Local and regional representatives focus on green proposals

Two environmental proposals from the European Union – on soil monitoring and for a targeted revision of the Waste Framework Directive – were at the top of the agenda of the 25^th meeting of the Forum of Elected Representatives of Local and Regional Authorities of the EEA EFTA States. The meeting, which took place on 6 and 7 December at EFTA House, was chaired by Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir from the Icelandic delegation, and participants met with the relevant EFTA and EU experts on these files.

First, the Forum discussed the EU’s proposal to revise the Waste Framework Directive. The original directive is from 2008 and has been adopted by the EEA EFTA States. The revision focuses on textiles and food waste, where ongoing problems still exist: “Fast fashion” has become an increasing problem, and huge quantities of food are being thrown away in Europe. In its opinion adopted at the meeting, the Forum underlines that local and regional authorities are a major player in waste management and should be consulted extensively when finalising the legislation. Further, it encourages the “polluter pays” principle in the legislation. Beate Marie Dahl Eide was the rapporteur for the opinion.

Second, the Forum adopted an opinion on the EU’s legislative proposal on soil management. A large part of European soil is in an unhealthy state. The EU has set down the objective of delivering healthy soils by 2050. The Forum’s opinion on the matter stresses the importance of finding a balance between the administrative and financial burdens and the important goal of the proposed legislation. The rapporteur for the Forum on this opinion was Jóhanna Ösp Einarsdóttir.

Finally, the Forum elected a new Chair for 2024. Beate Marie Dahl Eide from the Norwegian delegation will take over from Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir as Chair of the Forum next year.

The Forum consists of elected local and regional politicians from Iceland and Norway, and Switzerland as observers, and serves as an informal body to include the elected representatives in EEA matters. It works closely with other EEA EFTA bodies and has links with the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, an EU advisory body established in 1994 just after the signing of the EEA Agreement.

Opinion on Targeted Revision of the Waste Framework, 6 and 7 December 2023

Opinion on Soil Monitoring, 6 and 7 December 2023