European Climate Law: Parliament and Council of the European Union to adopt final positions in coming weeks

The European Climate Law Regulation formed part of the European Green Deal​​, unveiled back in December 2019​.

European Climate Law timeline – creating the ‘law of all laws’ for a green future ​

In March 2020, the European Commission published its latest Circular Economy Action Plan for Europe​ – one of the main building blocks for the European Green Deal – and adopted the European Climate Law Regulation proposal.

And just last month, this proposal was provisionally agreed on​ by negotiators from the European Parliament and European Council.

Speaking at the time, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, Minister of Environment and Climate Action, said: “We are very happy with the provisional deal reached today. The​ European climate law is ‘the law of laws’ that sets the frame for the EU’s climate-related legislation for 30 years to come. The EU is strongly committed to becoming climate neutral by 2050 and today we can be proud to have set in stone an ambitious climate goal that can get everyone’s support. With this agreement, we send a strong signal to the world.”​

An EU official told CosmeticDesign-Europe the European Parliament was set to adopt its final position at the end of June this year and the Council of the European Union in July. Whilst amendments were theoretically possible, the official said both institutions were set to go ahead with the current proposal.

Thereafter, the formal steps of the adoption procedure would happen where the European Climate Law Regulation would be signed and published in the Official Journal of the European Union. This, the EU official said, would likely happen “a few months”​ from now.

On July 14, the European Commission would also issue concrete proposals on how to implement climate targets outlined under the law in the coming weeks. Several legislative proposals were expected under a ‘Fit for 55’ legislative package​.

Cosmetics Europe: European Green Deal a ‘major policy challenge’ for cosmetics​

Earlier this year, John Chave, director-general of industry association Cosmetics Europe, described the European Green Deal as a “major policy challenge on a number of fronts”​​ for the beauty and personal care industry.

“…It will be the dominant concern of our association and the industry in Europe for 2021 and beyond,”​ Chave said.

Most notably, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability which was part of the European Green Deal​ would carry important impacts for beauty and personal care manufacturers and suppliers because it was underpinned by the concept of ‘essentiality’, he said.

Moving forward, Chave said Cosmetics Europe and wider industry would need to fight hard to get beauty and personal care products recognised as essential to consumer lives.

The association planned to go into much more depth next week on what the European Green Deal meant for industry at its annual Cosmetics Europe Annual Conference (CEAC) – held virtually this year on June 15 and 16. The full programme and registration can be accessed here.​