European Union: Energy and Natural Resources

The European Commission has issued Statements of Objections to construction chemicals manufacturers in France, Germany and Spain, along with three national trade associations, over suspected price coordination. The preliminary assessment suggests manufacturers coordinated future price increases for chemical additives and admixtures between 2021 and 2022 in response to rising raw material costs following the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's war against Ukraine.

Die Europäische Chemikalienagentur hat den Entwurf einer Stellungnahme zur umfassenden Beschränkung von PFAS-Chemikalien veröffentlicht und eine 60-tägige öffentliche Konsultation eingeleitet.

For more than three years, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and Member State institutions have been developing a comprehensive, group-wide restriction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)...

The Irish Government has published the General Scheme of the Maritime Area Planning (Marine Protected Areas) (Amendment) Bill 2026, which would integrate marine protected area designation into Ireland's existing maritime spatial planning framework. This legislative proposal aims to protect 30% of Irish waters by 2030 while establishing new compliance obligations for public bodies and consultation mechanisms for stakeholders with maritime interests.

Malta's Water Services Corporation has launched a €35 million tender for a new reverse osmosis plant at Għar Lapsi, designed to produce 30,000 cubic metres of potable water daily through six independent systems. The procurement follows EU utilities directive procedures and requires the existing facility to remain operational throughout the 150-week construction period, with strict phased commissioning deadlines.

Ireland's Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026 introduces targeted reforms to EPA licensing processes, while legal challenges to the EU's Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive threaten a new extended producer responsibility model requiring pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufacturers to fund 80% of quaternary water treatment costs.

The European Union's Critical Raw Materials Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1252, "CRMA") represents one of the most significant regulatory developments affecting the mining sector in decades.

The Irish High Court has ruled that arbitration clauses do not prevent creditors from presenting winding-up petitions when debts are genuinely disputed.

On Friday, 12 December 2025, the Finnish Parliament approved amendments to the Act on Mined Minerals Tax that will significantly increase the tax burden on mined minerals as of 1 January 2026.

Matheson's quarterly construction bulletin examines recent developments in Ireland's construction and infrastructure sectors, including the introduction of a simplified Building Energy Rating scale, the practical implications of force majeure clauses amid global conflicts, and key court decisions on construction contract amendments.

The Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 is commenced, as we outline in our Insights blog post: Critical Infrastructure Act 2026 commenced. Several projects have been designated as critical infrastructure projects, as we outline in our public procurement section.

The European Union continues to refine its energy and climate regulatory framework through significant amendments to electricity market rules, methane emissions standards, and the Emissions Trading Scheme. Recent developments span critical infrastructure resilience, carbon border adjustments, and enhanced oversight of energy supply chains, reflecting the EU's commitment to achieving its 2040 emission reduction targets while maintaining market competitiveness.