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Environment Council: Ministers and commissioners discuss preparations for COP28 and advance EU Green Deal legislation

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On 16 October, Executive Vice President Maros Šefčovič (pictured) as well as Commissioners Sinkevičius and Hoekstra represented the Commission at the Environment Council in Luxembourg. EU Ministers advanced with preparations for the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference, taking place this year in Dubai from 30 November - 12 December 2023. Ministers will discuss the EU's negotiating mandate and the nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement.

Environment Ministers also discussed the Commission proposal for strengthened CO2 emission standards for new heavy-duty vehicles, with the aim to reach a position to start negotiations with the European Parliament. The Commission proposal for new rules on urban wastewater treatment was also on the agenda. The Commission will also present its new proposal on the revision of Waste Framework Directive concerning food and textile waste, introduce the recommendation to improve the rate of return of used and waste mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, and inform about the second edition of Our Baltic Conference and initiatives on microplastics. Finally, the Commission updated member states on the state of play with the submission of updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs).

Ahead of this first Environment Council meeting and to prepare the ground for the EU's position at COP28, Commissioner Hoekstra has dedicated his first week in office to visiting four European Member States (Spain, France, Germany and Czechia). During these visits he met with several Ministers and spoke with international partners such as the Chinese climate envoy, Xie Zhenhua, and his United States' counterpart, John Kerry. Following the Council meeting, the Commissioner will immediately undertake his first international trip in preparation of COP28, travelling to Brazil and Chile.

A press conference took place at the end of the meeting with the participation of the Spanish Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, and Commissioner Hoekstra, and can be followed here. More information about Commissioner Hoekstra's activities in the press calendar.

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