Brussels, 27 March 2025
Clean industrial deal
Ministers focused on the environmental dimension of the clean industrial deal, which was presented by the Commission on 26 February 2025 as a joint roadmap for competitiveness and decarbonisation.
Ministers discussed ways to help EU industries to stay competitive while transitioning to net zero and recognised the clean industrial deal as a good basis for discussion. Several ministers acknowledged the link between the clean industrial deal and the setting of a 2040 climate target to provide predictability. Ministers acknowledged the need for adequate financing but a number of questions were raised about the envisaged industrial decarbonisation bank. Some ministers stressed the need to ensure the effectiveness of the carbon border adjustment mechanism. Most ministers welcomed the key role given to the circular economy in driving decarbonisation.
We all agree that Europe needs effective tools to support the decarbonisation of European industry. The Clean Industrial Deal can bolster the EU’s competitiveness, while promoting clean technology and circular economy. Today’s discussion was crucial in identifying initiatives that can turn decarbonisation into a powerful growth driver for businesses across Europe.
Paulina Hennig-Kloska, Polish Minister for Climate and Environment
Read the Polish Presidency’s Background Note
Global environmental policies
Ministers exchanged views on global environmental policies in the presence of the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Inger Andersen.
They discussed ways to support effective environmental cooperation for a better implementation of multilateral agreements. They also shared their views on how to best contribute to a successful outcome of the ongoing negotiations on a global plastics treaty.
- Presidency background note
- Global targets for biodiversity (background information)
- Global climate action (background information)
- Watch the public session
Other business
The presidency and the Commission reported on the resumed session and the outcome of the conference of the parties of the convention on biological diversity (COP16), which took place in Rome in February 2025. Major achievements of COP16 included decisions on mobilising finance from all sources to close the global biodiversity finance gap by 2030, and on measures to monitor the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and its goals and targets.
- UN biodiversity convention: EU reaffirms global pledge to protect a third of the planet by 2030 (press release, 14 October 2024)
- EU welcomes positive outcome of COP16 biodiversity negotiations in Rome (European Commission)
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
- Watch the public session
The Ukrainian Minister for Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, Svitlana Hrynchuk, briefed EU ministers on the environmental impacts of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Environment ministers acknowledged the devastating situation for the Ukrainian people and for nature and committed to work collectively towards decontamination and the restoration of a healthy environment in Ukraine in the years to come.
France shared information on mechanisms to stabilise allowance prices in emissions trading schemes.
Italy, France and Slovakia drew attention to the need for a more effective carbon border adjustment mechanism for a competitive and decarbonised EU industry.
Czechia, together with France, Croatia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia, addressed the transboundary shipment of waste and ways to improve the accessibility of information for competent authorities and control bodies, including in cases of illegal shipment of waste.
Slovenia raised a point on regional ocean and seas governance efforts and recent developments in relation to the Barcelona convention for the protection of the marine environment and the coastal region of the Mediterranean.
Under a public point, Portugal referred to its national strategy on water management.
Over lunch, environment ministers informally discussed the environmental dimension of the recent Commission communication on a vision for agriculture and food. They exchanged views on ways to support farmers and incentivise them to protect soil, water, air, as well as nature and biodiversity. They also touched on the role of agriculture and forestry in the bioeconomy.
Preparatory documents
- List of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional list of A items, non-legislative activities
- Provisional agenda
- Background brief
Outcome documents
Source – EU Council