MEPs at odds over Commission work programme

Political groups disagree over whether to condemn Commission decision to withdraw proposals on air and waste.

The political groups in the European Parliament will today discuss the European Commission’s intention to withdraw legislative proposals on air quality and waste ahead of a resolution to be published on Thursday (16 January).

The Commission work programme, which outlines new proposals and pending legislation for withdrawal or amendment, has already been debated by MEPs at December’s plenary session, when members from across the political spectrum criticised the intention to withdraw the two proposals, which the Commission says it wants to alter and propose anew later in the year.

Member states have also criticised the withdrawals, because in both cases the legislative process has already started. Environment ministers made this clear to Karmenu Vella, the European commissioner for the environment, at December’s environment council.

The political groups have until tonight to establish a common position to be set out in tomorrow’s resolution. The wording of that resolution could be significant, as last month the Commission said it would “wait for the views of the European Parliament and the Council on these proposals before formalising the withdrawals”.

The Socialists, Greens and Liberals have each prepared their own version of the resolution, asking the Commission not to withdraw the proposals. “The Commission is seeking to squeeze out planned new EU rules on the circular economy and resource efficiency,” a spokesperson for the Green group said. “The regulatory roll-back is being marketed under the banner of better regulation but is anything but.”

The positions adopted by the centre-left Socialists and Democrats group and liberal ALDE group are critical of the Commission’s plan to withdraw the proposals. The far-left GUE/NGL group says that the plan would make “life easier for big companies at the expense of employees” and added that the Commission should put the citizen at the heart of the debate.

However, the centre-right European People’s Party  group does not want to criticise the withdrawals. The EPP group’s position welcomes the reduction of administrative burden on citizens and companies, and welcomes the “focus on major priorities”. It calls upon the Commission to reduce the cost of administrative tasks by 25% and for independent assessments to weigh up the costs of new proposals.

The ECR group calls upon the member states and the Commission to “further strengthen implementation and enforcement of agreed single market legislation”, which it says would make it easier for companies that operate in the goods and services sector. The ECR group also called on the Commission to push ahead with plans for an energy union, but added that the member states have the responsibility to determine their own energy mix and emission-reduction policies.

The Greens welcomed Commission plans to produce a legal follow-up to the 2030 climate and energy package and called upon the Commission to present pending proposals, such as those on the emissions trading scheme (ETS) and the fuel quality directive, as one package.

The resolution may be critical of other areas of the work programme. On the €315 billion investment plan put forward by Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, the Greens said they expect the Commission to make sure that the “same high standards will apply as those for EU funds”.

The ECR group welcomed the emphasis on private-sector investment and called for the “further removal of barriers to investment across the Union, particularly investment for small and medium-sized businesses”. The group also welcomed the idea of a ‘single capital market’, but added that they “will closely follow the Commission’s consultation and action plan to make sure that it is as ambitious and not only about the ‘technical removal of barriers’.”