After discussions on the Directive within the EU Council broke down in December, the Commission revealed its disappointment in the lack of progress in protecting European soils (see letsrecycle.com story).
Spanish MEP Cristina Gutiérrez-Cortines told Mr Podobnik: “On soil protection, you cannot simply say you will see what happens. You are President in office; the European Parliament has made a proposal and this has to be debated.”
Mr Podobnik replied that no consensus had been reached in the Council, adding: “But that doesn't mean it is blocked. In the coming months we will do everything we can to assess the situation and see where we can go from there. We will sound out all options and possibilities so that during our term of office we can get things on the road.”
The meeting had been called for MEPs to find out about the environmental priorities of the Slovenian Presidency, which wants climate change and biological diversity at the top of its agenda.
Waste Framework Directive
Meanwhile, the European Parliament's environment committee will formally take possession of the latest version of the revised Waste Framework Directive on January 28.
The committee is to assess the Compromise position on the new waste directive, as agreed by the EU Council before Christmas, ahead of the 2nd reading of the Directive by the full Parliament later in the Spring.
One of the key demands of MEPs for the new Directive – new targets for reducing and recycling waste – has been thrown out by the Council, which is made up of EU environment ministers including the UK's secretary of state, Hilary Benn.
The Council considered the prospect of Europe-wide recycling targets as “premature” and “unrealistic given the current data gaps” in waste management.
Their common position also did not agree with introducing targets for stabilising and reducing waste generation as part of waste prevention programmes
However, the Council has backed moves to draw up minimum technical standards for recycling “where there is evidence that a benefit in terms of protection of human health and the environment would be gained”. And, they supported moves to declassify certain materials – such as building waste, ashes and slags, metals, compost, paper and glass – as “wastes” if they are fully recovered to agreed standards.
On the recovery versus disposal debate for the use of efficient incinerators, ministers voted for a derogation to the shipment of waste law to deal with concerns from countries like Denmark that their domestic incinerators would be used to treat foreign waste.
Waste shipments can be refused where it can be shown that domestic waste would have to be treated in ways not consistent with the national waste plan, the Council said.
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