Written by Vivienne Halleux (3rd edition, updated on 20.02.2024).
On 17 November 2021, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise EU rules on shipments of waste. The proposed regulation seeks to ease shipments of waste for reuse and recycling in the EU, to support the transition to a circular economy; ensure that waste exported from the EU is managed in an environmentally sound manner in the destination countries; and step up enforcement to counteract illegal shipments of waste. While supporting the proposed streamlining and digitalisation of procedures, stakeholders have stressed the need for significant improvements to ensure that the new regulation fulfils its objectives, in particular as regards exports of waste.
The European Parliament adopted its position on the proposed regulation on 17 January 2023. Strengthening the Commission’s text, notably on transparency, monitoring, and assessment of sound waste management in third countries, Parliament’s negotiating mandate proposes putting an end to plastic waste exports outside the EU and EFTA countries. The Council adopted its general approach on 24 May 2023. Interinstitutional negotiations concluded on 17 November 2023 with a provisional agreement. The agreed text, endorsed by Member State representatives on 6 December 2023 and by the ENVI committee on 11 January 2024, now awaits formal adoption by Parliament and the Council. The vote in plenary is scheduled for the February II session.
Complete version
- February 2024: Revision of the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation (3rd edition)
Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on shipments of waste and amending Regulations (EU) No 1257/2013 and (EU) No 2020/1056 |
Committee responsible: | Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) | COM(2021) 709 17.11.2021 |
Rapporteur: | Pernille Weiss (EPP, Denmark) | 2021/0367(COD) |
Shadow rapporteurs: | Cyrus Engerer (S&D, Malta) Frédérique Ries (Renew, Belgium) Sara Matthieu (Greens/EFA, Belgium) Mathilde Androuët (ID, France) Pietro Fiocchi (ECR, Italy) João Pimenta Lopes (The Left, Portugal) | Ordinary legislative procedure (COD) (Parliament and Council on equal footing – formerly ‘co-decision’) |
Next steps expected: Plenary vote on trilogue agreement |
Listen to policy podcast ‘Revision of the EU’s Waste Shipment Regulation‘ on YouTube.