European Environmental Bureau

Introduction

In 2023, the EEB will continue to push for greater ambition in the concrete policies being rolled out under the European Green Deal in its third year. This will be essential to address the climate and environmental challenges as well as fundamentally helpful for the EU’s energy independence from Russia and increase resilience to price rises and resource constraints.

Engagement with EU Institutions

To this end, the EEB will engage with the Commission, Parliament, and Council, in the latter case working closely with the Swedish, Spanish, and (in anticipation of 2024) Belgian EU Presidencies. This engagement aims to channel input from the EEB’s network of 180+ member organisations, representing some 30 million individual members and supporters, into EU decision-making processes.

Focus Areas for Policy

Among the specific policy files that will be in focus in the year are:

1. The co-decision processes for the Fit-for-55 package
2. The Nature Restoration Law
3. Several circular economy instruments:
   • Sustainable Product Policy Initiative
   • Green Claims
   • Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive
4. Upcoming reviews/revisions of:
   • Industrial Emissions Directive
   • Priority Substances Directive
   • REACH and CLP reforms
   • Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive
   • Ambient Air Quality Directives
   • Sustainable Food Law
   • Environmental Liability Directive

The EEB will work with the Commission, Parliament, and Council to promote ambition on EGD files.

Organizational Growth and Management

The EEB’s growth has accelerated significantly over the past three years. Managing that growth in a sustainable way is therefore a new albeit positive challenge.

A major overhaul of the EEB’s financial and project management systems will be a key focus in 2023. The EEB will also be further upgrading its communications tools and methods.

Internal Restructuring

The EEB will continue its internal restructuring and strengthening in the transition with the new Sec Gen who started on 1 July 2022. This transition aims to promote ever stronger links between policy, communications, and membership to further strengthen impacts and improve quality control.