This Week in Environment — Brussels (#16, 2026)
Commission refers Greece, Malta, Portugal to Court over renewables; new GHG emission allocations set; Parliament adopts chemicals reform; Council debates CAP post-2027.
April 26, 2026 to May 02, 2026
Commission refers Greece, Malta, Portugal to Court over renewables; new GHG emission allocations set; Parliament adopts chemicals reform; Council debates CAP post-2027.
📋 In This Week's Newsletter
• 📅 This Week's Calendar in Brussels
• 🇪🇺 European Commission
• ⚖️ EU Legislation
• 🏛️ European Parliament
• 🤝 EU Council
• ✒️ EP Committee Work
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week
This Week's Calendar in Brussels
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On May 04, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; ------; Amending Directives (EU) 2018/2001, (EU) 2019/944, (EU) 2024/1788 as regards acceleration of permit-granting procedures.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: ------; Amending Council Directive 98/58/EC and Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the simplification and strengthening of food and feed safety requirements, and repealing Council Directives 82/711/EEC and 85/572/EEC; Amending Regulations (EC) No 999/2001, (EC) No 1829/2003, (EC) No 1831/2003, (EC) No 852/2004, (EC) No 853/2004, (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 1099/2009, (EC) No 1107/2009, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) 2017/625 as regards the simplification and strengthening of food and feed safety requirements.
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: Chair’s announcements; Date of next meetings; Exchange of views with the Commission on the Implementation of the EU Taxonomy Regulation (Scrutiny session).
- Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI): On May 05, the European Parliament's Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (ENVI) is scheduled to meet. Agenda includes: * * *; ------; Amending Directives (EU) 2018/2001, (EU) 2019/944, (EU) 2024/1788 as regards acceleration of permit-granting procedures.
European Commission
Commission refers Greece, Malta and Portugal to Court for failure to transpose renewable energy directive
On 28 April, the European Commission referred Greece, Malta, and Portugal to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose Directive (EU) 2023/2413 on the promotion of energy from renewable sources, amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The directive sets a binding EU target of at least 42.5% renewables by 2030 and introduces measures for deployment in power, heating, cooling, buildings, transport, and industry. Greece and Portugal have not notified any transposition measures; Malta has not provided a correlation table or explanatory document. The Commission had previously sent letters of formal notice in July 2025 and reasoned opinions in December 2025. The Commission now requests the Court to impose financial sanctions under Article 260(3) TFEU.
Commission adopts annual emission allocations and GHG removal limits for Member States 2026-2029
On 24 April, the Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/895, amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/2126 to set annual emission allocations (AEAs) for Member States for 2026-2030 under Regulation (EU) 2018/842, and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/893, setting annual limit values for net greenhouse gas removals 2026-2029 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/841. The allocations and limits follow a linear trajectory calculated from reviewed national inventory data for 2021-2023, aligning Member State targets with the EU's 2030 climate objectives. The regulations specify both emission caps and removals in the LULUCF sector, forming the basis for compliance checks under the EU climate and energy framework.
eur-lex.europa.eu | eur-lex.europa.eu
Commission refers Spain to Court for failure to comply with Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
On 28 April, the Commission referred Spain to the Court of Justice of the European Union for insufficient compliance with Council Directive 91/271/EEC (Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive). Spain is considered non-compliant regarding collection, treatment and monitoring obligations in 15, 39, 8, and 52 agglomerations, respectively, including failure to ensure secondary and tertiary treatment and monitoring of discharges. Previous steps included a letter of formal notice (October 2017) and a reasoned opinion (November 2019). The Commission found efforts by Spain insufficient to meet EU water quality and health standards.
EU Legislation (Official Journal)
Commission Implementing Regulation sets Member State GHG removal limits for 2026-2029
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/893 of 24 April 2026 establishes annual limit values for net greenhouse gas removals in each Member State for the years 2026-2029 under Article 4(5) of Regulation (EU) 2018/841. The values are calculated using reviewed inventory data for 2016-2018 and 2021-2023, supporting compliance with the EU's climate and energy framework.
Commission Implementing Decision updates Member State emission allocations for 2026-2030
Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/895, adopted 24 April 2026, amends Decision (EU) 2020/2126 to set annual emission allocations for Member States for 2026-2030, as required by Regulation (EU) 2018/842 (Effort Sharing Regulation). The allocations reflect national inventory data and account for installations excluded from the EU ETS.
Council Decision submits TBPH for listing under Stockholm Convention
Council Decision (EU) 2026/878 of 30 March 2026 mandates the EU to submit a proposal for the listing of bis(2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) in Annex A of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. TBPH, a brominated flame retardant, is identified as very persistent and bioaccumulative under REACH.
European Parliament
Parliament adopts position on EU Chemicals Agency and related regulations
On 29 April, Parliament adopted the report on the proposal for a regulation on the European Chemicals Agency and amendments to Regulations (EC) No 1907/2006, (EU) No 528/2012, (EU) No 649/2012 and (EU) 2019/1021. The text, led by rapporteur Christophe Clergeau, calls for targeted simplification, retention of key label requirements, and reinforcement of ECHA's mandate and resources.
Parliament approves regulation on GHG emissions accounting for transport services
On 28 April, Parliament adopted at second reading the regulation on greenhouse gas emissions accounting of transport services (2023/0266(COD)), with rapporteurs Pierfrancesco Maran and Norbert Lins. The legislation introduces a common EU methodology for voluntary GHG emissions reporting, with a free calculation tool for SMEs and future assessment of life-cycle emissions.
EU Council
Agriculture and Fisheries Council discusses post-2027 CAP and wildfire prevention
On 27 April, ministers exchanged views on the post-2027 Common Agricultural Policy proposals, focusing on income support and the roles of agriculture and forest management in wildfire prevention, as well as the current market situation.
EP Committee Work
ENVI committee opinion on amending EU sustainability disclosure regulation
On 29 April, the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI), rapporteur Jacek Ozdoba, issued an opinion on the proposal to amend Regulation (EU) 2024/1252. The opinion addresses technical aspects of sustainability-related disclosures in the financial services sector, contributing to the legislative process.
DEVE committee issues opinion on termination of EU-Liberia timber agreement
On 28 April, the Committee on Development (DEVE), rapporteur Barry Andrews, adopted an opinion on the draft Council decision to terminate the Voluntary Partnership Agreement between the EU and Liberia on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade in timber products.
What We're Reading This Week
- ‘Existential threat’: Europe’s regional airports are most vulnerable to jet fuel crisis: Europe’s smaller airports face heightened risk of closures and disruptions as jet fuel shortages threaten regional air connectivity.
