Key information EU SEA Directive Title Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 June 2001 on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment (EU SEA Directive) Entry into force 21 July 2001 Deadline for transposition 21 July 2004 Amending documents None Subject Planning; environmental impact assessment Objectives and scope The EU SEA Directive requires environmental assessments to be undertaken for certain plans and programmes likely to have significant environmental impacts. The EU Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (Directive 2011/92/EU) , in contrast, applies to projects (as opposed to plans/programmes). For more information on that, linked regime, see Practice Note: EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directive—snapshot. The objective of the EU SEA Directive is to integrate environmental considerations into the preparation, adoption and development of plans and programmes and thereby provide for a high level of protection of the environment. ‘Plans and programmes’ fall within the scope of the EU SEA Directive where they are either created or modified, and where they are: • subject

EU Law Analysis: On 26 February 2025, the Commission published the first of its omnibus simplification packages containing a proposal to substantially revise the scope and content of the sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements contained in Directive 2022/2464 (the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)) and Directive 2024/1760 (the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D)). Exactly one year later, the resulting Directive (EU) 2026/470 has been published in the Official Journal. This analysis sets out the key changes made to the CSRD and CS3D, as applicable to businesses both inside and outside the EU.

Objectives Batteries are an indispensable energy source and a key technology in terms of supporting the global transitions to carbon neutrality and to a circular economy. Accordingly, global demand for batteries is increasing rapidly and is set to increase 14 times by 2030. This is mainly driven by the rise of the digital economy, the need for storage for energy generated from renewable sources, and low carbon mobility. The increase of electric vehicles using batteries will make this market a strategic one at the global level. On this basis, the Commission announced plans for major revisions to the EU batteries regime, established primarily by Directive 2006/66/EC (the Batteries Directive), as part of the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan. The resulting Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries (the Sustainable Batteries Regulation) was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 28 July 2023. The Regulation forms a key part of the European Green Deal, and its policy successor,

This Practice Note provides an overview of the requirements and obligations established by Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries (the Sustainable Batteries Regulation). The Regulation lays down requirements on sustainability, safety, labelling, and information provision for batteries being placed on the market or put into service within the EU. It addresses the entire life cycle of all batteries placed on the EU market (both EU-produced, and imported), as illustrated below, and establishes harmonised manufacturing and marketing requirements, labelling and information requirements, conformity assessment procedures, supply chain due diligence obligations, and waste management measures. The Sustainable Batteries Regulation has applied since 18 February 2024, however the different regulatory requirements are being phased in according to battery type and will apply to a variety of economic operators to differing degrees. This Practice Note summarises which requirements attach to which battery category, which economic operator, and when the various requirements will apply. Each category of obligations attach to the various types

Objectives Batteries are an indispensable energy source and a key technology in terms of supporting the global transition to climate neutrality and to an increasingly circular economy. Accordingly, global demand for batteries is increasing rapidly and is set to increase 14 times by 2030. This is mainly driven by the rise of the digital economy, the need for storage for energy generated from renewable sources, and low carbon mobility. The increase of electric vehicles using batteries will make this market a strategic one at the global level. On this basis, the Commission announced plans for major revisions to the batteries regime, established primarily by Directive 2006/66/EC (the Batteries Directive), as part of the EU’s 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan. The resulting Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries (the Sustainable Batteries Regulation) was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 28 July 2023. The Regulation forms a key part of the European Green Deal, and its policy

The EU T+1 Industry Committee has published its High-Level Roadmap to support the transition to a T+1 securities settlement cycle across the EU and EEA by 11 October 2027. The roadmap outlines over 70 non-binding recommendations developed through cross-industry collaboration, intended to assist market participants in preparing for the operational, legal, and regulatory implications of the shortened settlement cycle. It covers areas including trading, clearing, settlement, asset management, foreign exchange, and corporate actions, with proposals such as standardised recall and return deadlines, real-time trade matching, harmonised delivery-versus-payment (DvP) and free-of-payment (FoP) cutoffs, and broader use of partial settlement and Hold & Release functionalities. A virtual launch event is scheduled for 3 July 2025.

The European Union's Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security has announced anti-dumping duties ranging from 26.4% to 26.9% on decor paper imports from China. The measure follows an investigation that determined Chinese imports were being sold at dumped prices in the EU market, causing injury to EU industry. The duties apply to decor paper used in furniture production and interior design, construction and renovation sectors. The measures were implemented on 6 August 2025.

The European Union's Directorate-General for Trade and Economic Security has imposed anti-dumping duties on multilayered wood flooring imports from China, effective 14 July 2025. The measures follow an investigation that determined Chinese dumped imports were causing harm to the EU's €1.3bn multilayered wood flooring industry. The duties aim to protect EU producers, who employ 10,500 people across the bloc, by establishing more equitable trading conditions between EU and Chinese manufacturers.

This Practice Note explores key elements of Directive 2009/65/EC (UCITS Directive), as amended, including the UCITS regulatory framework, authorisation process, cross-border operation of UCITS, UCITS management companies, master-feeder structures, depositaries, remuneration and investment information. What is a UCITS fund? UCITS funds are authorised open-ended investment funds which can be marketed to retail investors throughout the EU, provided that they meet the requirements set out in the UCITS Directive. EU UCITS funds must be managed and domiciled in the EU. Definition and requirements of a UCITS fund Article 1 of the UCITS Directive defines a UCITS as an undertaking which has: • the sole object of collective investment in transferable securities or in certain other liquid financial assets of capital raised from the public and which operates on the principle of risk-spreading, and • units that are, at the request of holders, repurchased or redeemed, directly or indirectly, out of the undertaking’s assets UCITS must comply with detailed requirements to ensure they invest only in eligible assets, with an adequate spread of

Urban wastewater is a significant source of water pollution, as it is often contaminated with bacteria, viruses, harmful chemicals, including micropollutants, and an overload of nutrients. When untreated and discharged into the environment, these pollutants can impact human health and damage ecosystems in rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Background to the original Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (Directive 91/271/EEC) Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban wastewater treatment (the original Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWTD)) entered into force on 29 May 1991. It established rules for the collection, monitoring, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater and the monitoring, treatment and discharge of wastewater from certain industrial sectors listed in its Annex III (eg milk processing, meat and fish processing, manufacturing of fruit and vegetable products, manufacturing and bottling of soft drinks, etc). The purpose of this original UWTD was to protect the environment from the adverse effects of these wastewater discharges. The implementation of the original UWTD was evaluated in 2019. The evaluation concluded that the Directive had been successful in increasing wastewater collection

Purpose Directive 91/271/EEC concerning urban wastewater treatment (the UWTD) entered into force on 29 May 1991. It established rules for the collection, monitoring, treatment and discharge of urban wastewater and the monitoring, treatment and discharge of wastewater from certain industrial sectors listed in its Annex III (eg milk processing, meat and fish processing, manufacturing of fruit and vegetable products, manufacturing and bottling of soft drinks, etc). The purpose of the UWTD is to protect the environment from the adverse effects of these wastewater discharges. European Green Deal—recast of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive The implementation of the UWTD was evaluated in 2019. The evaluation concluded that the UWTD has been successful in increasing wastewater collection and treatment throughout the EU, but that an overhaul was needed to address existing and emerging pollution (such as pharmaceuticals and microplastics), adapt to climate change, align the legislation with the circular economy through improved resource recovery, and respond to technological developments. On 26 October 2022, the Commission adopted a proposal for a recast of the UWTD. The recast

Key information WEEE Directive Title Directive 2012/19/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012 on waste electrical and electronic equipment (recast) (WEEE Directive) Entry into force 13 August 2012 Deadline for transposition 14 February 2014 National transposition measures See Eur-Lex information on national transposition measures, as provided by Member States Amendments —Directive (EU) 2018/849 of 30 May 2018. In force: 4 July 2018. Member States’ transposition deadline: 5 July 2020—Directive (EU) 2024/884 of 13 March 2024. Member States transposition deadline: 9 october 2025 Subject Waste; Electrical and electronic equipment; Extended producer responsibility Background and objectives ‘WEEE’ refers to ‘waste electrical and electronic equipment’. It is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU, and includes a large range of devices such as mobile phones, computers, televisions, fridges, household appliances, lamps, medical devices, and photovoltaic panels. In 2022, 11.2 kg of WEEE was collected per inhabitant of the EU. This e-waste contains a complex