The policy package was put together under the stewardship of the former Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik and includes plans to increase targets for the recycling of municipal to 70% by 2030 and for higher targets for recycling packaging waste.
The proposed legislation is currently being screened under the instruction of the newly appointed Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker, and it is believed that following lobbying from German businesses the package may be set to be dropped from the Commission’s 2015 work schedule.
Mr Juncker and his deputy Commissioner Frans Timmermans are meeting with the chairmen of the political groups that make up the European Parliament in Brussels this morning, at which the 2015 schedule is to be discussed.
Meeting
A source in Brussels has told letsrecycle.com that there is a strong suggestion that Juncker and Timmermans will outline their stance on the circular economy package as well as legislation on air quality, and could favour dropping the legislation.
This is despite indications from Brussels last week that the Commissioner for the Environment, Maltese politician Karmenu Vella, favoured keeping the package under review, rather than scrapping it outright (see letsrecycle.com story).
Commenting on the news, Labour MEP Seb Dance expressed concern that the policy package may be dropped.
He said: “I am extremely disappointed to hear renewed rumours that the Commission intends to drop both the air quality package and the circular economy package.
“It is imperative that work continues on the circular economy package, which will be vital for jobs and growth in the EU. If we are serious about sustainable development then resource efficiency must be at the heart of any future growth strategy for Europe.”
More to follow.
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