Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has reaffirmed his commitment to the European Union’s environmental goals as Belgium gears up to chair the EU Council. This declaration follows his recent comments suggesting a prioritization of climate change-focused policies. During a presentation of his government’s program for the upcoming six-month presidency of the Council, De Croo responded to inquiries from Euronews regarding the EU’s Green Deal, the bloc’s comprehensive environmental legislation package.
The Prime Minister emphasized that he fully supports the Green Deal and intends to maintain the EU’s green objectives without compromise. This stance comes after an interview with Belgian newspaper Le Vif, where De Croo reiterated his May call for a “pause” in certain environmental legislations, a suggestion that had previously sparked controversy. He expressed that while the need to significantly reduce emissions is broadly recognized, adding aspects like nature restoration, biodiversity, or chemical restrictions could challenge the focus on emission reduction. Despite this, the Belgian EU Presidency program commits to continuing work on various EU Green Deal initiatives beyond just climate change. This includes advancing negotiations on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), and other directives aimed at environmental conservation and sustainability.
The Belgian presidency is also set to focus on discussions surrounding the Soil Monitoring Law, the European Commission’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and regulations targeting microplastic and PFAS pollution reduction. The agenda includes continued talks on deregulating genetically modified plant strains using ‘new genomic techniques’ (NGTs) and the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR). However, De Croo indicated that agreement between the Council and the European Parliament is expected primarily on the proposed Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) and updated CO2 emissions standards for heavy vehicles. When asked about progress on other environmental files, De Croo did not provide a definitive answer. Additionally, De Croo commented on the need for innovation-driven approaches in achieving set environmental targets. On energy policy, Belgium plans to adopt Council conclusions on renewable energy infrastructure and collaborate with the European Commission on hydrogen initiatives and a renovation week to promote energy efficiency in homes.
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