EUROPEAN UNION
PFAS universal restriction under REACH – opinions expected in March. ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) is expected to adopt its Opinion on the proposed universal PFAS restriction under REACH during its meeting of 2–6 March 2026. The Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) is scheduled to discuss and
In the context of the transition to the definitive CBAM regime as from 1 January 2026, the European Commission adopted, in December 2025, a package of implementing and delegated acts, together with a proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2023/956 in order to extend the scope of CBAM to certain downstream products and to introduce
The European Parliament and the Council are shaping their positions on the Chemicals Omnibus simplification proposal published by the Commission on 8 July 2025.
Discussions on the text are expected to be heated, with an important involvement of civil society groups.
Certain political groups and Member States have notably been very vocal at the local
ECHA scientific committees on track to finalise opinions on the PFAS restriction. ECHA confirmed on 17 December that its two scientific committees, the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) and the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC), remain on schedule to deliver their opinions on the proposed PFAS restriction. The committees’ December meetings enabled the adoption
U2 used to sing: “I can’t live with or without you”. US and European automakers are asking themselves a similar question: whether they can live with or without access to Chinese rare earths, as they are caught in between the need to transition to EV motors and the need to overcome the geopolitical disruptions that
Introduction
The European Commission has unveiled a proposal to overhaul the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), aiming to simplify the regime. The changes, published on 20 November and accompanied by a detailed Q&A and press release, form part of the Commission’s broader Savings and Investments Union agenda which aims to enhance financial opportunities for
Universal PFAS Restriction. The minutes of ECHA’s 68th SEAC meeting (15–19 September 2025) outline that SEAC experts reached provisional conclusions for the lubricants and energy sectors, covering regulatory alternatives, substitution options, socio-economic impacts, potential sector-specific derogations and associated uncertainties. Discussions on the electronics and semiconductors sectors will continue in December, with further
The Battery Regulation ((EU) 2023/1542) (Regulation) entered into force on 17 August 2023, superseding the Battery Directive (2006/66/EC). The Regulation establishes a harmonised framework designed to strengthen the internal market, promote the circular economy and mitigate environmental and social impacts across the full battery life cycle.
As part of the implementation of this framework
The last attempt of the European Commission to simplify the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) comes closer to becoming a reality today, although not quite as was initially planned. The European Parliament adopted today its position on the proposal, endorsing a broad 12 month delay of the EUDR (i.e. 30 December 2026) – as opposed to
As part of the automotive competitiveness package expected to be published on 10 December 2025, the European Commission is finalising two major initiatives with direct implications for vehicle manufacturers, suppliers, fleet operators and mobility providers: the Greening Corporate Fleets proposal and the revision of the 2035 CO₂-emission standards for cars and vans.