Objectives

Batteries are an indispensable energy source and a key technology in terms of supporting the global transition to climate neutrality and to an increasingly circular economy. Accordingly, global demand for batteries is increasing rapidly and is set to increase 14 times by 2030. This is mainly driven by the rise of the digital economy, the need for storage for energy generated from renewable sources, and low carbon mobility. The increase of electric vehicles using batteries will make this market a strategic one at the global level.

On this basis, the Commission announced plans for major revisions to the batteries regime, established primarily by Directive 2006/66/EC (the Batteries Directive), as part of the EU’s 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan.

The resulting Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries (the Sustainable Batteries Regulation) was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 28 July 2023. The Regulation forms a key part of the European Green Deal, and supports the EU’s zero