The two bodies have been at odds over details within the amendment to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive introduced by Dutch MEP Dorette Corbey.
Although the Parliament has accepted the Council's position on packaging recycling targets to be reached by 2008 (see letsrecycle.com story), the conciliation process came to a juddering halt following additional amendments demanded by MEPs.
The sticking points include the postponed deadline for those countries with particularly poor recycling rates. While the Council proposed that Greece, Ireland and Portugal should have until 2012 to reach the next set of recycling targets, the Parliament has said it should be 2010.
MEPs also want a decision on when countries joining the European Union in 2004 should meet the requirements of the packaging directive.
Other problem areas include the Parliament's demand for further measures to minimise the environmental impact of packaging and encourage waste prevention as well as whether certain items, such as flower pots, should count as packaging under the terms of the directive.
Under European regulations, the Parliament and Council have until December 31, 2003 to reach a final agreement.
EfW
The question of whether energy-from-waste incineration of packaging counts towards the directive's recovery targets is also a significant obstacle for conciliation.
Dorette Corbey MEP has said that following a ruling from the European Court of Justice on the issue (see letsrecycle.com story), the Parliament is seeking legal advice.
Ms Corbey said: “The Council adopted its Common Position after the Court passed judgment without taking into account its consequences. During Parliament's second reading amendments were tabled in the light of the new situation but these did not find sufficient support and were rejected. Legal advice will be sought on the issues.”
The European Environmental Bureau, a group of over 140 European pressure groups has warned that if the Court of Justice ruling does lead to incineration counting towards recovery targets, countries with difficulties meeting recovery targets will end up incinerating large quantities, particularly plastic packaging.
The Bureau called for a “complete rewording” of the Waste Framework Directive to ensure this does not happen.
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