EU Ministers of Environment reached a general approach on a proposal to revise the industrial emissions directive

Ministers reached a general approach on a proposal to revise the Industrial emissions directive at the Environment Council on Thursday. Ministers also discussed Packaging, the Certification of carbon sinks, and Urban wastewater treatment directives. 

Amendments to the Industrial emissions directive were agreed upon, focusing on the livestock sector, promoting industrial transformation, reducing pollution, and contributing to climate, energy, and circular economy policies. 

Member states agreed that farms with 350 or more cattle and pigs, 280 or more poultry, and mixed farms with more than 350 cattle and pigs, as well as mixed farms with more than 350 cattle, will be included in the scope of this Directive. Exemptions will be made for extensive farming and transitional periods will be provided to give farms sufficient time to adapt to the new requirements. 

"The agricultural sector must contribute to reducing emissions. However, extensive livestock farming is not widely practiced in Lithuania due to climate conditions, and cattle farms, which will be most affected by the amendment to the Directive, are already facing the negative impact of rising energy, fuel, and feed prices," said Raminta Radavičienė, Vice-minister of the Environment, who attended the Council. It is estimated that around 120 cattle farms in Lithuania will be affected by the Directive, representing less than 0.5% of the total herd in Lithuania. 

For the first time, the Environment Council discussed the Packaging and packaging waste regulation and the Urban wastewater treatment directive. 

The Regulation proposes to reduce packaging and packaging waste, to apply the principles of the circular economy by setting new targets and harmonised sustainability requirements across the EU, and to promote waste prevention through innovation and transformation. The proposed measures to use recycled materials are estimated to reduce the EU's demand for fossil fuels needed to produce plastic packaging by 3.1 million tons per year. It would also reduce dependence on fossil fuel imports, stimulate economic growth and reduce unnecessary household costs. 

This would be achieved by limiting unnecessary packaging, such as certain forms of disposable packaging that can be avoided in the hotel, retail, and restaurant sectors. Also, by obliging companies to offer a certain percentage of their products to consumers in reusable or refillable packaging, such as takeaway drinks and food or e-commerce deliveries. 

Lithuania welcomes such changes but notes that when adopting the requirements for the collection of packaging participating in the deposit scheme and reusable packaging, it is important to consider national circumstances and the existence of similar schemes in the Member States, so that the requirements do not oblige substantial changes. 

The Urban wastewater treatment directive makes a key proposal to introduce centralised wastewater collection in all smaller agglomerations by 31 December 2030, but Lithuania has concerns about this. 

"Concerns include the increasing financial burden due to the need for funds for new investments and the very short implementation deadlines proposed. The first step should be to provide a financing mechanism, create new infrastructure, or adapt appropriate treatment technologies. It is important for us that the proposed obligations and deadlines are put into practice," said R. Radavičienė, Deputy Minister of the Environment. 

The meeting also proposed the introduction of a voluntary EU certification scheme for carbon sinks to encourage farmers, foresters, and other operators to contribute to the EU, and therefore Lithuania's, climate neutrality goal through initiatives such as reforestation, non-agricultural farming, locking CO2 in construction and other durable products. Lithuania welcomes the establishment of this voluntary scheme as it sees a strong interest and demand from economic operators. 

Ministers of Environment also discussed the greening measures of the European Semester. The European Semester is a tool to help Member States address challenges in fiscal, economic, employment, and social policies. 

The key economic enablers for a green systemic transformation of investment are the promotion of green budgets and the removal of environmentally harmful subsidies. However, measures such as green competence centres and centralised databases, better public-private cooperation and public awareness of sustainability, new financial instruments, and sustainable financing products are also needed.