Renew Europe urges Commission to abandon threat to withdraw green claims directive

Renew Europe has called on the European Commission to immediately reverse course on its threat to withdraw the green claims directive, warning that such a move would not only undermine the EU’s environmental credibility but also set a damaging precedent for institutional cooperation and legislative integrity.

The proposed directive is designed to combat misleading environmental claims and enhance consumer trust in the single market.

Speaking on Tuesday, Sandro Gozi, Renew Europe and European Parliament lead negotiator on the green claims directive, described the situation as “a deeply troubling precedent” and accused the Commission of bypassing the Parliament and Council.

“The Commission cannot treat Parliament as a procedural formality,” Gozi said. “If it proceeds with this withdrawal, it will erode trust between institutions and hand a political gift to those who seek to weaken the European project. The Commission must change course now. ”

Legal and political uncertainty

Trilogue negotiations on the green claims directive have been ongoing since January, and the Council has already adopted its position, a fact which, according to existing case law from the Court of Justice of the EU, would prohibit the Commission from unilaterally withdrawing the file. The directive was not listed for withdrawal in the Commission’s 2025 work programme and no formal consultation was held with co legislators.

Italy’s recent decision to withdraw its support for the file has further stalled progress. Commission spokespersons have so far declined to offer clarity on the legal or procedural basis for the planned withdrawal.

“The issue here is not the proposed withdrawal itself, but the way it is being done,” said Emma Wiesner, Renew Europe’s shadow rapporteur on the file in the Parliament's ENVI Committee.

“By announcing their will to withdraw only days before the final trilogue without even consulting the parliament - the Commission is overstepping its power and undermining the mutual trust between the EU institutions.
The chaotic process by the EU Commission created unprecedented confusion that lasted until minutes before the trilogue was supposed to start. The responsible Commissioners must come before Parliament to explain their intentions.”

Renew Europe position

Renew Europe is calling for:

• the Commission to explicitly abandon its intention to withdraw the green claims directive
• the Commission must clarify its position with the Polish Presidency and the all the members of Council of Ministers
• a resumption of trilogue negotiations without delay
• full compliance with the interinstitutional agreement on better law making
• clarification from President von der Leyen at the European Council meeting

Gozi concluded:

“This is not just about a single piece of legislation. It is a question of whether EU institutions will continue to legislate in good faith or whether short-term political calculations will take precedence.”