Development of an EU thematic strategy on waste
Pre- and post-negotiations on the development of an EU thematic strategy on waste
On 27 May 2003 the European Commission adopted a Communication "Towards a Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste," setting out a wide range of suggestions and ideas for the possible future development of policy on waste in the EC:
The Communication was the first step in the development of a strategy to cover both waste prevention and recycling in Member States.
Defra coordinated the preparation of the UK Government’s response across Whitehall and with the Devolved Administrations. We also involved external stakeholders in the process: Defra hosted a workshop to discuss the key themes in the Commission's Communication on 30 October 2003. This proved very useful in informing our thinking.
- UK Government response to Commission Communication "Towards a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste" Novemeber 2003 (PDF 150 KB)
Questionnaire addressed to the Member States on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive
Following the Internet consultations on the Communication towards the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste, stakeholder and expert meetings, and Member State meetings in Leipzig and Brussels, the Commission services addressed potential legal modifications linked to the Thematic Strategy.
In order to assist this process the Commission compiled a questionnaire on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive. The questionnaire was sent to Member States, as members of the Waste Management Committee, on 17 January 2005. The UK sent its response to the questionnaire on 15 February
- The UK’s response to the European Commission's questionnaire on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive and the extension of the IPPC Directive linked to the Thematic Strategy on recycling and waste February 2005 (PDF 100 KB)
Outcome of the EU Waste Management Committee meeting on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive
The EU Waste Management Committee met in Brussels on 1 March 2005 to discuss informally issues arising from the Commission’s questionnaires on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive, the Hazardous Waste Directive and the Waste Oils Directive.
The Commission circulated to members of the Waste Management Committee a brief note of the meeting, along with slides used in the meeting and a document from the Netherlands entitled "Greening the tax system in the Netherlands":
EU Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste (The Waste Thematic Strategy) Revision of the Waste Framework Directive
On 21 December 2005 the European Commission published:
- a thematic strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste
- proposals for associated legislation comprising (i) a revision of the Waste Framework Directive (the WFD), (ii) the repeal of the Waste Oils Directive and (iii) the repeal and integration of the Hazardous Waste Directive into the revised WFD
- an Impact Assessment.
Under the Austrian Presidency, the Council of the European Union held a policy debate on the Waste Thematic Strategy and the associated legislation when EU Environment Ministers met on 9 March 2006; and adopted Conclusions on the Strategy when they met on 27 June 2006.
Page last modified: 7 September 2007
Page published: 5 February 2003