making your voice heard at eu level léonie knox-peebles, head of advocacy, plasticseurope 19 april...
TRANSCRIPT
Making your Voice heard at EU level
Léonie Knox-Peebles, Head of Advocacy, PlasticsEurope
19 April 2011
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Agenda
• Representing PlasticsEurope members’ interests at EU level
• Our mission and deliverables
• What does it take?
• Concrete examples
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Representing members’ interests
Monitor EU developments of interest and inform members
Inform the Commission of the above
Keep informed of national initiatives/trade barriers affecting our sector
Influence/propose amendments to legislation
Inform the Commission of results of our scientific studies
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PlasticsEurope
EU
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Members
NPAs/Chambers of Commerce
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Agenda
• Representing PlasticsEurope members at EU level
• Our mission and deliverables
• What does it take?
• Concrete examples
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To ensure the plastics industry’s interests are taken into account
• Being recognised by EU as the voice of the plastics industry
• Confidence of plastics industry in PlasticsEurope as a reliable partner
Our mission
• Timely communication to the members regarding initiatives of potential impact ontheir core business
• Timely submission of well-prepared position papers/views, backed-up by scientificand business facts, to the European Commission, Parliament and Council
Our deliverables
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Agenda
• Representing PlasticsEurope members at EU level
• Our mission and deliverables
• What does it take?
• Concrete examples
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What does it take?
Understanding ofmembers’ business
•What is important for our members?•What are the key subjects (environment...)•What are the applications (using plastics)
In-depth knowledge of EU structure and
working methods
•Decision-making process•At what stage can you influence?•How do you present your arguments? •What are the do’s and don’ts
A dedicatedorganisation
•A pan-European network allowing PlasticsEurope to constantly “watch the market”
• Experienced resources on key subjects(law, science, political, economic...)
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BRUSSELS Headquarters
A pan-European organisation
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Agenda
• Representing PlasticsEurope members at EU level
• Our mission and deliverables
• What does it take?
• Concrete examples
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Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances in EEE (Recast of Directive)
1. clarification of the scope2. new Annex III on substances for priority
review (incl. HBCD)4. no new substances prohibited5. Annex IV (prohibited substances) to be
reviewed using methodology based on REACH
Context
PE contribution
1. Monitor + influence discussions at EU + national level
2. Give visibility to concerns + potential impact on industry (EP event, views, letters, face2face meetings)
3. Build network of allies (Cefic, ECVM, EuPC, Orgalime, DigitalEurope, etc.)
Results
1. No additional substances listed in Annex IV
2. Deletion of Annex III with the 4 substances listed in the EC proposal put in a recital
3. Coherence with REACH methodology
Issues
Draft report by European Parliament
1. Places 7 new substances in Annex III for priority review (incl. BPA, BFRs)
2. Adds the 4 EC Annex III substances to Annex IV + PVC
3. no alignment with methodology in REACH for substances restrictions
1. Influencing EU legislation: The RoHS Directive
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2. Influencing national legislation:Cooperation with Chamber of Commerce
PE contribution
1. Put forward concerns to the EC during standstill period
2. Sent letter to Slovenian Minister outlining situation in other MSs and arguments against unjustified increase in the environmental tax
Results
1. Decrease in Eco-tax on PVC packaging from 1500 PU/kg to 300 PU/kg
Issues
1. Increase in eco-tax on PVC packaging from 1 PU/kg to 1500 PU/kg
2. Increase only applies to PVC packaging unjustified and discriminatory
Context
1. Slovenian Decree on the Environmental tax on the generation of packaging waste
2. Notified to EC3. Lobbying already taking place at
national level through Chamber of Commerce
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3. Plastic Bags – an EU-wide issue
Expected ResultsPE contribution to date
1. Views on Italian ban2. References to Life Cycle
Assessments3. Face2face meetings with EC4. Building allies with retailers
Issues
1. EC drafting Green Paper on Plastics in the Environment
Context
1. Initiatives re. Plastics bags being discussed in all MSs
2. Recent ban on non-biodegradable bags in Italy
Plastic bags now on EU agenda