Green Claims Negotiations Halted

In a surprising move, the European Council has decided to cancel negotiations with the European Parliament over the legislative proposal on green claims. This decision follows the European Commission’s announcement of its intent to withdraw the proposal, leading to a last-minute cancellation of scheduled talks. The move has raised concerns among committee chairs about its implications for future legislative processes.

Anna Cavazzini, Chair of the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, and Antonio Decaro, Chair of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, expressed disappointment over the abrupt cancellation. They criticized the Council’s decision, highlighting the potential precedent it sets for legislative procedures. “We do not believe it is fair to deprive Parliament of the opportunity to finalize the negotiations on a directive after two years of legislative process and countless hours of work,” they stated.

The directive aimed to enhance environmental awareness and consumer trust by ensuring that environmental marketing claims are reliable and verifiable. It also sought to combat greenwashing and provide a level playing field for businesses operating sustainably. Despite the setback, the committee chairs remain committed to resuming negotiations as soon as possible.

Parliament’s co-rapporteurs, Sandro Gozi and Tiemo Wölken, echoed these sentiments during a press conference, emphasizing the need to continue the institutional dialogue. The cancellation has sparked a debate on the balance of power within the EU’s legislative process and the importance of maintaining open communication between its institutions.