As announced by President Ursula von der Leyen to the European Parliament on 27 November 2024, and as formally incorporated into the Communication A Competitiveness Compass for the EU (COM(2025) 30 final), published on 29 January 2025, the European Commission launched a Strategic Dialogue with the European automotive industry, social partners, and
In December 2024, the EU and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), which comprises of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, concluded negotiations on an EU-Mercosur partnership agreement, with the deal creating a free trade agreement (FTA) between the regions.The EU-Mercosur FTA follows an ongoing EU policy to negotiate sustainability provisions for EU FTAs.
On July 18, 2024, Ursula von der Leyen, freshly re-elected as President of the EU Commission, presented the Commission’s Political Guidelines for the term of 2024-2029.
President von der Leyen describes Europe as facing a situation where clear choice is needed, under the heading “Europe’s Choice”. Outlining the Commission’s political priorities for
The European Union (EU) has set ambitious targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to at least 60% in the building sector by 2030 compared to 2015, aiming at climate neutrality by 2050. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) together with the revised Energy Efficiency Directive, and the application of the Emissions
On 28 June 2024, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) – was published in the Official Journal of the EU. Future ecodesign requirements stemming from the ESPR will impact global clients’ supply chains by requiring compliance with new sustainability standards. The standards once adopted, will be directly applicable in all the EU Member States, with an
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), Directive (EU) 2024/1760 was published today in the Official Journal of the EU.
The Directive will enter into force on 25 July 2024. Member States will have to transpose the Directive in national law by 26 July 2026. The rules will however gradually apply between July 2027 and
Significant progress has been made at the EU level in combating “greenwashing” through regulatory measures, particularly with the adoption of the “Empowering Consumers Directive” (Directive (EU) – 2024/825). This directive, among other provisions, includes greenwashing behaviors in the list of misleading practices outlined in the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (UCPD) — Directive 2005/29/EC.
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Our European Public Policy team is pleased to share with you the latest version of our EU Sustainability Outlook which looks at a selection of relevant developments in EU sustainability law and policy over the last few months. This edition includes various updates under each of these thematic areas:
The EU’s Deforestation-free Regulation, (EUDR) has been in force since 29 June 2023 and will apply from 30 December 2024, when an array of new obligations will affect the supply chains of commodities and products in scope.
The EUDR’s overarching goal is to mitigate the impact of deforestation and forest degradation, with the aim to
EU legislators are making steady progress towards finalising the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. A significant breakthrough occurred on 4 March 2024, when a political agreement on the proposal was achieved. The agreement was then formally endorsed by the EU27 ambassadors on 15 March, followed by approval from the EU Parliament’s Committee on Environment, Public