The Council today adopted a decision which streamlines EU legislation in the field of environmental reporting. By amending or repealing legislation that is no longer applicable or relevant, the decision brings legal clarity, enhances transparency and reduces the administrative burden in the Member States.

Today's decision is about cutting red tape and making things simpler. I am very pleased that ministers have approved this revision of legislation, which will make environmental reporting obligations clearer and more efficient. Neno Dimov, Bulgarian Minister for Environment and Water

Background and next steps

In its 2014 communication on the regulatory fitness and performance programme (REFIT), the Commission undertook to work on concrete proposals to remove obsolete legislation related to environmental reporting. The Commission adopted a communication on better regulation in May 2015 and launched a REFIT fitness check for environmental monitoring and reporting. On 15 December 2016, the Commission published a standardised reporting directive “repeal package” consisting of three initiatives, the third of which is the decision adopted today.

Following negotiations between the Estonian Presidency and the European Parliament, a provisional deal was reached on 22 November 2017.

Today's adoption of the decision by the Council is the final step in the legislative procedure. The legislation will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the official journal.