Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): Update (GEN – 1431.00)

21 October 2022

2 min read

GEN – 1431.00. Several changes took place in the lead EP ENVI Committee: New lead Rapporteur appointed, and new Shadow Rapporteur to be appointed soon.

Change of lead Rapporteur and Shadow Rapporteur from the lead EP ENVI Committee

After the recent Italian elections, the firstly appointed Rapporteur, Simona Bonafè (S&D, Italy), is becoming a member of the Italian national parliament. She is being replaced by Alessandra Moretti (S&D, Italy).

A similar substitution will be seen also for the Shadow Rapporteur, Jessica Polfjärd (EPP, Sweden), who is also becoming a member of her Swedish national parliament. The name of her substitute is not yet officially announced.

Timeline in the lead EP ENVI Committee

The next steps of the work on the ESPR file on the side of the responsible will be as follows:

Consideration of draft report – 12 January 2023
Deadline for amendments – 17 January 2023
Vote – 05 June 2023

EP Committees providing their opinion: ITRE and IMCO

The ITRE and IMCO Committees will each provide an opinion. The ITRE rapporteur for opinion is Maria Spyraki (EPP, EL). The IMCO rapporteur for opinion has been appointed: David Cormand (Greens/EFA, FR).

What is going on in the Council of the EU?

Discussions are taking place within the Working Party on Energy and the Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth. The Member States have been discussing the Digital Product Passports extensively with broad support from many Member States. Negotiations will continue under the Swedish presidency of the Council (January to June 2023). Sweden appears to be pushing for provisions requiring the disclosure of carbon/environmental footprints on product labels. Belgium wants environmental or carbon targets to be set in product-specific regulations. France also supports stronger provision on carbon foot-printing.

The last public session of the Competitiveness Council (Internal market and industry) Public session took place on 29 September 2022. The major comments of the Member States are summarised in the GEN – 1431.01

Next steps in the Council of the EU

Next meeting of the Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth – 25 October 2022.
Environment Council policy debate on the ESPR – 24 October 2022.

Recommended actions

The report provides a useful source of information. Overall, the data can be useful when preparing possible outlines for future developments.