AEIDL is supporting the European Commission’s High-Level Roundtable (HLRT) on the implementation of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) by producing reports on its meetings. 

In addition to the Commission, the HLRT comprises 32 members, representing the chemicals industry, NGOs, scientists, international organisations, and the Member State holding the Presidency. Each HLRT meeting begins by outlining the state of implementation of the CSS, followed by statements by members on how they are fulfilling their roles as ambassadors for the transition to safe and sustainable chemicals. Meetings conclude with a session dedicated to a particular topic. 

The third meeting of the HLRT was held on 18 May 2022. Virginijus Sinkevičius (Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries) gave an update on the implementation of the CSS, and Kristin Schreiber (DG GROW) provided a progress report on the transition pathway for the chemicals industry. Following the presentation of selected ambassadors’ statements, the HLTR focused on the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). 

A Joint Report with recommendations to improve the implementation of the SRIA was produced following a workshop on 1 April 2022, where the Sherpas (representatives of the members) drafted ten recommendations. This report was approved by the HLRT, with some revisions. 

In concluding the third meeting, Patrick Child (Deputy Director General for DG Environment) stated that the approved key recommendations will guide the Commission’s work as it takes forward the development of the CSS. He also stressed how Safe and Sustainable by Design presents an opportunity to help position the European industry to meet the needs of the population in a safe and sustainable way, and create dynamic new commercial opportunities in a very challenging economic and geopolitical context. 

The next (fourth) meeting of the HLRT on the CSS will take place later in 2022, when the featured topic will be the transition pathway for chemicals. For each meeting, AEIDL produces the final Meeting Report and the Joint Report with recommendations, to ensure the effective running of the HLRT process.