Peter Liese: Numerous simplifications of environmental legislation planned / Core of environment legislation to be maintained / But simplifications are urgently needed

On Wednesday, the European Union proposed its largest omnibus package to date. In the context of European politics, omnibus refers to the simplification of several laws at once. The first omnibus package, which aims to simplify due diligence rules, sustainability reporting and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), is now almost complete as an agreement has been reached in trilogue. The new omnibus package deals with European environmental legislation. A number of simplifications are planned in the area of the Industrial Emissions Directive and other environmental laws relevant to industry. For example, projects in which industry uses hydrogen are to be simplified. Farmers will be granted exemptions from reporting on water, energy and material use. Generators used as backups for data centres will also be granted exemptions. The same applies to manufacturers of e-bikes and other market participants within the scope of the Battery Regulation. Further simplifications concern the Water Framework Directive and the appointment of so-called authorised representatives. The regulation on waste shipments includes a proposal to facilitate cross-border transport, particularly with Switzerland.

The environmental policy spokesperson for the largest group in the European Parliament (EPP, Christian Democrats) welcomed the proposals: “In all the areas concerned, the core of our environmental legislation will not be changed. However, excessive rules and bureaucratic obstacles will be removed. We need to streamline environmental laws precisely because we want to preserve them. Bureaucracy and paperwork are not environmental protection.”

Beyond the specific legislative proposals, the European Commission announced the revision of further laws. There will be a specific act to accelerate permitting procedures in all sectors, especially for strategic sectors. This includes, for example, the supply of medicines and the transition to climate neutrality. The Nitrates Directive is to be revised at the beginning of next year, followed by the Water Framework Directive in the course of the year, with a focus on securing critical raw materials.

“Not all issues concerning environmental legislation can be resolved in one omnibus. That is why I understand that the Commission is taking more time on some points. It is important that all stakeholders know that there will be relief in the coming months,” said Liese. With regards to the controversial Birds Directive and Habitats Directive, the Commission announced that it would present guidelines and a stress test. “I would have liked to see more clarity on this point. The Birds Directive dates from 1979 and the Habitats Directive from 1992. Both are completely outdated. They strictly protect species such as cormorants and rooks, which, God knows, are no longer rare, but are a nuisance to many people and a threat to many ecosystems. In contrast, other species that were not at all rare in 1979 or 1992 are now rare, but are still not on the list. We need a proposal to amend the annexes, and that can only be done through a co-decision procedure,” Liese explained.

“I hope that we can get the omnibus through the committees in Parliament and the Council quickly and that the Commission will indeed present the announced proposals quickly and even go beyond what has been announced. For the sake of the people and businesses, especially industry and agriculture, we need clarity quickly and we must also conclude the discussion on European environmental legislation sooner rather than later. Spending the next five years just discussing what should be simplified and what should not, will not satisfy anyone,” Liese stressed.

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