Minister Serge Wilmes attended the meeting of the European Union's Environment Council in Luxembourg
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, took part in the meeting of the European Union's Environment Council in Luxembourg on 17 June 2025. Discussions focused on end-of-life vehicles to improve the sustainability and circularity of the automotive sector in line with the objectives of the Green Pact for Europe; the 30e Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 30) and the strategy to strengthen water resilience in Europe.
The European Environment Ministers have reached a general approach from the Council on a new regulation to replace the Directive on end-of-life vehicles (ELVs). Luxembourg reaffirmed its support for the ambitious objectives of the Commission's initial proposal on minimum recycled plastic content, aimed at closing the resource cycle and boosting demand for recyclates.
«We fully share this circular vision, which is in line with the ambitions of the Clean Industrial Deal. That said, in order to encourage collective progress, Luxembourg is prepared to support the general direction as it stands today, including a significantly extended implementation timetable.» said Minister Serge Wilmes.
Strengthening water resilience in Europe
The Commission held a briefing on resilience in the water sector.
In his speech, Minister Serge Wilmes stated that Luxembourg strongly supports the strategy to strengthen water resilience in Europe.
«We are in the process of rolling out this strategy at national level. Securing the supply of drinking water is not just a question of finding new resources. It also involves using water efficiently and protecting the quality of natural resources. Here, the ubiquitous presence of PFAS and TFA presents us with major challenges. Awareness of the importance of water as a resource can also be an opportunity to increase economic competitiveness, particularly through the development of new technologies.«
In addition, the impact of climate change reinforces the importance of preserving the natural water cycle. So, in the autumn, the French Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity will be organising a national round table on the renaturation of watercourses.
The EU at COP 30 - taking stock and the road ahead
The Polish Presidency offered ministers the opportunity for a non-public discussion on the EU's preparations for COP30, which will be held in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025.
In this context, Minister Serge Wilmes stressed the importance of the EU aligning itself with scientific recommendations when defining its general level of climate ambition. Although Luxembourg is not asking for flexibilities, the minister insisted that any flexibility requested by other Member States should not weaken ambitions, but should be factors in helping to achieve the -90 % within the EU.
Finally, he clarified that the EU's 2040 climate target and the proposed Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement will need to be discussed and decided jointly.
The next meeting of the European Union's Environment Council will be held in Luxembourg on 21 October 2025.
