A recent announcement by the European Commission of 47 Strategic Projects is set to boost the bloc’s domestic supply of raw materials, strengthening its battery and defense value chains and presenting substantial potential...more
We reported in previous blog posts (here and here) on the European Commission’s Green Deal initiatives and their impact on companies doing business in Europe as well as the significant recent headwind against these...more
While the European Union has established itself as a frontrunner in sustainability legislation, having passed a significant number of sustainability laws under its Green Deal, its recent omnibus sustainability package...more
In order to reach its “net-zero” goals, the European Union is continuing to build out a regulatory framework focused on scaling up the investment into the manufacturing and development of “net-zero technologies”. The latest...more
The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD or Directive) entered into force on July 25, 2024, establishing a framework for companies to address risks and adverse impacts on human rights and...more
The European Green Deal1 is a suite of new EU laws designed to support a just transition, first to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and with the ultimate aim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 whilst at the same time...more
The Council of the European Union adopted a regulation on the reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector (Regulation). Methane is the second-biggest cause of climate change after carbon dioxide, and in the short term...more
The Buy American Act was originally passed by Congress in 1933 and has undergone numerous changes across several presidential administrations. While the core of the Act has essentially remained the same, requiring the U.S....more
In this week’s edition, we discuss the European Parliament’s approval of a certification framework that is set to govern carbon removal activities, including the proper certification of carbon credits. Europe continues to...more
The Council of the European Union ("EU") approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive ("CS3D") on March 15, 2024. The CS3D contains due diligence and governance obligations that will have an extensive impact...more
To help organizations stay on top of the main developments in European digital compliance, Morrison Foerster’s European Digital Regulatory Compliance team reports on some of the main digital regulatory and compliance...more
The year 2024 holds the potential for significant developments in the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism. With the upcoming 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February, members may reach agreements...more
On 7 December 2023, the Commission tabled three legislative proposals (the “Proposal(s)”) to implement the "One-substance-one-assessment" (“OSOA”) announced in the European Green Deal and the Chemicals Strategy for...more
With some similar, but more divergent approaches of the European Commission, Council of the European Union and European Parliament, the Trilogues for the IED revision have now launched. While generally, further restrictions...more
Whilst the United Kingdom (UK) no longer forms part of the European Union (EU), it remains part of Europe and still adopts common policies that were previously put in place. In fact, the UK energy sector is synonymous with...more
Strategic carve-outs continue to present a strong business case, as companies shed non-core assets and position themselves for growth - Carve-outs remain a popular route to growth, with many European businesses...more
Three years ago, as part of the EU’s initiative on sustainable governance, the European Commission released a lengthy study on directors’ duties. The study affirmed what many already understood: corporate decision makers face...more
On June 27, the European Parliament proposed amendments to legislation aimed at reducing pollution in Europe’s water bodies covering inland, transitional and coastal surface waters and groundwater, to better protect human...more
The EU’s rulebook on cooperation among competitors, which has been in place for over a decade, has recently undergone a revision with the European Commission (EC) adopting a new framework on June 1, 2023, that includes...more
On 13 June 2023, the European Commission published a proposal for a regulation on the transparency and integrity of ESG rating activities, following concerns about the reliability, comparability and transparency of ESG...more
In the last couple of years, the European Union has announced and adopted a wave of sustainability initiatives that will have significant implications for European and global companies across all industries. Among other...more
The European Commission has launched a public consultation and a call for evidence seeking opinions on the EU’s intermediary climate targets for 2040. This is a scheduled step in the EU’s ambition to reach net-zero emissions...more
The EU Commission is currently proposing a wide range of measures to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal to become climate neutral by 2050. At the same time it has a clear tendency to strengthen consumer rights. In...more
The EU Commission is currently proposing a wide range of measures to achieve the goals of the European Green Deal to become climate neutral by 2050 and to strengthen consumer rights simultaneously. In this context it has now...more
On March 14, 2023, the European Parliament gave its final approval for member nations to implement stricter national targets relating to emissions reduction and the protection and expansion of CO2-absorbing natural ecosystems...more