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9.31. Regulation (EU) 2020/1056 of 15 July 2020 on electronic freight transport information (eFTI) entered into force on 20 August 2020 with the aim of (...), and enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of transport. (...) It shall apply from 21 August 2024, while the competent authorities shall accept regulatory information made available electronically by economic operators from 21 August 2025.

9.33. On 6 April 2022, the reform of the system of VAT rates was adopted. Member States are treated equally and given more flexibility to apply reduced, as well as zero VAT rates. The list of goods and services for which reduced VAT rates are allowed has been updated and modernised. [117]
[117] (...) The package also contains measures to address possible future crises enabling Member States to respond swiftly to exceptional circumstances, like (...) or natural disasters. The preferential treatment for environmentally harmful goods will be phased out. Reduced VAT rates or exemptions on fossil fuels and other goods with a similar impact on greenhouse gas emissions will cease to apply by 1 January 2030 and those on chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides by 1 January 2032, (...) . In addition, some environmentally friendly goods and services are added to the list for which reduced rates are allowed, such as solar panels, electric bicycles and waste recycling services.

1. (...) The period under review was characterized by a major change in development and political goals and priorities led by the adoption of, inter alia, the European Green Deal, (...). While many of these concrete measures are still a work in progress (e.g. the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, green taxation, and green government procurement), certain new measures have already been adopted (...)

6. As concerns regional and bilateral agreements, the European Union had, as of December 2022, the largest network of RTAs in the world with 44 agreements in place. (...). The European Union sought to strengthen implementation and enforcement (...) by enhancing the enforcement mechanism of the Chapters on Trade and Sustainable Development in its RTAs.

7. The European Union also continues to facilitate trade with developing countries mainly through its GSP scheme, which has three components (i.e. standard GSP, the GSP+, and the Everything but Arms (EBA) arrangement) and covered 66 economies as of December 2022. The GSP, except for its EBA component, is expected to expire by the end of 2023 and a proposed regulation for its renewal for the period 2024-34 is under consideration. The proposed regulation contains the main characteristics of the existing programme while making some specific changes for beneficiaries to, inter alia, strengthen enforcement and support EU environmental objectives.

11. Several measures on exports continued to be maintained by the European Union, mainly due to various international conventions. Certain amendments were made to the Regulation on drug precursors and the Regulation on hazardous chemicals to amend the product coverage. (...)

12. (...) At the member State level, state aid (not related to COVID-19) continued to be directed to promote environmental protection and energy savings. (...)

13. (...) In 2022, a new European Standardization Strategy was issued wherein standardization is identified as key strategic tool to achieve EU environmental, digital, and economic objectives.

14. (...) In May 2020, the European Union adopted the Farm to Fork Strategy, which, inter alia, identifies the areas of action to achieve a sustainable EU food system during the period 2020-24, including possible reforms on feed additives, pesticides, plant protection, and animal welfare, as well as the establishment of a new legislative framework for sustainable food systems.

17. In agriculture, the previous Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) continued to be applied on a transitional basis as the new CAP was approved and entered into force in January 2023. The new CAP brings together the agricultural and rural development policies of the European Union, strengthening the focus on measures addressing climate and environmental concerns, and uses a more results-based approach. (...)