EU Environment Council Discusses Microplastics, Climate Goals, and Circular Transport Regulations

On Tuesday, at the EU Environment Council meeting in Brussels, ministers reached an agreement on the draft regulation aimed at preventing plastic pellet pollution to reduce microplastics. They also discussed the 2040 EU climate target communication and a proposed regulation on the design and end-of-life management of vehicles.

Lithuania was represented at the meeting by Jurga Kasputienė, Ambassador-at-Large and Deputy Permanent Representative of Lithuania to the EU.

The proposed regulation on plastic pellet loss prevention establishes requirements for economic operators, both within and outside the EU, across all stages of the supply chain. The legislation includes provisions for creating a public register of companies handling pellets, certifying medium and large enterprises, and imposing fines and compensation mechanisms for violations. Small and micro-enterprises would face less stringent requirements. During the negotiations, maritime transport was included in the scope of the regulation. The next step involves discussions with the European Parliament.

“We support the inclusion of maritime transport in the regulation’s scope and the alignment of requirements for EU and non-EU operators. However, we are concerned about the potential administrative burden for small and micro-enterprises. We hope this issue will be addressed in upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament,” Ambassador Kasputienė stated at the meeting.

The 2040 EU climate target communication proposes a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, paving the way to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

“We must support initiatives to decarbonize the energy sector and work towards ending fossil fuel imports from Russia, replacing them with reliable alternative sources during the transition period. It is also crucial to secure adequate funding for post-2030 climate goals and establish mechanisms to mitigate socio-economic impacts,” the Lithuanian representative emphasized.

Commenting on the proposed regulation for vehicle design and end-of-life management, Ambassador Kasputienė highlighted the importance of applying circular economy requirements not only to passenger cars and light commercial vehicles but also to heavy vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, and quadricycles.