Green Claims Directive Talks Halted

In a surprising turn of events, the European Commission announced its decision to withdraw the legislative proposal for the Green Claims Directive, prompting the Council to cancel the scheduled trilogue negotiations. The directive aimed to enhance the reliability of environmental marketing claims across Europe.

The decision comes after nearly two years of legislative progress, initiated by the European Commission in March 2023. The directive sought to mandate companies to substantiate their environmental claims with credible evidence before presenting them to consumers. The European Parliament and the Council had reached their initial positions in 2024, with discussions on the final text commencing earlier this year.

Sandro Gozi (Renew, FR) and Tiemo Wölken (S&D, DE), co-rapporteurs from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection and Environment, Climate and Food Safety Committees respectively, addressed the unexpected halt in a press conference today at the European Parliament in Brussels. They expressed their commitment to ensuring consumer protection against misleading environmental claims and emphasized the need for regulatory measures in environmental labelling.

Accredited media were invited to the press conference, which was also webcast live, providing an opportunity for journalists to engage with the co-rapporteurs. This development marks a significant pause in the legislative process aimed at strengthening consumer trust in environmental marketing within the European Union.