Italy has taken a surprising step by pulling its support from a proposed European Union law aimed at stopping greenwashing. Greenwashing is when companies make false or misleading claims about being environmentally friendly.
Italy Pulls Back at a Crucial Moment
This EU law, known as the Green Claims Directive, was created to protect people from fake green labels on products. But now, the law faces trouble. Italy has told the current EU Council president, Poland, that it no longer supports the law. This decision came over the weekend and changed the direction of talks.
Poland was supposed to lead the final round of talks in Brussels. However, with Italy stepping back, Poland canceled the meeting. A Polish diplomat said there were “too many doubts” and that they needed more clarity from the European Commission.
This unexpected move from Italy has added more confusion to an already shaky situation.
EU Commission Responds with Warning
The European Commission, which is the main body behind this law, is not happy with the changes made by EU member countries. Officials said they may pull the law completely if certain changes are not made.
The biggest problem comes from a recent amendment made by the EU Council. This change would force the rules of the law on 30 million micro-businesses. These are very small companies, making up about 96% of all businesses in the EU.
The Commission says the original idea was to protect consumers without hurting small businesses. But with this change, the law could become too hard for small companies to follow. That’s why the Commission warned that the law might be withdrawn unless micro-enterprises are removed from the rules.
One top Commission official explained that the amendment would stop the law from meeting its goals. The aim was to build honest green markets and avoid putting pressure on tiny firms. If this goal is not met, the law will not move forward.
Italy Never Backed the Law Fully
Italy’s latest move did not surprise some diplomats. One EU official said Italy had never really supported this law. Instead, it simply gave permission to Poland to talk on its behalf during the negotiations.
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Now, by removing that permission, Italy has sent a clear signal that it does not agree with the law at all. While Italian officials did not respond to any questions, their actions have spoken loudly.
This step has made it harder for the remaining EU members to reach a final deal. It also shows that there is little unity on how strict green rules should be across Europe.
Talks Canceled as Uncertainty Grows
The final talks were supposed to take place in the European Parliament. These meetings were planned to reach a final agreement between EU countries and lawmakers. But with Italy’s sudden withdrawal, Poland decided to cancel the talks.
Diplomats say the discussions cannot move forward without knowing what the Commission will do next. There’s now a lot of confusion. Everyone is waiting to see whether the Commission will stick to its threat or give the law another chance.
Meanwhile, the Commission’s main spokesperson welcomed a chance to explain things. She repeated the warning that unless micro-businesses are exempt, the law will not continue.
This law was meant to stop companies from lying about being eco-friendly. But now, the law itself faces an uncertain future. Italy’s move has made the situation even more unstable. Other countries may now question their own positions.
As of now, the future of the EU’s greenwashing law is unclear. The Commission remains firm on its condition. If the law covers tiny businesses, it will be withdrawn. And with Italy now out of the talks, the chances of saving the law have become even smaller.
