Conferences of the Parties of Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions: EU and international partners push for a more toxic-free and circular future for everyone.
The Conferences of the Parties (COPs) 2021-2022 to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm conventions (BRS COP) concluded in Stockholm last 1 June on the occasion of the international summit Stockholm+50 and in Geneva last 17 June. They are the main three Environmental Multilateral Agreements aiming at protecting the human health and the environment from hazardous substances and waste.
The European Commission participated to the meetings of the three UN COPs contributing in a consistent way to the adopted decisions for a sound management of chemical substances and waste, milestones under the Basel Convention, and always under the same Convention supporting the commitment on plastic waste proposing the starting of the development of new global standards on the management of used tyres, an important source of microplastics. Under the Stockholm Convention, it was decided to have PFHxS - a substance from the PFAS family, known as ‘forever chemicals' – listed as a Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP), allowing for its inclusion in the evolving EU rules on POPs. EU's efforts internationally continue this week, with the final round of negotiations ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15).
Under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Commission negotiates on behalf of the EU and its Member States. The Commission's commitment to protecting and restoring biodiversity in Europe and globally is set out in the 2020 European Biodiversity Strategy, a key component of the European Green Deal for which EC is determined to continue to negotiate at international level working with all the countries towards ambitious outcomes in line with the EU's commitments.