European Parliament and Council clinch batteries deal

摘要

Conciliation talks on 2 May over a proposed batteries directive opened and closed the same day, as European Parliament and Council delegations rubber stamped a deal their representatives had only sealed a day or two before. The Commission welcomed the agreement, and urged a speedy implementation. Industry and environmental groups had a mixed reaction - with industry supporting the "realistic targets" but concerned about capacity marking, and the green lobby welcoming the ban on hazardous substances but disappointed at the waiver on power tools and lower collection targets (see story this issue).