The EC withdrew the draft Directive on Green Statements of Companies. “This is contrary to the purpose of limiting bureaucracy”

The European Commission announced on Monday that it withdrew the draft directive on green statements due to the amendment introduced in the course of legislative work, which covered about 30 million micro -enterprises. According to the EC, this is contrary to the goal, which is to limit bureaucracy for small businesses.

“One of the priorities of this commission is to reduce administrative burdens for small companies, and in particular for micro -enterprises. This is an important part of our simplifications program. Changes have been made to the project, including amendment, which is clearly contrary to the committee's purpose,” said Ke Paula Pinho spokeswoman in Brussels.

She added that the amendment introduced in the course of legislative work would mean that about 30 million micro -enterprises would be covered by the regulations, which is 96 percent. all companies. According to the EC, this “distorts the commission's request” because it would impose administrative burdens on these companies.

The spokeswoman made it clear that the traffic is now on the side of the participants – the European Parliament and the Member States within the Council.

The assumption of the project was to combat the so -called Greenwashing, i.e. false or misleading information that a given product is ecological, and regulating the way companies can promote their products and services as “green” or “environmentally friendly”.

“Ecological selection”, “Balanced brand”, “70 % recycled packaging” or symbols depicting a green leaf or tree – these are examples of such environmental statements on products. According to the EC, as much as 40 percent of them can mislead.

The European Commission presented a proposal in March 2023. Since then, negotiations on the shape of the regulations that were to end in June this year lasted in Brussels.

The withdrawal of the project had previously argued, among others Two large political groups in the EP: European People's Party (to which PO and PSL belong) and European conservatives and reformers (to which PiS belongs). Both groups believe that the directive project imposes an excessive administrative burden on companies and does not contain a clear analysis of costs and benefits.

From Brussels Łukasz Osiński (PAP)

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