EC takes action against all Member States over industrial emissions

The European Commission has opened infringement procedures against all Member States for failing to transpose the revised Industrial Emissions Directive (IED 2.0). All Member States have failed to communicate the complete transposition of the updated Directive to the European Commission by the deadline of 1 July 2026. They now have two months to respond. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the European Commission may decide to issue a reasoned opinion.

The announcement of the opening of infringement procedures against all Member States was part of an infringement package published on 25 September. The revised Industrial Emissions Directive entered into force on 4 August 2024. It aims to minimise the impact of pollution on people’s health and the environment by reducing harmful industrial and intensive livestock emissions across the EU. Polluters have to reduce emissions and the use of hazardous chemicals to protect the environment. Additionally, it strengthens the rights of the public and creates a new right to seek compensation for damage to health caused by illegal pollution.

Revised IED

A large share of Europe’s pollution stems from industrial production processes and wastewater discharges. The revised Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive, is the main EU instrument to reduce these emissions into air, water and land, and to prevent waste generation from large industrial installations and intensive livestock farms (pig an poultry). Under the IED 2.0, environmental permits are granted to installations and farms by national permitting authorities. Best Available Techniques (BAT) play a key role in reducing pollution. These techniques are the most environmentally effective and economically and technically viable options for the prevention and control of emissions.

European Innovation Centre

The European Innovation Centre for Industrial Transformation and Emissions (INCITE), based in Seville, Spain, identifies and assesses the Best Available Techniques for industrial and livestock installations. In June 2026, they published a Technical Report on Innovative Techniques (TRIT), a strategic technological compass for Europe’s industrial transition. The report is based on an analysis of 563 demonstration projects in Europe. The first TRIT, includes several cross-sectoral innovative techniques for water treatment and reuse.

Sevilla Process

The INCITE-research is used as input for the so-called Sevilla Process. This is the EU’s technical, stakeholder-based procedure for determining Best Available Techniques (BAT) for industrial sectors covered by the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). After an extensive formal EU procedure involving many stakeholders, the European Commission can adopt BAT conclusions as an implementing decision. These conclusions then become the reference for national authorities when setting permit conditions for installations covered by the IED.