The European Green Deal sets a high ambition for a toxic-free environment leading to zero pollution. The Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) adopted on 14 October 2020 outlines the Commission’s strategy for the sustainable and safe use of chemicals.
This opinion addressed the Commission's legislative initiative which aims to reduce the administrative burden without affecting the environmental objectives agreed under the existing legislation in the areas of, among others, industrial installations and circular economy, environmental assessments and permitting, chemical waste, Extended Producer Responsibility and waste management.
The Commission proposal is a key element of the Savings and Investments Union agenda. The EESC considers the Commission proposal a step in the good direction, and stresses that more ambition is needed. In particular, to remove remaining duplicative reporting obligations, maintain a level-playing field, increase transparency of systematic internalisers, create a category of 'covered cross-border bonds', and to ensure that supervision leads to identical outcomes all across the EU.
