A new EU framework to secure the supply of critical raw materials
24 March 23
Bianca Sofian
The European Commission has set out a regulatory framework to ensure the secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials (CRMs) in the EU. The framework would seek to develop domestic supply capacities, and to strengthen the sustainability and circularity of the CRM supply chains in the EU.
European Commission sets out latest proposals to support green investment
22 March 23
Peter Dunn
The European Commission has published its proposed Net-Zero Industry Act. Details of the proposal emerged just a few days after the Commission confirmed changes to its state aid rules. These initiatives form part of the Commission's Green Deal Industrial Plan, designed to make the EU a more attractive location for investments in green technologies and products, and widely seen as the EU’s response to the USA’s Inflation Reduction Act.
BEREC calls for standardised environmental reporting and clearer information-gathering powers
20 March 23
Peter Dunn
BEREC called for a "clearer and harmonised mandate" for national regulatory authorities to collect environmental information. BEREC also stressed the importance for transparency and comparability of defining a common EU methodology to collect such data and for the industry to publish environmental information in an open format.
Parliament and Council reach provisional agreement on revised rules for energy efficiency
17 March 23
Bianca Sofian
The Council and European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement to revise the Energy efficiency directive on 10 March 2023. The revised directive includes new obligations for member states, public bodies and private companies.
European Commission clarifies provisions of the EU taxonomy
15 March 23
Bianca Sofian
The European Commission published two draft notices to help financial and non-financial companies with the interpretation and implementation of certain legal provisions of the EU taxonomy. The draft notices also aim to help companies preparing their first mandatory reporting exercise, which started in January 2023.
UK must make the right decisions and quickly to achieve its net zero goal
06 March 23
Peter Dunn
The UK government must take action on 25 policy recommendations, as well as establish stable long-term (ten year) programmes, if it is to achieve its target of net zero by 2050. This was the conclusion of the government commissioned review Mission zero, which reported in January 2023.