Timmermans overruled on plastic bags deal

The European Commission's First Vice-President Frans Timmermans recognised on 19 November 2014 that the Commission had been overruled on how to implement the new targets for plastic bag reduction by the European Parliament (EP) and the Council of the European Union.

Mr Timmermans stressed out that the EP and the Council had reach an agreement on how to tackle plastic bag waste after a trialogue negotiation on the 18 November 2014, even though the Commission stressed that there might be implementation issues related to the proposal later down the road. He continued to say that the EP's proposal had not developed entirely in line with what the Commission sees as better regulation.

In April 2014, the EP had voted in favour of curbing the use of thin plastic bags in the EU by by 50% by 2017, compared to 2010 figures, and at least by 80% by 2019.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: MEPs clamp down on wasteful use of plastic carrier bags http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-meps-clamp-down-on-wasteful-use-of-plastic-carrier-bags/

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Directive Of The European Parliament And Of The Council amending Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-directive-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-amending-directive-94-62-ec-on-packaging-and-packaging-waste-to-reduce-the-consumption-of-lightweight-plastic-carrier-bags/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 21.12.14: Use of plastic bags: agreement on phasing down http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/envir/145898.pdf

European Parliament: Press Release, 24.11.14: No more plastic bags polluting our environment http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20141120STO79704/

European Parliament: Press Release, 21.11.14: Reducing use of plastic bags: MEPs strike deal with Council Presidency http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20141121IPR79835/

EurActiv, 26.11.14: Europe’s ‘historic moment’ on plastics bags contested by industry advocates http://www.euractiv.com/sections/sustainable-dev/europes-historic-moment-plastics-bags-contested-industry-advocates-310336

EurActiv, 27.11.14: Plastics to be banned from European landfill http://www.euractiv.com/sections/sustainable-dev/plastics-be-banned-european-landfill-310367

ESO: Background information: Plastics recycling (Special reports) http://www.europeansources.info/record/plastics-recycling-special-reports/

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