Today in Strasbourg, during the ongoing plenary session of the European Parliament, a discussion took place on the directive on environmental claims. PiS MEP Beata Mazurek spoke during the debate.
Beata Mazurek stated that she welcomes the initiative, which aims to promote a more circular economy and combat “greenwashing.” However, in her view, some of the provisions of the proposed directive were not supported by sound analysis. As she explained, her concerns relate in particular to the lack of clarity in the definitions and rules regarding environmental claims. “Vague guidelines can lead to consumer confusion and make it difficult for businesses to operate in compliance with the regulations,” said the PiS MEP, emphasizing that for legislation to be enforced, it must be clear and understandable. Furthermore, as she emphasized, current regulations must be fully enforced, and the creation of “dead law” must be avoided.
“For example, restrictions imposed on environmental claims in ‘highly polluting industries’—for which there is still no clear definition—could lead to interpretive chaos and hinder the modernization of these companies,” Mazurek stated.
The MEP pointed out that the specifics of the conditions for imposing penalties also require further consideration. In her view, market supervisory authorities in the member states should have appropriate discretion in this regard. “The cure for ‘greenwashing’ must not be worse than the disease itself. We cannot allow the certification process for sustainability standards to be paralyzed by excessive bureaucracy and costly procedures. Neither consumers nor European businesses can afford the Green Deal’s experiments, which are completely detached from reality,” she stated.
