Overview

• The Commission halted negotiations after member states pushed to extend the directive’s scope to cover roughly 30 million microenterprises.
• Italy’s formal withdrawal of support deprived the proposal of the majority backing needed to continue talks in the Council.
• A last-minute threat by the center-right EPP to block the bill prompted criticism from centrist and left-leaning lawmakers over political influence on environmental rules.
• Commission spokesperson Maciej Berestecki clarified that the directive will remain under consideration provided very small businesses are excluded from its requirements.
• Stakeholders warn that the directive’s ultimate fate will determine enforcement of corporate green claims and shape consumer trust across the EU single market.