the Commission will hold dialogues with consortia interested in launching sustainable AI Gigafactories. Moreover, the upcoming Cloud and AI Development Act will create the incentives to build sustainable data centres. It will aim to advance research and innovation in resource-efficient data processing infrastructures, software, and services that enable the development and adoption of AI. This includes research to improve the integration of data centres into energy and water systems. Likewise, the announced strategic roadmap for digitalisation and AI in the energy sector will propose measures to facilitate the sustainable integration of data centres into the energy system, and the forthcoming Water Resilience Strategy will look at reducing water footprint. The AI Act 3 requires providers of general-purpose AI models to document the computational resources used to train the model and known or estimated energy consumption 4 . The Commission, through its AI Office, is currently steering the development of a code of practice with commitments on how to implement those rules 5 . Further voluntary codes of conduct will be drawn up in the future, including as regards environmental sustainability of AI systems 6 . 1 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/ai-continent_en 2 https://top500.org/lists/green500/ 3 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1689/oj/eng 4 See point (a) of Article 53(1) and points (d) and (e) of Annex XI(2) AI Act. 5 See Article 56 AI Act. According to Article 56(9) AI Act, this code of practice should be ready in May 2025, in anticipation of the rules for general-purpose AI models entering into application on 2 August 2025 according to point (b) of Article 113 AI Act. 6 See point (b) of Article 95(2) AI Act.”
  Artificial Intelligence · Climate efforts
• 2025-02-13 “E-000682/2025 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Joint Research Centre monitors the progress of Member States in implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy 1 for 2030 and its targets 2 . The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published dashboards on the reported progress towards achieving 30% of protected areas coverage on land 3 and at sea 4 by 2030. For the period between 2011 and 2022, these dashboards show a doubling of marine areas designated as protected 5 , but only limited progress on land 6 , and hence a need for Member States to step up efforts if the targets are to be achieved by 2030. Given that only seven Member States have submitted pledges that outline their national coverage of strictly protected areas, a reliable EU-level assessment of progress towards achieving 10% of strictly protected areas by 2030 will only be possible once the EEA has revised its reporting tool of nationally protected areas in 2026. Regarding primary and old-growth forests, the Commission is currently analysing their mapping and protection by Member States. Members States should map their primary and old growth forests by 2025 and strictly protect them by 2029 7 . 2. The Commission does not have specific information 8 on the condition of primary and oldgrowth forests in the EU, nor does it currently intend to undertake such an analysis, except where such forests fall under provisions of the Habitats Directive 9 or the Nature Restoration Regulation 10 . A common definition of old-growth forest was provided in the 2023 Commission guidelines 11 . 3. While the Commission does not have official data on the coverage of primary and oldgrowth forests, of those areas mapped, 87% are within strictly protected areas 12 . However, this figure needs to be read with caution given the significant mapping deficit in certain Member States 13 . 1 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en 2 E.g. A coherent network of protected areas: https://dopa.jrc.ec.europa.eu/kcbd/EUBDS2030dashboard/?version=1#Target%201 3 https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/terrestrial-protected-areas-in-europe 4 https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/marine-protected-areas-in-europes-seas 5 from 5.9% in 2012 to 12.3% in 2022. 6 from 24.3% in 2011 to 26.1% in 2022. 7 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/guidelines-defining-mapping-monitoring-and-strictly-protectingeu-primary-and-old-growth-forests_en 8 Beyond the information that is published in the scientific literature: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-009887 , https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14404 9 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 10 Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024. 11 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/cef2f588-7c54-11ee-99ba-01aa75ed71a1 12 https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC124671 13 estimated at ~4.4 million hectares.”
  Nature protection and restoration in the EU · Management of EU forests
• 2025-02-12 “E-000644/2025 Answer given by Ms Lahbib on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission supports Member States and third countries including through grants under the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) 1 . Beneficiaries from Nordic countries are involved in wildfire-related projects to enhance cross-border cooperation, promote resilience, and enhance research and readiness for extreme wildfires. Firefighting preparedness is being reinforced since 2019 with an aircraft of the rescEU fleet positioned in Sweden. The Commission also supports institutional capacity building through the UCPM peer review programme 2 and the Commission’s Expert Group on Forest Fires 3 , which facilitates the exchange of good practices among the fire management services of European countries. 2. The EU has invested EUR 372 million in 139 Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe 4 research projects covering the Arctic region. In line with the EU Arctic policy, research on permafrost thawing and informing climate mitigation strategies will continue in Horizon Europe. As of January 2025, the European Polar Coordination Office (EPCO) provides expert input to inform decisions on polar priorities and challenges. In 2024, a Commission Task Force issued a report on polar observations 5 , including recommendations for permafrost and methane emissions monitoring. 3 The EU´s Arctic Policy 6 and EU Green Alliances with Norway and Canada underline the EU’s fundamental interest in supporting multilateral Arctic cooperation. The EU promotes strong cooperation to address climate issues in the Arctic and boreal context and regularly engages with the Arctic Council and funds its research activities. It contributes to climate efforts in multilateral fora such as the International Maritime Organisation and the United Nation’s Climate Change Conferences. 1 https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/what/civil-protection/eu-civil-protection-mechanism_en 2 https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/disaster-prevention-and-risk-management/ucpm-peerreview-programme 3 https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expertgroups/consult?lang=en&do=groupDetail.groupDetail&groupID=416 4 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-opencalls/horizon-europe_en 5 https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/copernicus-polar-roadmap-eu-satelliteobservations-help-respond-emerging-polar-challenges-2024-09-03_en?prefLang=bg 6 JOIN (2021)27 final.”
  Climate efforts
• 2025-02-12 “E-000645/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission shares the concern of the Honourable Member. Already in March 2024, the European Climate Risk Assessment has ranked heat stress as an urgent risk to act on 1 . Complementing the measures included in the 2021 EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change to protect communities from the urban heat island effect 2 , the Commission Communication on managing climate risks from 2024 3 announced additional action to protect workers from heat stress. The ongoing development of a European Climate Adaptation Plan provides now another opportunity to better protect local communities from growing heat stress through further and more ambitious EU action. 2. The Commission will consider future legislation on climate resilience and preparedness as part of the European Climate Adaptation Plan, which is expected to be adopted during the second half of 2026. However, the need for new legislation, and whether it would need to address public health risks specifically, can only be determined during the related Impact Assessment process and following consultations with Parliament, the Member States and other stakeholders. 3. The recent Commission Communication on the road to the next multiannual financial framework recognises that preparing for growing climate risks will need to be an overarching objective for EU action under the next EU budget, which will also play a central role in promoting social and territorial cohesion in the EU 4 . 1 https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/european-climate-risk-assessment 2 COM(2021) 82 final. 3 COM(2024) 91 final. 4 COM(2025) 46 final.”
  EU policy on infrastructure for preventing climate-related disasters (floods, droughts, extreme weather etc.) · Climate efforts
• 2025-02-12 “E-000643/2025 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission’s recommendation for a -90% net greenhouse gas emission reduction target for 2040 is in line with the latest available science and the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. As indicated in the Commission Work Programme 2025, the Commission intends to make a proposal in the first quarter of 2025 to amend the European Climate Law Regulation 1 to include this target. This target would confirm the EU’s science-based approach, and thus giving the EU the necessary credibility to call on other countries to increase their ambition. As the target is to be included in the proposal to amend the European Climate Law, it will be subject to interinstitutional negotiations before adoption and provides the legal basis for the next EU nationally determined contribution to be submitted ahead of the 30 th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 30). The nationally determined contribution which should include the 2040 target, with an indicative figure for 2035, will be subject to the institutional process of approval in Council prior to submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). 1 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1119/oj”
  Climate efforts
• 2024-12-20 “E-003071/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. There are several projects supported with EU funding that relate to the management of holm and cork oak forests and improving their resilience. Under the EU programme for the environment and climate action, LIFE FAGESOS 1 specifically aims to address and remediate outbreaks of Phytophthora cinnamomi disease through the development and application of new integrated pest management protocols. Another relevant completed project is LIFE ADAPTAMED 2 , which produced a good practice manual for combating cork oak pests 3 . Conservation and restoration activities are also being undertaken thanks to funding under the Recovery and Resilience Facility 4 and the European Regional Development Fund 5 . 2. Forestry interventions under the Common Agricultural Policy 6 should be based on sustainable forest management plans 7 and may comprise sustainable management of forests and investments that guarantee and enhance forest conservation and resilience. Support may be granted for management commitments and investments aimed at maintaining the health of forests and protecting forests against abiotic and biotic damages caused by animals, plant diseases or pest infestations. Support for the restoration of forestry potential following natural disaster, adverse climatic events or catastrophic events may be granted as well. 3. The Commission is not currently involved in any active cooperation with countries outside of the EU on this issue. In Morocco, the ‘Terre Verte Programme‘ contributes to Morocco’s forests replantation programmes. The programme also focuses on the fight against forest diseases, dieback and promoting effective replantation through research policy reinforcement, but there is no specific focus on Quercus forests. 1 Project running until 2027: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE21-CCA-IT-LIFEFAGESOS-101074466/phytophthora-induced-decline-of-fagaceae-ecosystems-in-southern-europe-exacerbatedby-climate-change-preserving-ecosystem-services-through-improved-integrated-pest-management 2 https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/life/publicWebsite/project/LIFE14-CCA-ES-000612/protection-of-keyecosystem-services-by-adaptive-management-of-climate-change-endangered-mediterranean-socioecosystems 3 https://www.lifeadaptamed.eu/?p=1907 4 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382020516_Restoring_Mediterranean_Oaks_Enhancing_ Conservation_and_Management_through_Networked_Plot_Monitoring_and_Plot-based_Analysis 5 https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/erdf_en 6 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013, OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1–186. 7 Or equivalent instruments.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-12-18 “E-003020/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Based on public information, the plant would be expected to serve, among others, the agglomeration of Alhaurín el Grande. This is one of the agglomerations which were subject to an infringement case 1 under the Urban Wastewater Treatment (UWWT) Directive 2 . 1. Large 3 wastewater treatment plants must be subject to an assessment 4 of their significant effects, including on biodiversity, water, landscape and their vulnerability to risks of major accidents and/or disasters. Normal local climatic conditions as well as seasonal variations of the load must be considered when designing and constructing treatment plants 5 . Their vulnerability to extreme events also needs to be assessed 6 . Flood risk management plans 7 should consider relevant aspects such as spatial planning and land use. 2. The Common Agricultural Policy Strategic plan and Rural Development Programmes 8 provide the general framework and EU funding for the implementation of measures, including in the field of organic farming. The Commission notes positively that Andalusia reached 27.4% of organic area in 2022. 3. Under the Nature Restoration Regulation 9 , Member States must determine how to achieve the targets and where they will put in place measures, considering obligations for habitats, the need to enhance urban green space, tree canopy cover and biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems. Only additional trees 10 count towards the objective of 3 billion trees. While the Commission attaches high importance to ensuring the effective application of EU 1 INFR (2004) 2031. More information available on the public register: https://ec.europa.eu/atwork/applying-eu-law/infringementsproceedings/infringement_decisions/?lang_code=en&langCode=EN&version=v1&typeOfSearch=byCase&page =14&size=10&order=ascending&sortColumns=memberState&infringementType=BAD&activeCase=true; Judgment of 14.04.2011 of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU Case) C-343/10: https://eurlex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=CELEX:62010CJ0343and judgment of 25.07.2018 of the CJEU- Case C-205/17: https://curia.europa.eu/juris/liste.jsf?language=en&num=C-205/17&td=ALL 2 Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May 1991 concerning urban waste-water treatment, OJ L 135, 30.5.1991, p. 40–52. 3 With a capacity exceeding 150 000 population equivalent. 4 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 5 Article 10 of the UWWT Directive. 6 Article 13 of the revised UWWT Directive: Directive (EU) 2024/3019 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2024 concerning urban wastewater treatment (recast), OJ L, 2024/3019, 12.12.2024. 7 Articles 4, 8, 11 of Directive 2007/60/EC of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood risks, OJ L 288, 6.11.2007. 8 https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/common-agricultural-policy/rural-development_en 9 Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024. 10 Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024; ‘The 3 Billion Tree Planting Pledge For 2030’, SWD (2021) 651 final.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-12-13 “E-002938/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission According to the available information 1 , the project is currently undergoing the assessment procedure pursuant to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive 2 and has not yet received development consent. During this procedure the competent authorities would need to assess any potential impact on the environment, independently of the origin of the company leading the project, and to ensure that the project complies with applicable EU legislation such as the Mining Waste 3 , Nature 4 and Water Framework 5 Directives. The Commission is not aware of CO 2 storage permits in preparation in Spain that would need the application of Directive 2009/31/EC 6 . Mining activities normally falls under the scope of Regulation (EC) 2018/842 7 , setting limits to Member States on emissions of greenhouse gases and leaving them the freedom to choose the measures to achieve such targets. Member States are primarily responsible to ensure compliance with EU law. In line with its strategic approach on enforcement action 8 , which focuses on cases of systemic noncompliance, the Commission considers that the means of redress available under national legislation are the most appropriate mechanism to address individual cases of possible noncompliance, such as the issue raised by the Honourable Members. Moreover, the competent national Courts could order the suspension of the project, where appropriate. In its role as guardian of the Treaties, the Commission will continue monitoring the situation and may decide to take appropriate action. 1 https://energia.jcyl.es/web/jcyl/Energia/es/Plantilla100Detalle/1284766759323/Texto%20Generico/128544612 9394/Texto 2 Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment. OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1–21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of 16 April 2014 - OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1–18. 3 Directive 2006/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending Directive 2004/35/EC. OJ L 102, 11.4.2006, p. 15–34. 4 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50); Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds (Codified version), OJ L 20, 26.1.2010, p. 7–25 5 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy - OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73 6 Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, 2001/80/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2006/12/EC, 2008/1/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006. OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, p. 114–135. 7 Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on binding annual greenhouse gas emission reductions by Member States from 2021 to 2030 contributing to climate action to meet commitments under the Paris Agreement and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 (Text with EEA relevance). PE/3/2018/REV/2. OJ L 156, 19.6.2018, p. 26–42. 8 As set out in the Communication of 19 January 2017 (EU law: Better results through better application C/2016/8600, OJ C 18, 19.1.2017, p. 10–20) and in the Communication of 13 October 2022 COM(2022) 518 final - Enforcing EU law for a Europe that delivers.”
  Sourcing of critical raw materials · Nature protection and restoration in the EU · EU policy on social & environmental impact of foreign investments
• 2024-11-27 “E-002693/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission will soon make a legislative proposal to amend the European Climate Law in a targeted way to include the net 90% emission-reduction target for 2040. The impact assessment accompanying the 2040 climate target communication shows that setting a 2040 climate target implies greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts by all sectors, and enhancement of removals, which need to be enabled by various policies. Following the setting of the target for 2040, and in line with the foreseen reviews, the Commission will prepare a climate policy architecture beyond 2030, and prepare the proposals for the post-2030 policy framework that will be needed to deliver the 2040 target in a fair and cost-efficient manner. 2. The Commission will assess this in the context of the reviews foreseen in climate legislation in 2026. 3. While continuing efforts to accelerate deep and sustained emission reductions, intensifying the development and scale-up of carbon removal solutions is of key importance for reaching climate neutrality by 2050. The Commission is developing methodologies under the certification framework for carbon removals, which will facilitate investment in innovative carbon removal technologies in the EU, while addressing greenwashing. The Commission will also assess, by July 2026, whether permanent carbon removals could be covered by the Emissions Trading System and, if appropriate, present a legislative proposal and an impact assessment. During 2025, the Commission will organise a number of events, gathering a broad set of stakeholders, to consider how to boost the financing of 1 and the demand for permanent removals and removal credits that such projects can generate, and will follow up with appropriate actions. 1 As is currently done under the Innovation Fund, for example.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-11-27 “E-002674/2024 Answer given by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas on behalf of the European Commission The EU has expressed its concerns about reports regarding the repatriation to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of North Koreans detained in China and has reiterated the importance of upholding the principle of non-refoulement. The EU has repeatedly raised this issue with China through diplomatic channels, asking China to refrain from returning North Korean refugees to the DPRK. The EU will continue to urge China to fully respect the principle of non-refoulement. The EU has noted with concern that foreign citizens remain arbitrarily detained in the DPRK, often following trials that do not conform with international fair trial guarantees, with no information available regarding their health or the conditions of their detention. The EU will continue to insist that the DPRK must respect its international human rights obligations, including with regard to the cases referred to in the written question. The EU has called on the DPRK to provide citizens of other countries detained in the DPRK with protections including access to consular assistance and to release persons that have been arbitrarily detained or sentenced after an unfair trial. The EU in principle does not enumerate individual consular cases in the annual Human Rights Council resolution on human rights in the DPRK. The cases relating to Myanmar concerned the highest representatives of the democratically elected government, detained after an unjustified, illegal and unconstitutional military coup.”
  EU-China relations · EU competences on human rights
• 2024-11-22 “E-002639/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The analysis of the wolf situation published in December 2023 by the Commission 1 considered the best available data including the conservation status assessments reported by Member States under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive 2 ; the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List assessments; as well as updated information on wolf numbers in the EU. This analysis showed that the conservation status of the wolf in Europe has significantly recovered over the last decades and that the general trends in population and range were still improving. The Commission therefore considered, with that information at hand, that waiting for the next reports to be submitted under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive was not necessary. Generally increasing trends of both population and range of wolves in Europe have been confirmed by the latest available data, recently published by the Commission 3 . A change of the protection status of the wolf in the Habitats Directive 4 would not remove the obligation for Member States to reach or maintain good conservation status of wolf populations. It will rather provide additional flexibility to the Member States that need it, without obliging other Member States to change the protection status of the wolf at national level. Irrespective of any change in the legal protection status of the wolf, the Commission will continue to promote and support, through EU funding instruments, the design and implementation of appropriate coexistence solutions, including measures to prevent and reduce livestock depredations by protected wildlife species 5 . 1 https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/env/items/813295/en 2 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 3 https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/3f466d71-92a7-49eb-9c63-6cb0fadf29dc/library/97829710-878b-4bf7-95a1f135b00dd8f7/details 4 i.e. moving the species to Annex V of the Habitats Directive. 5 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/habitats-directive/large-carnivores/eu-largecarnivore-platform/eu-funding-and-large-carnivores_en”
  Large Carnivores
• 2024-11-20 “E-002601/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The study is an analysis of the already available data from 1964-2016. The Commission is aware of this data, which shows that global elephant densities are decreasing. The data shows also that densities in some populations, especially of L. africana in southern African countries were increasing. These are the countries where sustainable management forms an integral part of elephant conservation. The study did not include the most recent available population data for L. africana from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe from 2022 (Bussière & Potgieter 2023), which harbour about 50% of all African elephants and which confirmed a stable population in this region. The African elephants are currently listed in App. I, while some populations from southern Africa are listed in App. II, which allows conservation and management interventions appropriate to the conservation needs of specific populations. Furthermore, discussion is ongoing within the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 1 on changing the standard nomenclature for elephants, accepting L. cyclotis as separate species. In the process of the preparation of the upcoming meeting of the Conference of Parties to CITES, the Commission will carefully analyse any proposals, including those related to trade in African elephants, and propose to the Council of the European Union an evidence-based and proportionate EU position. 1 https://cites.org/eng”
  Commercial whaling
• 2024-11-19 “E-002574/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission While non-CO2 effects from aviation are short-lived pollutant, it is estimated that they warm the climate at least as much as long-lived CO 2 from aviation. Based on the precautionary principle and in accordance with Article 14(5) of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive 1 , the Commission implements a Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) mechanism of the non-CO 2 aviation effects. Based on the adopted rules, aircraft operators should monitor the non-CO 2 aviation effects as of 1 January 2025, enabling the calculation of a CO 2 equivalent per flight. Airlines are required to report non-CO 2 aviation effects annually. In 2025 and 2026, reporting may include all routes but is mandatory only for routes within the European Economic Area (EEA), and routes from EEA departing to Switzerland or to the United-Kingdom. From 2027 onwards, the MRV will extend to all flights departing from or arriving at EEA. The implementation of the MRV and Commission research initiatives enhance knowledge on nonCO2, informing effective avoidance strategies. Contrail avoidance by flight altitude adjustments is possible 2 . However, open questions need to be solved prior to an operational implementation of contrail avoidance in air traffic management. In addition to the European measures under the EU ETS, the Commission is ready to work with international partners, including the International Civil Aviation Organization, to take further action on mitigating non-CO2 in the short-term. ReFuelEU Aviation and the uptake of SAF (e.g. Power-to-Liquid) could allow to reduce emissions that contribute to non-CO 2 climate impact. The Commission explores ways to improve jet fuel composition in Europe, to reduce aromatics and sulphur levels. 1 EU ETS Directive https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/87/oj 2 For example: R Sausen et al, 2023, Can we successfully avoid persistent contrails by small altitude adjustments of flights in the real world?: https://elib.dlr.de/195244/1/avoiding%20contrails%20preprint%20230517.pdf”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-11-18 “E-002568/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 1 already sets the obligation for Member States to characterise water bodies and monitor and assess their status on a regular basis. This information is essential to adopt appropriate measures to prevent deterioration and achieve good water status of all water bodies, at the latest by end of 2027. This characterisation should be carried out following the guidance documents 2 , established in the context of the ‘Common Implementation Strategy’ under the WFD. The latter establishes the need to set, on a site-specific basis, the water table level necessary to secure the good status of groundwater bodies taking into account inter alia climate change and extractions. The WFD does not specify how water resources should be allocated between different users within a Member State. However, it requests that the current and future requirements of the users be incorporated into a system of controls that guarantees the achievement of the objectives of the law. This requires water allocations to be regularly reviewed to ensure withdrawals are consistent with the goal of achieving good quantitative water status. 1 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73. 2 Guidance document No 15. Guidance on Groundwater Monitoring: https://circabc.europa.eu/ui/group/9ab5926d-bed4-4322-9aa7-9964bbe8312d/library/d98ae176-3e4f-4aa8-a9a0877814cec19b/details”
  EU policy on water management
• 2024-11-08 “E-002482/2024 Answer given by Mr Hansen on behalf of the European Commission The name Viñedos de Álava/Arabako Mahastiak protected designations of origins (PDO) has not been entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications. The scrutiny of the application for registration of the name Viñedos de Álava/Arabako Mahastiak (PDO) has been suspended by the Commission on request of the Spanish authorities made on 29 July 2022 in line with Article 97(3)(b) of Regulation (EU) 1308/2013 1 . The Commission will give an appropriate follow-up to the developments in the national judicial proceedings concerning the application in question, taking account of the official communications of the Spanish authorities in this respect. The Commission is not aware of the reputational and economic damage the Honourable Member refers to. This said, the EU actively promotes registered geographical indications, like PDO Rioja, by ensuring strong legal protection, raising consumers awareness through targeted promotional campaigns, and securing recognition in international trade agreements. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02013R130820230101#:~:text=The%20Commission%20shall%20be%20empowered%20to%20adopt%20delegated,of%20m arket%20developments%20without%20adding%20new%20definitions.%205”
  EU policy on country of origin food labelling
• 2024-10-30 “E-002320/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The Regulation on Deforestation-free products (EUDR) 1 aims to prevent the placing on the EU market of products associated with deforestation and forest degradation. The EUDR requires that specific commodities - soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, rubber or coffee and their derived products - placed in the EU market are deforestation free, i.e. were produced on land that has not been subject to deforestation after 31 December 2020. The EUDR sets mandatory due diligence requirements for any company intending to place those commodities and products on the EU market or to export such products from the EU. The Commission remains fully committed to the Green Deal’s 2 central objective of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050. To this end, the Commission intends to propose setting out a 90% emissions reduction target for 2040 in the European Climate Law 3 . The Commission will also develop an ambitious and robust European Climate Adaptation Plan 4 . The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 5 provides that 30% of all EU land and sea area should be covered by protected areas, and that 10% of land and sea areas, including all remaining primary and old-growth forests in the EU, should become strictly protected areas by 2030. According to the subsidiarity principle it is, however, up to Member States, to define the criteria and the concrete protection measures for their old-growth forests. A Commission Staff working document 6 with further criteria and guidance for protected area designations recommends that additional protected area designations should focus, amongst others, on the information included in European and national red lists. A European Red list of trees 7 has been published in 2019. 1 Regulation (EU) 2023/1115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on the making available on the Union market and the export from the Union of certain commodities and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation and repealing Regulation (EU) No 995/2010, OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, p. 206–247. 2 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en 3 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/european-climate-law_en 4 https://commission.europa.eu/document/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en (p. 22). 5 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en 6 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/criteria-and-guidance-protected-areas-designations-staffworking-document_en 7 https://iucn.org/resources/publication/european-red-list-trees”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-29 “E-002308/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra On behalf of the European Commission 1. Latest data from the World Meteorological Organisation Greenhouse Gas Bulletin further support EU and Commission action to reduce all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to be on track to net-zero by 2050. This includes implementation of the Fit for 55 package to meet the EU’s 2030 55% target. The Commission will make a legislative proposal for the recommended net 90% GHG emission-reduction target for 2040 1 . The development of the post-2030 policy framework will then follow. 2. Thanks to its ambitious climate policies, the EU now only emits 6% of global emissions 2 . It will continue to lead by example and actively support multilateral negotiations under the Paris Agreement, while engaging with third countries to promote the EU Green Deal and share its experience. This includes support for robust carbon markets, capacity for modelling, strategies and transparency and as co-convenor of the Global Methane Pledge and main backer of United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory. 3. Member State authorities are primarily responsible for disaster risk management. The Commission supports efforts through finance from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. It supports capacity building through initiatives like the EU Civil Protection Mechanism peer review programme 3 or guidance on land-based wildfire prevention measures 4 , and has established the Expert Group on Forest Fires for knowledge sharing. The Commission will prepare a European Climate Adaptation Plan to support Member States on preparedness and planning and ensure regular science-based risk assessments. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN 2 https://climate.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d0671350-37f2-4bc4-88e8-088d0508fb03_en 3 https://civil-protection-knowledge-network.europa.eu/disaster-prevention-and-risk-management/ucpm-peerreview-programme 4 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/4e6cc1f1-8b8a-11eb-b85c-01aa75ed71a1”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-28 “E-002279/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission The Commission welcomes the United Nations (UN) Emissions Gap Report; Commission staff members actively contribute to it as authors and reviewers. While global emissions are increasing at a worrying pace, the EU’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been on a decades-long decreasing trend, with another strong reduction of 8% net GHG emissions from 2022 to 2023 1 . The EU is on track to achieve its 2030 target to reduce GHG emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 levels. The Commission has recommended a target of reducing the EU’s net GHG emissions by 90% by 2040 2 which it intends to include in a proposal to amend the European Climate Law. As the EU’s share of GHG emissions is decreasing, now at 6%, mitigation by others becomes more important, though EU leadership remains essential. The EU will continue to lead by example, actively supporting negotiations under the Paris Agreement and contributing through climate finance and experience while engaging with third countries to share its good practice. At COP29 3 , the EU and its Member States worked tirelessly, together with many partners, on achieving an outcome that reaffirms the global commitment to tackling the pressing challenge of the current time, but also reflects the complexity and scale of the issues faced. Agreements on two vital mandates were reached: a new goal for climate finance for developing countries and the completion of the international carbon markets’ chapter of the Paris Agreement rulebook. Despite mitigation ambition not at the core of the agreements reached in this COP, the EU remains committed to driving ambition and calls for ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions to be presented ahead of COP30. 1 Climate Action Progress Report 2024 : https://climate.ec.europa.eu/document/download/7bd19c68-b179-4f3faf75-4e309ec0646f_en?filename=CAPR-report2024-web.pdf 2 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN 3 29 th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-23 “E-002241/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Séjourné on behalf of the European Commission The Commission is assessing the Ombudsman’s findings and related recommendation and will present its considerations and actions by January 2025. The Commission is committed to ensure transparency, as recommended by the Ombudsman. In addition, the Commission is already devising actions to tackle, in the medium term, the root causes of the delays that were identified in the inquiry. Among those actions, the Commission intends to propose a revision of the Regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals 1 aimed at, among others, simplification. The dual system of authorisations and restrictions should be reviewed to substantially reduce the need for individual authorisations. 1 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02006R1907-20241010”
  Chemicals regulation · Overall simplification of regulation in the EU (free access)
• 2024-10-23 “E-002230/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission proposal for amending the status of the wolf under the Bern Convention 1 adopted in September 2024 by the Council of the EU is underpinned by in-depth assessment of the situation of the wolf in the EU 2 . The Commission does not intend to propose any amendments to the Bern Convention, other than those concerning the protection status of the wolf. 2. The Standing Committee of the Bern Convention decided to amend the appendices of the Convention at its meeting in December 2024. Following the entry into force of such amendment, the EU will be allowed to adapt the corresponding annexes of the Habitats Directive 3 . In terms of species, the Commission’s proposal will be limited to a modification of the protection status of the wolf only. 3. The Commission will continue pursuing EU nature conservation policy based on sound technical and scientific evidence and in line with EU and global commitments on biodiversity. The Commission assessment confirmed a strong increase of the wolf populations over the last decades and the need to provide more flexibility to Member States that need it to manage them, given the increasing wolf predation-related damages to livestock, in particular in areas where wolf populations have recently recovered. Furthermore, notwithstanding the amendment referred to above, Member States will still be obliged to maintain or restore a favourable conservation status of the wolf on their national territory, in line with the recent rulings of the Court of Justice of the EU 4 and with international commitments on biodiversity. 1 https://www.coe.int/en/web/bern-convention 2 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/5d017e4e-9efc-11ee-b164-01aa75ed71a1/language-en 3 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 4 E.g. Case C-436/22 on wolf hunting in Spain: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/202407/cp240118en.pdf and Case C-601/22 on derogations to kill wolves in Austria: https://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2024-07/cp240111en.pdf”
  Energy (green transition) · GMOs
• 2024-10-22 “E-002228/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission 1. A more efficient use of water is embedded as an objective in a number of laws. The Water Resilience Strategy will be an opportunity to foster water efficiency across sectors, including the Information and Communications Technologies sector. 2. The recast Energy Efficiency Directive 1 helps saving water by promoting sustainability in large data centres, driving improvements in energy efficiency and waste heat recovery thus reducing the cooling needs. The Directive stipulated the creation of a European reporting scheme for data centres 2 , which includes reporting on annual water consumption and the presentation of the water usage effectiveness (WUE) of data centres across Europe. In accordance with the Directive, the Commission is working to prepare a proposal for a rating scheme and minimum performance standards for data centres that will consider the water footprint of data centres. 3. The water consumption of data centres and other economic activities should not lead to a deterioration of water bodies in line with Article 4 of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 3 . Such an obligation must be duly taken into account when choosing the location of those activities and when ascertaining the possible impact they may have on water bodies and aquatic ecosystems. The WFD further also obliges Member States to ensure controls over the abstraction of fresh surface water and groundwater, and regularly review and update controls, where so required to avoid deterioration of the status of water bodies or preventing these from achieving good water status. These controls incentivise more efficient consumption. 1 Directive (EU) 2023/1791 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on energy efficiency and amending Regulation (EU) 2023/955 (recast), OJ L 231, 20.9.2023, p. 1–111. 2 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1364 of 14 March 2024 on the first phase of the establishment of a common Union rating scheme for data centres, OJ L, 2024/1364, 17.5.2024. 3 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32–35.”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-16 “E-002088/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission The State of water report 1 is based mainly on data reported by European Environment Agency (EEA) member countries under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2 . The Commission will shortly publish a Report 3 assessing the EU Member States’ River Basin and Flood Risk Management Plans under the WFD and the Floods Directive 4 respectively; this will also include recommendations and the findings 5 of both reports will feed into the Water Resilience Strategy. The Commission proposal 6 updating the lists of pollutants in EU waters under the WFD includes standards for additional pesticides in surface waters, and for additional pesticide metabolites in groundwater. The Commission will continue supporting implementation of the Nitrates 7 and Sustainable Use of Pesticides 8 Directives 9 , including practices that reduce the need for chemical pesticides or use non-chemical alternatives. The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 10 , through Eco-Schemes and Agri-Environmental and Climate Commitments, supports the reduction of chemical dependencies on 26.6% of the EU’s agricultural area 11 . As per the Strategic Dialogue on the future of EU Agriculture, the Commission will develop a Vision for Agriculture and Food to ensure the sustainability of the sector. Nature-based solutions (NbS), such as peatlands, are indispensable for water resilience, helping to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The Commission supports the use of NbS to reduce flood risk by funding projects and disseminating their results. The proposed Soil Monitoring Law 12 should improve characterisation of the capacity of soils to increase 1 https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/publications/europes-state-of-water2024#:~:text=This%20report%20presents%20the%20state%20of%20Europe%27s%20water.,adapting%20to%2 0water%20scarcity%2C%20drought%20and%20flood%20risks 2 Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, p. 1–73, as amended by Commission Directive 2014/101/EU of 30 October 2014, OJ L 311, 31.10.2014, p. 32–35. 3 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/water-framework-directive/implementation-reports_en (7 th Implementation report soon to be published). 4 Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2007 on the assessment and management of flood, OJ L 288, 6.11.2007, p. 27–34. 5 The findings will also be considered by the various Working Groups under the Common Implementation Strategy for the WFD and Floods Directive to enhance cooperation, share knowledge and best practice and thus improve the implementation of the Directives. 6 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-amending-water-directives_en 7 Directive 91/676/EEC of 12 December 1991 concerning the protection of waters against pollution caused by nitrates from agricultural sources, OJ L 375, 31.12.1991, p. 1–8. 8 Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides, OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 71–86 9 Both are included in Common Agricultural Policy enhanced conditionality. 10 Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 establishing rules on support for strategic plans to be drawn up by Member States under the common agricultural policy (CAP Strategic Plans) and financed by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and repealing Regulations (EU) No 1305/2013 and (EU) No 1307/2013, OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1–186. 11 https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-06/approved-28-cap-strategic-plans-2023-27.pdf 12 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/proposal-directive-soil-monitoring-and-resilience_en”
  Energy (green transition) · GMOs
• 2024-10-14 “E-002040/2024 Answer given by Executive Vice-President Šefčovič on behalf of the European Commission 1. The Commission’s analysis on the wolf published in December 2023 1 shows that the status of the wolf in Europe has improved significantly over the last decades, both in terms of range extension and increasing population size. The EU wolf population has almost doubled in ten years. A potential downlisting of the wolf under the Bern Convention and subsequently in the Habitats Directive 2 (i.e. moving the species to Annex V), would allow for a more flexible population management, but would not remove the objective of wolf conservation, as Member States would still be obliged to achieve and maintain favourable conservation status for the species. 2. and 3. Nature is the best ally against climate change. Nature regulates the climate, and nature-based solutions are essential for emission reduction and climate adaptation. The Commission considers that its current species conservation policy is already supporting the objectives of the Paris Agreement and the commitments of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 3 complemented the legal framework of the nature directives with specific commitments and targets to step up action at EU and international level. This includes, amongst others, targets for avoiding further deterioration of protected species and restoring their populations. The new EU Nature Restoration Regulation 4 is building on these targets, as it requires restoring habitats on which these species depend, while also considering objectives of climate adaptation and mitigation. Finally, the Commission plans to adopt by the end of 2024 a major update of its Guidance on Natura 2000 and climate change. 1 https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/env/items/813295/en 2 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7–50. 3 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en 4 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/nature-restoration-law_en”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-10-10 “E-002015/2024 Answer given by Ms Roswall on behalf of the European Commission Decision CBD/COP/DEC/15/6 1 requests Parties to submit, in advance of the 16 th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, revised and updated national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAP), or to communicate national targets aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The Commission has submitted the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 2 , as well as aligned EU targets that draw on relevant European Green Deal (EGD) 3 instruments and address all elements of the GBF targets. To some extent, national targets of Member States will derive from, and build on, these EGD instruments, in particular the Nature Restoration Regulation 4 . The Commission is aware that so far, just over half of all Member States have submitted NBSAPs and/or uploaded national targets aligned with the GBF. The Commission strongly encourages Member States that have not yet done so to communicate their national targets and revise their NBSAPs as soon as possible, as well as to strengthen their implementation. This will provide for transparency and enhance the credibility of the EU and its Member States in the global discussions. To facilitate mutual learning and exchange, the Commission organised end of August 2024 an NBSAP Dialogue for the Western European and Others Group as well as all Member States. Member States are also regularly invited to present and discuss their adopted NBSAPs at the EU Biodiversity Platform 5 . The Commission will also reflect progress in the adoption of NBSAPs in the country reports on the Environmental Implementation Review 6 in 2025. 1 https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-15/cop-15-dec-06-en.pdf 2 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en 3 https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en 4 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/nature-and-biodiversity/nature-restoration-law_en 5 https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupID=2210 6 https://environment.ec.europa.eu/law-and-governance/environmental-implementation-review_en”
  Energy (green transition)
• 2024-09-16 “E-001725/2024 Answer given by Mr Hoekstra on behalf of the European Commission Reducing the release of greenhouse gases and increasing removals from the land sector will be crucial to deliver on our collective objective to reach climate neutrality by 2050. As such, the revised Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) regulation 1 is an important step on the way. The Regulation sets out an EU wide target to increase land-based net removals by an additional 42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030. This collective ambition increase is distributed between Member States, requiring all Member States to adopt additional national policies for the land sector. Ultimately, the further integration of the land sector into our climate policy framework should assist farmers, foresters and other stakeholders in building new sustainable business models. The Carbon Removal Certification Framework will be an important enabler in this regard. Many Member States are still in the process of identifying and adopting the necessary set of policies and measures to put the EU on track towards the collective 2030-target, as demonstrated by the updated National Energy and Climate Plans 2 . The Commission is in close dialogue with Member States to encourage and facilitate the exchange of best practices. The land use flexibility mechanism includes inter alia additional compensation for natural disturbances, as well as a flexibility linked to long-term effects of climate change, subjected to the EU, as a whole, meeting its 2030 target. The Commission is currently preparing the implementing act setting out the structure, format, technical details and submission process of the evidence related to this flexibility in consultation with Member States and strives towards a swift adoption in the next months. 1 Regulation (EU) 2018/841 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the inclusion of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from land use, land use change and forestry in the 2030 climate and energy framework, and amending Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 and Decision No 529/2013/EU. 2 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions EU wide assessment of the draft updated National Energy and Climate Plans An important step towards the more ambitious 2030 energy and climate objectives under the European Green Deal and RePowerEU COM/2023/796 final.”
  Energy (green transition)