Brussels, 12 December 2025 – Recycling Europe sees the provisional agreement on the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation as an important step towards a more circular automotive sector in Europe. While the full details of the final text are yet to be unveiled, it is encouraging to see mandatory recycled content targets — based exclusively on post-consumer waste — recognised as a concrete way to create demand for recycled materials.

That said, the outcome on targets for recycled plastics is disappointing. Scaling back the ambition to a 15% target after six years, combined with a reduced closed-loop requirement, sends a weak signal at a time when recyclers are expected to invest, innovate and deliver higher-quality outputs. Circularity will only work if ambition is shared across the value chain and if market pull keeps pace with the new obligations placed on recyclers.

Recycling Europe will continue to monitor developments and assess the implications once the final text is available, including provisions on manual dismantling, quality requirements, combatting ELVs’ unknown whereabouts, and the mirror clause. The political direction is clear: circularity can only be delivered if recyclers are supported by stable, predictable demand and a level playing field within the EU and globally.

Europe should now ensure the next steps match the objective — with aligned timelines, limited derogations and equivalent standards for imported materials. Above all, the ELV Regulation must create reliable market pull for EU-made recycled plastics and other recycled materials, so that investment, innovation and compliance obligations across the value chain move forward together.