Successful exchange on the EU Environmental Omnibus in the European Parliament

The focus was on how sustainability goals and competitiveness can be better reconciled through targeted and simplified regulation. 

Practical insights from industry 

Using concrete examples, Christine Maria Betz (BSH Hausgeräte) and Achim Schier (Harting) showed how regulatory simplification can strengthen the competitiveness of the electro and digital industry – without compromising environmental and climate goals. Both made it clear that complexity, double regulation and disproportionate reporting requirements tie up resources that are urgently needed for innovation, investment and sustainable transformation.

These challenges and obstacles are also part of the ZVEI's core demands for the Environmental Omnibus:  

• Abolition of the SCIP database
• Simplification of the REACH Regulation
• No fragmented regulation of producer responsibility; instead, bundling in the planned Circular Economy Act
• Further simplification of packaging legislation
• Simplification of the IED Directive 
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Looking ahead to the EU Commission's plans

Paulina Dejmek Hack, Head of Cabinet for Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, gave an overview of the European Commission's plans for the Environmental Omnibus, referring to the announced Circular Economy Act, which is intended to bring together key aspects of the circular economy in the future. The chairs of PKM Europe, MEP Marion Walsmann and MEP Markus Ferber, emphasised the need to consistently combine sustainability and competitiveness. Simplified, clearly structured and targeted regulation is a decisive leverage for keeping investment in Europe while effectively implementing environmental goals. 

The debate showed that greater coherence between existing and future legislation is crucial to creating planning security and avoiding unnecessary bureaucratic burdens.