EU to simplify environmental laws/ Consultations begin after industry criticism
The European Union has launched consultations to further simplify environmental policies, after cutting an initial set of sustainability laws earlier this year in response to criticism from industries.
The move is part of the EU's "simplification" agenda to cut red tape for industries that say complex legislation across the bloc means they struggle to compete with rivals in China and the United States. In a public consultation, the European Commission said it was reviewing environmental laws to identify where the administrative burden on companies and governments could be reduced.
"The aim is not to lower the environmental objectives, or the protection of human health, provided for by EU environmental laws, but to achieve them more effectively without incurring avoidable costs," the consultation text said.
The Environment Commissioner said the aim was to "simplify environmental legislation without compromising high environmental standards".
However, other EU proposals to improve the laws so far have included significantly reducing the number of companies covered by sustainability rules and relaxing requirements for companies to check their supply chains for abuses.
Activists and some businesses and investors have criticized these plans, accusing Brussels of dismantling laws that help manage climate change risks and spur capital towards the green transition.
The Commission has not yet decided which further environmental laws should be simplified. EU environmental policies cover many issues ranging from waste management to water quality and industrial pollution.
"Extended Producer Responsibility" schemes are among those being considered - although some governments want other policies scaled back, including anti-deforestation legislation.
The schemes make companies responsible for how their products are recycled or ultimately disposed of. They have been criticised by businesses who say EU rules overlap with several national schemes, burdening companies with duplicate regulations.
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