What are the latest developments for June 2026?
Circular Economy Act
Emerging Direction from High-Level Stakeholder Dialogue and Commission Impact Assessments
The European Commission held a final stakeholder workshop on 30 April to present emerging findings from its impact assessment studies ahead of the Circular Economy Act, expected to be proposed later this year. Discussions focused on reducing EU dependency on critical raw material imports, simplifying the regulatory framework for secondary raw materials, and strengthening access to circular feedstocks across the Single Market.
The Commission’s emerging approach includes an expansion of WEEE scope, mandatory material recovery targets, EU-wide end-of-waste recognition, digital EPR registration systems and recycled content thresholds to strengthen secondary materials markets. Notably, the Commission is relying on an internal market legal basis for EPR, end-of-waste and WEEE provisions, signalling a push for EU-wide harmonisation over national discretion.
Political and industry positions are also taking shape: Socialists and Democrats are calling for mandatory eco-modulation, EPR transparency and repair incentives. BusinessEurope is pushing for harmonised EPR systems, stronger support for secondary raw materials and stricter market surveillance for online trade.
SUPD
Commission Advances Review with New Evaluation and Stakeholder Consultation
The European Commission has published its first evaluation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) as part of the broader review process leading up to the formal 2027 evaluation, alongside a targeted stakeholder consultation on the directive’s effectiveness and implementation.
The evaluation finds that the SUPD has helped reduce marine litter but highlights uneven implementation across Member States. It points to a strong correlation between high plastic bottle collection rates and the use of deposit return systems (DRS).
Critically for producers and compliance schemes, it also identifies overlaps with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and inconsistencies in how EPR obligations, particularly litter clean-up cost calculations, are applied nationally, creating administrative burdens and fragmentation for cross-border operators.
European Recycling Platform submitted a position paper calling for SUP packaging to be addressed exclusively under the PPWR, harmonised EPR cost methodologies, and evidence-based assessment of product restrictions before any new bans are introduced.
MMF 2028-2034
Timeline and update on e-waste levy
The European Parliament has adopted an interim report on the 2028–2034 Multiannual Financial Framework, calling for new own resources generating at least €60 billion per year. Among the proposed revenue sources is a uniform call rate of €2/kg on non-collected electrical and electronic equipment, an e-waste levy modelled on the plastic packaging contribution under the previous MFF.
A broad industry coalition including European Recycling Platform (ERP) is calling for the proposal’s rejection. Their joint statement flags unreliable and methodologically inconsistent collection data, the conflation of uncollected with improperly disposed waste, and an inherent design flaw: if collection improves, revenues shrink, making the levy either fiscally unreliable or environmentally ineffective.
The signatories also warn of Single Market fragmentation and regulatory overlap with the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, which is expected to revise WEEE collection methodologies. Technical negotiations are ongoing across various Council preparatory bodies, most recently at the General Affairs Council on 26 May, and will continue in the run-up to the key European Council meetings later this year:
- Key decisions are expected at the European Council on 18-19 June, the European Council on 15-16 October, the Special European Council on the MFF on 26-27 November, and the European Council on 17-18 December — with a possible political agreement by end of 2026
- If agreement is reached, formal adoption and inter-institutional procedures are expected to follow in 2027, with implementation expected by end of 2027
BBWR
Draft act listing additional products to be exempted from general removability and replaceability requirements
The European Commission consulted stakeholders on a draft delegated act proposing additional exemptions from the requirement under the Batteries Regulation that portable batteries be removable and replaceable by end users. The consultation closed on 26 May.
Certain product categories, including medical devices and wet appliances, are already exempt, with batteries only required to be accessible to independent professionals. The Commission now proposes extending this list to six additional categories, including smartwatches, fitness trackers, electric toys and equipment covered by the ATEX Directive for use in potentially explosive atmospheres.
The proposals follow a 2025 call for applications and technical assessments with external experts. The growing fire risk from incorrectly disposed lithium-ion batteries was noted as a key consideration in evaluating exemption requests.
