Romania’s Minister of the Environment Mircea Fechet is participating today in a meeting of the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg, according to the ministry.

According to the European Council’s website, the EU environment ministers are expected to reach a general approach on the European Commission’s proposal to revise the waste framework directive, focusing on the resource-intensive textile and food sectors. The overall aim of the proposal is to reduce the environmental and climate impacts associated with textile and food waste generation and management.

The ministers will also try to reach a general approach on the green claims directive. The proposed legislation aims to ensure reliable, comparable and verifiable green claims across the EU. The main goal is to address greenwashing, by helping consumers make sustainable and informed decisions on products or services.

The third general approach expected to be reached by EU ministers is the soil monitoring directive, aiming to put the EU on a pathway to healthy soils by 2050. In this context, several measures are being proposed, including a monitoring framework, guiding principles on sustainable soil management, and addressing health and environmental risks posed by soil contamination.

The EU environment ministers will hold a policy debate on the European Commission communication on Europe’s 2040 climate target and path to climate neutrality by 2050, which recommends reducing the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 relative to 1990. They will also exchange views on the European Commission communication on managing climate risks, which focuses on climate resilience and preparedness in the EU.

The ministers will also approve conclusions on the mid-term review of the 8th environment action programme. The conclusions aim to provide guidance on the way forward to a green, just and inclusive transition for a sustainable Europe.

Under other business, the presidency will inform ministers about the progress being made with respect to the proposed regulation on reducing microplastic pollution from plastic pellet losses and the proposed regulation on end-of-life vehicles.

AGERPRES