Despite the Covid-19 crisis, the European Union continues to roll out its Green Deal legislative plan to achieve the objective of Europe becoming climate neutral by 2050. Since October, milestone EU policy documents have been published:

  • Pharmaceutical Strategy for Europe published by the European Commission in November 2020 that aims at ensuring that patients have access to high-quality, effective and safe medicines (Cefic position is available HERE)
  • Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy published by the European Commission in December 2020 to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 90% by 2050.
  • Recovery and resilience plans: Member States are working on their national recovery plans to access the funds under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. In the coming months, they will be discussed by EU Members States and by the European Commission and Council.

In December 2020, the EU and China have concluded the negotiations for a Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) whereby China agreed to give a greater level of market access for EU investors. Last but not least, the United Kingdom left the EU on 31 December 2020 based on an agreement that was struck at the very last minute on 24 December 2020. The deal includes a free trade agreement that provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas on all goods that comply with the appropriate rules of origin. For mor information, you can read the UK Chemical Industry Association’s press release.