BRUSSELS — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has consistently backed the anti-greenwashing bill, contrary to recent claims suggesting otherwise. An official from the Commission, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity surrounding the issue, stated, “The president’s support for the Green Claims has not changed.”
This clarification follows a misleading statement made by a Commission spokesperson last Friday, which indicated that the EU’s executive body intended to withdraw the proposed Green Claims Directive. This directive is designed to address misleading sustainability claims made by companies.
Political ramifications in Brussels
The confusion ignited a political uproar among Brussels’ centrists and left-leaning politicians, who expressed outrage over what they perceived as a betrayal of the legislative process and a setback for green policies. The Commission official refuted these accusations, asserting that the only reason for halting the bill would be a failure to resolve a specific issue related to small businesses. Currently, there is debate regarding whether the law should apply to companies with fewer than 10 employees. Brussels suggested exempting these businesses, while EU capitals are advocating for their inclusion.
“The Commission made the point that that would go beyond the scope of the original proposal and change the nature of it,” the official explained.
Still, the announcement on Friday came just days before crucial negotiations were set to take place, leaving EU diplomats and members of the European Parliament uncertain about the future of the deal. The ongoing dispute regarding the inclusion of small firms was to be addressed in the upcoming discussions.
Negotiations at a standstill
Furthermore, many centrist and center-left lawmakers accused von der Leyen of yielding to the center-right European People’s Party, which had publicly opposed the regulation last week. In light of the turmoil, the Polish Council presidency, which is overseeing negotiations for EU nations, decided to pause talks until the Commission clarifies its stance.
The situation worsened on Monday when Italy officially withdrew its support for the legislation, effectively dismantling the coalition backing the proposal and halting negotiations altogether. Despite the perception that the Commission’s actions led to this collapse, the official emphasized that it is now up to EU countries to chart a path forward.
“It’s up to the Council to state what its intentions are, and then we see from there. But that’s because of the Italians withdrawing; the Commission has not withdrawn,” the Commission official noted.
The Polish presidency has announced that EU ambassadors will convene on Wednesday to discuss the unfolding situation. A spokesperson remarked, “Since a lot has happened in recent days, it’s important to take time to hear from [EU countries] and carefully reflect on the way forward together.”