Ursula von der Leyen has been re-elected as President of the European Commission, securing a second term with a significant majority. Her re-election was underpinned by the presentation of her political guidelines for 2024-2029, which reaffirm the European Green Deal's goals and highlight the need for urgent action on chemical regulations, particularly the revision of REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals) and addressing PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), known as "forever chemicals."
In her address to the European Parliament, von der Leyen emphasised the necessity of staying the course on the European Green Deal while introducing a new chemicals industry package aimed at simplifying REACH. This move is part of a broader effort to shift towards a more sustainable pattern of production and consumption in the EU.
Industry and Environmental Groups React
Marco Mensink, Director General of the European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic), expressed strong support for von der Leyen’s re-election and her initiatives.
"We congratulate Ursula von der Leyen on her re-election as President of the European Commission. By announcing a Clean Industrial Deal and a European Competitiveness Fund she echoes what was previously acknowledged by EU leaders in the EU Strategic Agenda for the next five years: The future of our prosperity must indeed be made in Europe,"
"A Clean Industrial Deal will safeguard the competitiveness of Europe’s energy-intensive industries and allow us to achieve our common aspirations to implement the EU Green Deal. Together, we can ensure that the future of clean and cutting-edge technology is made in Europe".
On the other hand, environmental groups have voiced concerns about the pace and scope of regulatory changes. Michael Warhurst, Executive Director of CHEM Trust, highlighted the urgency of strengthening REACH.
"The strengthening of REACH is overdue. We have seen our bodies, our water, and our food contaminated with PFAS, the forever chemicals, despite the current REACH law being in force. We need to phase out the most harmful chemicals, including endocrine disruptors, and deal with the pervasive pollution from PFAS. Only action by the EU can prevent pollution and deliver a cleaner environment and toxic-free products,"
"The REACH proposal should be released within the first 100 days of von der Leyen’s new term to finally end the delays on this key reform".
Political Landscape and Future Directions
Von der Leyen’s political guidelines emphasise a robust commitment to the European Green Deal, with a clear focus on implementing agreed-upon goals and setting new targets. The guidelines propose a new Clean Industrial Deal within the first 100 days of her mandate to support industrial decarbonisation and ensure access to sustainable energy supplies and raw materials.
However, some stakeholders remain cautious. Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director of Nature, Health, and Environment at the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), noted,
"With Ursula von der Leyen re-elected on the basis of political guidelines reaffirming the central place of the EU Green Deal and its continuity shortly after the adoption of the Strategic Agenda, the EU and its institutions have a clear mandate to tackle the triple climate, biodiversity and pollution crisis."
"While the commitment is there on paper, we certainly need more than just implementation. The strong focus on climate cannot come at the expense of necessary actions against the biodiversity and pollution crises, as these issues are intrinsically interlinked. Only by addressing these triple crises together can we achieve climate neutrality".
As von der Leyen's new term begins, the EU faces significant challenges in balancing industrial competitiveness with environmental sustainability. The next steps will involve drafting mission letters for new Commissioners, holding hearings in front of the European Parliament, and publishing the 2025 working program towards the end of the year. The focus will be on ensuring that regulatory frameworks like REACH are not only simplified but also strengthened to protect human health and the environment from harmful chemicals like PFAS.
