New rules for car recycling must avoid bureaucracy

The EPP Group is taking the lead in revising the EU legislation on end-of-life vehicles and the type-approval of cars with regard to their reusability, recyclability and recoverability, which the Parliament’s Environment and Internal Market Committees voted on today. We are doing this not only to address environmental concerns, but also to respond to the broader challenges facing the European car industry.

"Today’s vote is a success: the European Parliament’s compromise, supported by a broad majority, promotes a circular economy in the automotive sector. It advances resource security, protects the environment, and ensures sustainability. To avoid overburdening the industry, we secured feasibility with realistic targets, less red tape, and fair competition. A solid basis for the plenary vote in September," says Jens Gieseke MEP, lead negotiator in the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, about today’s vote.

The main aim of revising the current rules is to make vehicle design, production, and disposal more sustainable. Key objectives include setting mandatory recycled content targets, enhancing the traceability of old cars to prevent illegal exports, and promoting a circular economy by linking design requirements to end-of-life treatment.

“I am particularly pleased that, during the negotiations, we reached an agreement guaranteeing a circularity strategy on a company level, without imposing excessive administrative requirements on manufacturers. We also managed to reduce obligations related to each transaction when a vehicle is sold,” adds Paulius Saudargas MEP, the lead negotiator in the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee.

The Parliament is expected to vote on its negotiation position with EU Member States during the September plenary session.