Press Release

03/06/2008

Waste Framework Directive: Conservative MEP urges the Council to adopt European-wide recycling targets. Caroline Jackson MEP

Caroline Jackson MEP, European Parliament Rapporteur on the Waste Framework Directive, today urged the Council of Ministers to give its support to the recycling targets due for discussion in the Wednesday meeting of COREPER where the results of Monday evening's trialogue will be discussed. The European Parliament's Rapporteur believes that the Parliament and Council are half way to a good agreement.

Discussion at the informal trialogue focused mainly on the targets for recycling waste which the Parliament has inserted into the Directive. Agreement between the two sides was reached on a policy to promote waste prevention objectives, to incorporate a definition of by-products in the text and to include a separate article dealing with bio-waste.

At issue was the question of how to specify the exact words that would require Member States to achieve the targets. The Council resisted attempts by the Parliament to promote the idea that the Member States 'shall take measures to achieve' the targets and fought for a more tentative text.

Also at issue is the question of the percentage targets. MEPs want to insist on 50% for household waste and 70% for construction and demolition waste whilst the Council is offering 45% and 65%.

Rapporteur Caroline Jackson said: "This is a very difficult issue for the Council as some Member States can meet the targets easily while others will struggle. But MEPs do need to make certain that the targets are meaningful and enforceable. We have made this clear to the Council."

"It is important for all parties to recognise that we have come a very long way from the original Commission draft, which contained no recycling targets, and that the Parliament has already achieved a measure of success in the Council's acceptance of the idea that the Directive will include reference to recycling and prevention targets. The alternative to the package now on the table may not be a better package, but no package at all - a return to the 1975 Directive with no targets and with none of the new definitions and clarities which the draft Directive seeks to introduce.

For further information:
Thomas Robertson, +32-2-2847255

Notes to Editors:
The EPP-ED Group is the largest political group in the European Parliament with 288 Members from all 27 Member States.