Key information Waste Framework Directive Title Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste (Waste Framework Directive, WFD) Entry into force 12 December 2008 Deadline for transposition 12 December 2010 National transposition measures See Eur-Lex information on national transposition measures, as provided by Member States Repealing —Directive 75/439/EEC on the disposal of waste oils—Directive 91/689/EEC on hazardous waste—Directive 2006/12/EC on waste Amendments —Regulation (EU) 1357/2014 replacing Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC—Directive (EU) 2015/1127 amending Annex II to Directive 2008/98/EC—Regulation (EU) 2017/997 amending Annex III to Directive 2008/98/EC as regards the hazardous property HP 14 ‘Ecotoxic’—Directive (EU) 2018/851 amending Directive 2008/98/EC—Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 concerning batteries and waste batteries—Directive (EU) 2025/1892 amending the Waste Framework Directive (in force 16 October 2025, with a national transposition deadline of 17 June 2027 (see Key developments below)) Subject Waste; waste management; hazardous waste; extended producer responsibility Purpose and objectives EU waste policy is broadly aimed at minimising

Key information Water Framework Directive Title Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (WFD) Entry into force 22 December 2000 Deadline for transposition 22 December 2003 National transposition measures See Eur-Lex information on national transposition measures, as provided by Member States Subject Water; river basin management; water pollution; nature restoration Purpose and objectives The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) establishes a legal framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters, and groundwater, which aims to: • prevent deterioration and protect and enhance the status of aquatic ecosystems and territorial ecosystems and wetlands directly dependant on aquatic ecosystems • promote sustainable water use based on long-term protection of available water resources • enhance protection and improvement of the aquatic environment through specific measures for: ◦ progressive reduction of discharges, emissions and losses of priority substances, and ◦ cessation or phasing-out of discharges, emissions and losses of priority hazardous substances

Key information Water Framework Directive Title Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy (WFD) Entry into force 22 December 2000 Deadline for transposition 22 December 2003 National transposition measures See Eur-Lex information on national transposition measures, as provided by Member States Subject Water; river basin management; water pollution; nature restoration Purpose and objectives The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) establishes a legal framework for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters, and groundwater, which aims to: • prevent deterioration and protect and enhance the status of aquatic ecosystems and territorial ecosystems and wetlands directly dependant on aquatic ecosystems • promote sustainable water use based on long-term protection of available water resources • enhance protection and improvement of the aquatic environment through specific measures for: ◦ progressive reduction of discharges, emissions and losses of priority substances, and ◦ cessation or phasing-out of discharges, emissions and losses of priority hazardous substances

The EU has adopted the 16th sanctions package against Russia, targeting systemically important sectors of the Russian economy such as energy, trade, transport, infrastructure, and financial services, in addition to adding measures to tackle circumvention. Certain provisions in the package are mirrored in the Belarus sanctions regime.

The European Parliament and Council have adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/… of 8 October 2025 amending Regulations (EU) No 1092/2010, (EU) No 1093/2010, (EU) No 1094/2010, (EU) No 1095/2010, (EU) No 806/2014, (EU) 2021/523 and (EU) 2024/1620 regarding reporting requirements in financial services and investment support (otherwise known as the Better Data Sharing Regulation). The regulation introduces new information sharing obligations between EU financial authorities including the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs), European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB), Single Resolution Board (SRB), European Central Bank (ECB) and the Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA), implementing a 'report once' principle whereby authorities must request information from other authorities rather than directly from financial institutions where possible. The regulation requires European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) to prepare a feasibility study for a cross-sectoral integrated reporting system within 60 months, establish a permanent single contact point for reporting duplicative requirements, and grants authorities discretionary powers to share anonymised information with researchers for innovation purposes. The regulation also changes InvestEU Programme reporting frequency from biannual to annual and mandates authorities to review and propose removal of redundant reporting requirements within 24 months.

The Council of the European Union has adopted a regulation phasing out Russian imports of pipeline gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the EU, marking a step forward in delivering the REPowerEU objective of ending the EU’s reliance on Russian energy, responding to ongoing risks stemming from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its use of energy as a political weapon. The regulation introduces a stepwise ban on Russian gas imports, alongside measures on monitoring and diversification of energy supply.

The European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change has published a report recommending actions to scale up carbon dioxide removals in the EU. The report emphasises the need for separate legal targets, increased innovation funding, and integration of permanent removals into the EU Emissions Trading System. It highlights the importance of reversing the decline in the EU's carbon sink and suggests new pricing instruments for land managers. A public webinar on the report will be held on 25 February 2025.

EU agencies are bodies set up by the EU to carry out specific technical, scientific or administrative tasks. They are divided into four groups: • decentralised agencies which carry out technical, scientific or managerial tasks that help the EU institutions make and implement policies. They are set up for an indefinite period and are located across the EU • executive agencies which help the Commission to manage EU programmes. They are set up for a fixed period and must be based in the same location as the Commission (either Brussels or Luxembourg) • European Atomic Energy Community Treaty (EURATOM) agencies which were created to coordinate national nuclear research programmes for peaceful purposes; to provide knowledge, infrastructure and funding for nuclear energy; and to ensure sufficient and secure supplies of nuclear energy • European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body which seeks to promote the EU’s ability to develop new technologies, by pooling its best scientific, business and education resources

The European Medicines Agency, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the European Chemicals Agency, the European Environment Agency and the European Food Safety Authority have jointly published a framework for action to enhance cooperation to support the implementation of the One Health agenda in the EU. One Health identifies the complex interplay between human, animal and plant health, food safety, the climate crisis and environmental sustainability. Implementation of this approach across different sectors will help the EU to be better equipped to predict, prevent, detect and respond to health threats. A cross-agency task force will work on implementing the joint framework for action from 2024–26, which will focus on five strategic objectives—strategic coordination, research coordination, capacity building, stakeholder engagement and joint inter-agency activities. This will integrate the scientific advice provided by the agencies and enhance the evidence base for One Health.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), DIGITAL EUROPE, BUSINESSEUROPE, Eurochambres and MedTech Europe have released a joint business statement on the European Commission's proposal on compulsory licensing. The statement follows the close monitoring of developments regarding the Commission's proposal for a regulation on EU compulsory licensing for crisis management, and highlights the necessity to address key unresolved issues of the original proposal. The agencies noted that while some improvements to the proposal were adopted by the European Parliament, including greater involvement of the rights-holder, a requirement for attempted voluntary licensing, and a reasoned approach to remuneration, there were other problematic provisions that remained, which included inadequate judicial review and forced technology transfer/trade secret sharing.

The Council of the EU and the European Parliament have provisionally agreed to amend the EU Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR) (Regulation (EU) 909/2014) to shorten the standard settlement cycle for securities transactions executed on EU trading venues, from two business days (T+2) to one business day after the trade date (T+1). The change, proposed by the European Commission on 12 February 2025, aims to improve post-trade efficiency, align EU practices with global markets, and enhance the competitiveness of EU capital markets. An exemption will apply to certain securities financing transactions (SFTs), provided they are documented as single transactions comprising two linked operations. The new rules are expected to be formally adopted and will apply from 11 October 2027.

This Practice Note is a horizon scanner tracking key future developments in EU agriculture and food regulation. It provides details of key dates for your diary (including forecasted dates where possible) and relevant commentary in relation to legislation-in-progress, legislation subject to future application dates or transposition deadlines, new consultations and calls for evidence, forthcoming guidance, and new EU-level strategies and action plans. EU food policy aims to ensure a high level of food safety and animal and plant health within the EU. Agricultural policy also ensures food safety, as well as the availability of affordable food to EU citizens, a fair standard of living for farmers and the sustainable management of natural resources, through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). For further information on EU food law and the CAP, see Practice Notes: Introduction to EU food law and The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). This horizon scanner is divided into the following sections: • Legislation in progress • Open consultations and calls for evidence • Key upcoming legislative transposition deadlines and dates of application • Key non-legislative developments This