The European Commission has issued formal notices and reasoned opinions to 14 EU Member States for failing to meet waste recycling targets and fully transpose EU packaging directives, risking escalation to the Court of Justice.
Fourteen EU Member States have received formal notices or reasoned opinions from the European Commission for failing to meet waste recycling targets and for not fully transposing elements of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, Single-Use Plastics Directive, or Waste Framework Directive into national law.
Letters of formal notice were sent to Germany, Greece, and Cyprus, while reasoned opinions were issued to Greece, Bulgaria, Czechia, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, and Romania. These actions concern shortfalls in meeting municipal waste recycling targets and packaging recycling rates, including glass, metals, paper, cardboard, plastics, and wood.
Seven Member States failed to meet multiple targets between 2020 and 2023. Specific shortcomings include:
- Glass: Cyprus, Portugal, Greece, Romania, Hungary
- Total packaging: Greece, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Malta
- Metals: Croatia, Malta
- Paper and cardboard: Malta
Member States now have two months to respond to the notices, or the Commission may escalate the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Slovakia received a reasoned opinion for failing to correctly implement provisions of the Single-Use Plastics Directive, specifically regarding extended producer responsibility and coverage of waste management costs.
Finland received a formal notice for not transposing elements of the Waste Framework Directive, including municipal waste scope, material recovery, hazardous waste handling, and separate collection derogations.
The European Commission emphasizes that compliance is essential to promote the EU’s circular economy, support secondary raw material markets, and enhance competitiveness. Previous infringement procedures in 2024 targeted all 27 Member States for failing collection and recycling targets, and 17 for mislabeling and mismanagement of reusable and recyclable materials.
Additional infringement cases have been opened against 20 Member States for incomplete transposition of green claims and sustainability label legislation, while France has been referred to the Court of Justice for non-compliance with EU-wide green claims and sorting logo rules.
Germany successfully addressed the Commission’s concerns regarding its draft Packaging Law Implementation Act, resulting in the withdrawal of a detailed opinion.
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