NNDKP Environment Flash No.6/2025
1. EU DEVELOPMENTS SELECTION [1]
1.1. The European Commission adopts the European Water Resilience Strategy in the context of the climate crisis
On 4 June 2025, the European Commission adopted the European Water Resilience Strategy (the “EWRS”) with the aim of protecting and restoring the natural water cycle in the context of the intensifying climate crisis.
The EWRS proposes concrete measures to prevent pollution, increase soil water retention and improve the sustainable management of water resources, with a focus on effective implementation of existing legislation.
The Commission will launch the implementation of key actions under the EWRS and will monitor water use efficiency, and starting December 2025 will convene the Water Resilience Forum every two years, with a mid-term progress review scheduled for 2027.
Furthermore, the European Environment Agency published a report on water saving potential and possible measures in this regard, showing that the priority sectors where significant water savings can be achieved include electricity production, agriculture, public water supply, and the manufacturing industry.
More information on the EWRS can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 5/2025, available here.
1.2. New EU Regulation to implement CORSIA and reduce aviation emissions
On 4 June 2025, the European Commission adopted a Delegated Regulation on the monitoring, reporting and verification of aviation emissions for the implementation of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (“ICAO”) Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (“CORSIA”) in the EEA.
The Delegated Regulation aligns with the 2023 revision of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) Directive and sets clearer requirements for air operators to be able to report the types of fuels they use and offset their carbon emissions, helping to reduce pollution from international flights.
The act is to be scrutinized by the European Parliament and the Council and, in the absence of objections within the next two months, the Regulation will enter into force.
1.3. The position of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee on the proposal for a directive on soil monitoring and resilience
On 4 June 2025, the European Parliament’s Environment Committee endorsed the provisional agreement on the first European directive on soil monitoring and resilience, which establishes a common framework for assessing soil quality and aims to restore and maintain healthy soils in the EU by 2050.
More information on the proposal for a directive on soil monitoring and resilience can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 4/2025, available here.
1.4. EU agreement on safer detergents for the population and the environment
On 10 June 2025, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement to update legislation on detergents, with a focus on health and environmental safety.
The new framework brings, among others, clearer rules on biodegradability, a ban on animal testing and simpler requirements for placing products on the market, pending formal approval by both institutions.
1.5. EU agreement on efficient handling of chemical assessment data
On 12 June 2025, the Council and the European Parliament agreed on a provisional agreement on the “one substance, one assessment” (“OSOA”) legislative package, aimed at simplifying and streamlining the management of data on chemicals in the EU.
The agreement provides for the creation of a common data platform, managed by the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”), which should include publicly accessible information and support early monitoring of chemical risks.
It also emphasizes transparency and collaboration between Union agencies in the field of chemicals, and the platform will provide alternatives to substances with potential environmental and health risks.
Next steps include the formal approval and adoption of the agreement by both institutions.
1.6. Council position on the end-of-life vehicles regulation
On 17 June 2025, the Council adopted its position on the end-of-life vehicles regulation (“ELV Regulation”), including within its scope several categories of vehicles, such as heavy trucks and quadricycles.
The Council also added new requirements to ensure that new vehicles are designed to support reuse, recycling and recovery.
To this end, a mandatory minimum target of recycled plastic content in new vehicles is introduced, namely:
- 15% by 6 years after the entry into force of the ELV Regulation;
- 20% by 8 years after the entry into force of the ELV Regulation;
- 25% by 10 years after the entry into force of the ELV Regulation.
In addition, the ELV Regulation modifies the extended producer responsibility (“EPR”) for vehicles. Among others, under the EPR, producers will have to cover also the transportation costs from a collection point to the treatment facility, thus covering the costs of the whole treatment chain.
1.7. Provisional agreement on the simplification of the CBAM
On 18 June 2025, the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on the package of measures proposed by the European Commission to simplify the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (“CBAM”) for importers of CBAM goods, part of Omnibus I.
Among others, the provisional agreement contains several additional simplification measures relating to the permitting procedure, the rules for calculating and verifying emissions and the data collection processes.
More information on the CBAM simplification proposal can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 5/2025, available here. Also, more information on the CBAM can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 1/2024, available here, and more information on the Omnibus I package can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 2/2025, available here.
1.8. Infringement procedure regarding Romania’s non-compliance with the Habitats Directive
On 18 June 2025, the European Commission sent Romania a reasoned opinion for its failure to comply with its obligations under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC.
The reasoned opinion comes as a result of Romania’s failure to comply with the obligation imposed in the letter of formal notice received in 2020, namely to designate 382 sites of Community importance as special areas of conservation. To date, only 213 sites have been designated. In addition, the European Commission identified some shortcomings in the setting of conservation objectives and measures, which have not been remedied.
Romania has a two-month deadline to respond to the reasoned opinion and to adopt the necessary measures. Failing this, the European Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
1.9. New EU labels for electronics repairability
On 20 June 2025, the European Commission introduced a new repairability score system that will appear on the energy label of electronic products. This score, ranging from A (very easy to repair) to E (difficult to repair), gives consumers clear and comparable information on how easily these products can be repaired.
The measure is part of the new rules on ecodesign and energy labeling and is in line with the aims of the Clean Industrial Deal.
More information on the Ecodesign Regulation and the Energy Labelling Regulation can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 4/2025, available here. Also, more information on the Clean Industrial Deal can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 2/2025, available here.
1.10. The Council`s position on simplifying sustainability and reporting requirements, part of the Omnibus I package
On 23 June 2025, the Council adopted its negotiating mandate on the proposal to amend the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (“CSRD”) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CSDDD”), part of the “Omnibus I” legislative package, which aims to reduce administrative burdens and boost competitiveness in the EU.
The Council supported, among others, limiting the obligation for companies to adopt only a transitional climate change mitigation plan, including a description of actions planned and realized, with support from the authorities, and postponing the deadline for the adoption of these plans by two years.
The next step consists in starting negotiations with the European Parliament once its position has been established.
More information on the Omnibus I package can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 2/2025, available here.
1.11. The Council`s position on the new forest monitoring framework
On 24 June 2025, the Council endorsed its position on the new EU Forest Monitoring Framework proposed by the European Commission, aimed at supporting sustainable management and resilience of forests through the collection and harmonization of national data.
The Council proposed simplifying the forest monitoring framework to minimize administrative burdens, relying on existing national data and using only relevant indicators, with the possibility for Member States to add other indicators on a voluntary basis.
Also, the Council decided to keep Member States’ responsibility for forest mapping and removed some provisions from the European Commission’s proposal considered unclear, such as those on long-term integrated national plans and the concept of forest units.
The next step is to begin negotiations with the European Parliament, once its position has been adopted.
2. NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS SELECTION
2.1. The Senate Decision No. 50/2025 regarding the CBAM simplification proposal
On 12 June 2025, the Senate Decision No. 50/2025 regarding the proposal for the Regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on simplifying the CBAM was published in the Official Gazette No. 544.
By this Decision, the Senate confirmed that the proposed Regulation complies with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality.
The Senate recommends, however, supplementing the proposal with an explicit additional provision on the exemption from CBAM obligations of importers who do not exceed the proposed new threshold of at least 50 tons per year of relevant imported goods. It also points out the lack of a clear explanation regarding the rationale for excluding raw materials from the electricity and hydrogen sectors from this exemption, as well as the absence of information on alternative calculation methods or distinct mass thresholds for these sectors.
More information on the CBAM simplification proposal can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 5/2025, available here. Also, more information on the CBAM can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 1/2024, available here, and more information on the Omnibus I package can be found in NNDKP`s Environment Flash No. 2/2025, available here.
2.2. The Senate Decision No. 59/2025 on the European Commission’s Communication on decarbonizing corporate fleets
On 13 June 2025, the Senate Decision No. 59/2025 based on the European Commission’s Communication aiming to decarbonize corporate fleets was published in the Official Gazette No. 546.
The Senate highlights that the early adoption of green technologies in corporate fleets can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect public health and boost the competitiveness of the European automotive industry, while supporting the sustainable use of vehicles and the development of the necessary infrastructure.
2.3. Modification of state border crossing points for shipments of waste and second-hand goods
On 18 June 2025, the Ministry of the Environment, Water and Forestry submitted for public consultation the draft Order amending Order 831/49/2022 on the establishment of state border crossing points for shipments of waste and second-hand goods.
The amendments concern the removal of some border crossing points for road, rail, inland and maritime ports traffic and the addition of a total of 4 new such border crossing points.
[1] Both EU and national developments are listed chronologically.
The Romanian version of this newsletter is available here.
