Extension of Stage V transition deadlines – one major step forward in Council

Yesterday’s meeting of the Member States’ Ambassadors (COREPER) endorsed a new joint position by the Council on the extension of the transition deadlines within the NRMM Stage V Regulation 1628/2016.

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The COREPER decided to change its previous text, agreeing on a new joint position, which removes the controversial review clause and includes the necessary amendment on retroactive application of the new legal text. This retroactivity clause will make the legal text applicable from 1st July even if publication in the Official Journal of the EU will take place later.

It is fundamental to note that this is a major step forward on the joint industry request to delay the application of the transition deadlines in light of the major disruptions and production stoppages within the whole NRMM manufacturing industry.

This is the result of a strong willingness by the Croatian Presidency of the Council to reach an agreement with the European Parliament in a quick and effective manner. Indeed, according to the urgency procedure agreed by the ENVI Committee, the original Commission proposal – with the inclusion of the retroactivity clause – is now again the basis for adoption by the co-legislators and foreseeable publication in the Official Journal of the EU (OJEU) during the month of July.

NEXT STEPS:

The most direct impact of this new Council position is to break the negotiation deadlock between the co-legislators. Indeed, the groups’ coordinators in the ENVI Committee can now stick to the agreed urgency procedure and bring this legislative agreement straight for the vote in the EP Plenary. This vote in the Parliament Plenary is scheduled on the 8th of July, which will give way to formal adoption, translation, official signature and publication in the OJEU sometime in mid-July.

CECE and the other industry associations of the NRMM sector keep monitoring the situation in order to ensure a smooth run-up to the Plenary vote.