PAGEV Chairman Eroğlu: "EU's Single-Use Plastics Decision Is Economic, Not Environmental"

The European Commission's draft regulation, prepared in May to ban single-use plastic ear swabs, forks, spoons, plates, straws and balloon sticks on the grounds of preventing marine plastic pollution, was approved by the European Parliament. Whether the law will come into force will be determined by the decision to be made by the European Council in its meetings in November and December. PAGEV Board Chair Yavuz Eroğlu, noting that the environment is being used as a pretext, stated that the main purpose of the draft is to prevent imports from countries, particularly Turkey, where the EU cannot compete in plastic production. Eyes in the sector have turned to the European Council meetings scheduled for 4-18 November and 18 December for the final decision on single-use plastics. Following negotiations to be held after European Council members share their views with European Parliament members, the draft law will take its final form. PAGEV Chair: "This Is an Economic War" Yavuz Eroğlu, emphasizing that there is an economic war behind the ban the EU is trying to impose on single-use plastics, said: "The most important point not to be overlooked here is that this is not a matter of environment but an economic war. The question that should be asked at this point is: 'Why does the EU, while banning plastic products that cover a small percentage of the plastic sector such as straws, ear swabs, forks, spoons and knives, exclude products with which it already competes from the scope?' The EU's bioplastics monopolies are at work. Certainly, correct information from the sector should be obtained without making statements that will reduce our competitiveness in these products where Turkey is a major exporter and will undermine employment, prevent companies' production and investment."