The European Commission has put forward a proposal for a ban on several single-use plastics most commonly found polluting our beaches and seas. 10 such single-use plastic products as well as lost and abandoned fishing gear are to be targeted by new rules. These items include plastic cutlery, balloon sticks, straws and plastic cotton buds, amongst others. The new rules are expected to significantly reduce plastic pollution on European beaches and seas but are also intended to encourage innovation and competitiveness as alternatives become necessary.

EuCheMS attended the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee meeting on 16 May where the Rapporteur’s report was discussed. Rapporteur MEP Mark Demesmaeker proposed banning a wide range of deliberately manufactured microplastics in his report to the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI). Additional stress was placed on the prevention and decreased use of plastic rather than relying on biodegradability – which he explained, can be a more dubious process. Many of the plastics labelled as biodegradable do indeed biodegrade, but often in specific laboratory or industrial settings and do not undergo testing that better reflects natural conditions. MEPs across the political spectrum acknowledged the public’s strong opinion on the matter and expressed broad support for the report’s demands and analysis. Cooperation will be needed however across institutions, regions and countries worldwide if the problem is to be fully tackled.

The Commission’s proposal will now be examined by the European parliament and the Council in order to be adopted.

What effect does plastic have on our own health? Interesting read on such unknowns by National Geographic.

EuCheMS attended the high-level conference on a strengthened cooperation between the Science and Technology in Society Forum and the EU through the framework programme Horizon Europe. Chaired by MEP Paul Rübig and MEP Jerzy Buzek, the conference saw speeches by Carlos Moedas, EU Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, President of the European Research Council (ERC), Julie Maxton, Executive Director of the UK’s Royal Society, as well as a number of high profile ministers and CEOs from Japan and an ERC grantee.

Mr Moedas emphasised Europe’s commitment to putting science and innovation as a top priority whilst underlining that one of the key pillars to success lies in openness to the world and to international cooperation. He called on the European Parliament to take this into account with the next framework programme, declaring that the more open a country, the higher the impact of scientific findings. Whilst optimism was the order of the day, few concrete proposals were forthcoming, and it appears that any form of cooperation between the STS Forum and the EU through Horizon Europe still has some way to go – perhaps the conference can be best viewed as a simple exercise in science diplomacy.

It’s out! On 7 June, the European Commission made public its full proposal for the shape and scope of the next framework programme, Horizon Europe (aka #HorizonEU on social media). The notion of ‘Missions’ within the second pillar ‘Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness’ has also been included – although details are still sparse. Commissioner Moedas did however announce that a ‘Missions Board’ would be set up at the beginning of 2019 which, made up of stakeholders, experts and Member State representatives, would define the areas to be chosen as mission worthy.

Not everyone is happy however. The inclusion of ‘industrial competitiveness’ within the ‘global challenges’ pillar has caused some annoyance vis-à-vis civil society organisations. MEP Christian Ehler, one of the Rapporteurs for Horizon Europe, has in addition claimed that the notion of Missions risks running into political hurdles. Moreover, MEPs and various research and university associations continue to point out that the proposed budget for Horizon Europe is not ambitious enough. The role of the UK in the next framework programme remains open-ended, although it will be considered a ‘third country’ whilst negotiations are ongoing.