A coalition of 22 organisations representing the European packaging value chain has published a joint statement to propose concrete recommendations regarding the European Commission's proposal for a 28th legal regime.
Whilst the initiative is widely recognised for its potential in supporting innovative businesses, including start-ups and SMEs, the industry groups emphasise that its benefits should extend well beyond this, contributing directly to Europe's broader competitiveness and circular economy objectives.
Francesca Stevens, Secretary General of Europen, stated:
The 28th legal regime offers a real opportunity to remove the barriers that still fragment the Single Market. With a harmonised framework, Europe can strengthen its competitiveness whilst accelerating the transition towards a circular economy.
To ensure that the regulatory framework brings about significant simplification and supports Europe's circular economy objectives, the packaging value chain recommends that the regime:
• Advances harmonisation of procedures and requirements under different Union acts, particularly regarding registration, authorisation, and reporting obligations in environmental legislation.
• Is leveraged to fully operationalise the principle of mutual recognition, simplifying and accelerating cross-border administrative procedures, including those related to waste shipments and circular economy operations.
• Implements a digital-by-default approach, ensuring interoperability and the gradual replacement of paper-based procedures with streamlined digital solutions. Existing data infrastructures should be used to avoid duplication and reduce costs. Particularly in relation to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a digital one-stop-shop should be established to simplify compliance and reduce administrative fragmentation.
• Upholds the “once-only” principle, requiring businesses to provide data only once to authorities, which should then securely share it across Member States.
By promoting genuine regulatory simplification and coherence, the 28th legal regime could become a fundamental instrument for strengthening the Union's industrial competitiveness and supporting Europe's transition towards a circular economy.
