C5’s
upcoming PFAS Summit Europe (14–15 May 2025, in Brussels) comes at a pivotal moment as Europe confronts sweeping regulatory challenges and ambiguities surrounding PFAS chemicals, often termed “forever chemicals.”
With the EU Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposing an all-encompassing PFAS restriction under the REACH regulation and the seating of a new European Parliament, the EU's President has stressed the need for clarity and consistency in PFAS regulation and chemical safety policies.
Attend C5's PFAS Summit - Europe to make sense of this volatile and evolving environment. Our speakers will delve into ECHA’s proposal, highlighting key derogations, cross-industry preparedness, and lessons from international PFAS approaches. Industry leaders from the automotive, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor industries amongst others, will discuss how to adapt to restrictions. We will also examine scientific advancements in PFAS detection and risk assessment that underscore the need for nuanced regulatory strategies.
As PFAS restrictions challenge high-performance sectors, we will look at the balance between innovation and compliance, essential-use definitions, and the risks of “regrettable substitution.”
We will examine the growing risk of PFAS litigation through case studies of existing lawsuits and settlements. We will also focus on new threats under the EU’s new Products Liability directive, other class action mechanisms in Europe, and the rise of third-party funders
Finally, our program closes with a forward look at potential shifts in EU policy, regulatory impacts on supply chains, and how companies may respond to this evolving landscape.
Join us to strategize, explore alternatives, and prepare for the anticipated changes in the EU's PFAS policy, and new legal and regulatory frameworks.
This summit is your opportunity to prepare for what lies ahead, actively engage in the regulatory dialogue, and advocate for your industry’s specific needs.
We look forward to seeing you in Brussels this May!
Advisory Board
Ales Bartl Partner Keller & Heckman LLP
Ruxandra Cana Partner Steptoe LLP
Preslava Dilkova
Cándido
Distinguished Faculty
CO-CHAIRS:
Claudio Mereu Partner Fieldfisher
Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre Partner
Mayer Brown Europe-Brussels LLP
GOVERNMENTS INSIGHTS:
Kristin Schreiber Director European Commission DG GROW
Thijs de Kort
Deputy Head of Bureau REACH RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment)
Dr. Frauke Averbeck
Scientific Officer Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Federal Office for Chemicals, Germany
SPEAKERS:
Martin Ahlhaus Partner Produkt Kanzlei
Bruno Ameduri Director of Research National Center for Scientific Research, Charles Gerhardt Institute
Ales Bartl Partner Keller & Heckman LLP
Paul Blondeau Member The Fluoropolymers Product Group
Olivier Brault President
Federation of the European Cookware, Cutlery and Housewares Industries (FEC)
Ruxandra Cana Partner
Steptoe
David Carlander Director, PhD, Chemicals RPA (Risk and Policy Analysts)
Elisa Consoli
REACH & Chemicals Manager The Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD)
Jonathan Crozier
Senior Manager - Chemicals Policy and Environmental Policy BASF
Thomas Delille Partner
Squire Patton Boggs
Preslava Dilkova Partner
Jones Day
Dr. Pierre Germain Technical and Regulatory Affairs Manager European Association of Chemical Distributors (FECC)
Pavel Glukhov Partner EU Focus Group
Frank P. M. Kark President HPC INTERNATIONAL SAS / France
Scientific Director Groupe HPC AG International
Caroline May
EMEA Head of Environment, Health & Safety, Partner, Sustainability Partner and Co-head ESG EMEA
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Kirsten Metz
Senior Manager Chemicals and Environmental Policy
ZVEI e. V. (Electro and Digital Industry Association)
Cándido García Molyneux Of Counsel
Covington & Burling LLP
Patricia Muñoz FluoroProducts and PFAS for Europe (FPP4EU), Sector Group Manager Cefic
Dirk Nuyens
Senior Partner & Global Account Director ERM
Jonathan Pantanowitz
EMEA Commercial Director
Advanced Performance Materials The Chemours Company
Dr. Marc Ruttloff Partner
Gleiss Lutz
René Schröder Director General European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA)
Stefano Scomparin Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist Mérieux NutriSciences
Nathalie Smyth Partner Jones Day
Cindy Vandecasteele Senior Environmental Policy Manager European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA)
Arthur Vandenberghe
Sustainability Policy Officer, FIM and Chair Orgalim
11:00 Seeking and Understanding Derogations for PFAS, under ECHA’s Proposal and Member State Provisions
This panel will explore EU and national PFAS derogations under the proposed ban, covering criteria for exceptions. We will also explore ongoing European Commission discussions on this matter.
• Understanding what derogations for PFAS entail, looking at the specific criteria and circumstances under which derogations are granted at the EU and Member State levels
• Examining the scope and value of derogations granted by member states
• Analyzing how different sectors—such as electronics, life sciences, and construction products—will be affected by the possibility of not obtaining derogations for PFAS use
• Speculating on the potential changes to derogation policies as new scientific data emerges and as public perception of PFAS evolves
11:45 Fireside
Claudio Mereu Partner Fieldfisher
Cándido García Molyneux Of Counsel
Covington & Burling LLP
Olivier Brault President
Federation of the European Cookware, Cutlery and Housewares Industries (FEC)
Chat with Dossier Submitter Representatives: Insights from Germany and The Netherlands
Thijs de Kort Deputy Head of Bureau REACH RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment)
Dr. Frauke Averbeck Scientific Officer
Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Federal Office for Chemicals, Germany
Join thought leaders from diverse industries, semiconductors to automotive and electronics—to understand how they are managing the impact of ECHA’s PFAS ban proposal. We’ll review compliance and the legal and regulatory challenges of finding viable alternatives.
• Examining cross-industry perspectives on how different sectors are being affected by PFAS restrictions and what are they doing to adapt:
» Automotive
» Electronic
» Semiconductors
• Exploring the impact of PFAS restrictions in industries like electronics and refrigeration, which have also been affected by the complexities of the FGAS regulation
14:00 Fireside Chat
Kristin Schreiber Director European Commission DG GROW
14:30 Afternoon Break
Preslava Dilkova Partner Jones Day
René Schröder Director General
European Semiconductor Industry Association (ESIA)
Cindy Vandecasteele Senior Environmental Policy Manager
European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA)
Arthur Vandenberghe Sustainability Policy Officer, FIM and Chair Orgalim
MODERATOR:
Ruxandra Cana Partner Steptoe
MODERATOR:
DAY TWO
Pavlina Chopova-Leprêtre Partner Mayer Brown Europe-Brussels LLP
8:30 Roundtable Discussions
Select your table of choice to benefit from smaller-group benchmarking and discussion. Compare notes with your industry peers on the latest best practices and expand your network. Each table will be led by industry leaders.
1. What Does a ‘Reasonable Transition Period’ Look Like for Different Sectors?
2. Anticipating Compliance Pitfalls in the PFAS Restriction Dossier
9:30 International Perspectives on PFAS Regulation: U.S.,
UK, Australia Approaches
Join our panelists for an in-depth comparative analysis of PFAS regulation across key jurisdictions, including the U.S., UK, and Australia. We will explore lessons learned from the U.S., including recent legal developments, and UK’s distinct approach to PFAS.
• Exploring how these jurisdictions are addressing PFAS bans/restrictions
• Analyzing recent legal developments in the U.S. and what Europe can learn from these approaches
» How will the second Trump Administration address PFAS under new EPA leadership
• Understanding how the UK is charting its own course with PFAS regulations
• Discussing similarities and opportunities for global cooperation in PFAS regulation, and how different regions can learn from each other’s successes and challenges
10:15 Morning Networking Break
Caroline May EMEA Head of Environment, Health & Safety, Partner, Sustainability Partner and Co-head ESG EMEA Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Focus on Litigation
10:45 Decoding PFAS Challenges: Environmental and Socio-Economic Insights and Future Directions
Regulatory and Remedial Challenges:
• Europe is experiencing a significant increase in PFAS-related issues, prompting evolving regulatory frameworks at both country and EU levels
• Remediation of PFAS-contaminated water and soils is complex and depends on the specific PFAS compounds present
Case Study – Belgium:
• A significant case involved a PFAS manufacturing site in Belgium, which required extensive environmental assessments and risk evaluations over a large area
Economic and Environmental Impact:
David Carlander Director, PhD, Chemicals RPA (Risk and Policy Analysts)
Dirk Nuyens
Senior Partner & Global Account Director ERM
• Managing PFAS environmental liabilities will be costly, with significant societal and economic impacts
• Sustainable and proportional management of PFAS legacy is essential, including cost-effective remedial solutions and addressing risks to the circular economy
11:30 Navigating the Road Ahead: Emerging PFAS Litigation in Europe, Class Actions and Third-Party Funding and Corporate Liability
This session will delve into the rapidly evolving PFAS litigation landscape across Europe with a focus on how plaintiffs' counsel and third-party litigation funders are increasingly targeting environmental claims.
With only a few cases historically brought forward, Europe is now seeing an uptick in legal actions as funders recognize the potential for significant payouts in environmental liability cases. There are also concerns as to how the EU’s new Products Liability directive may affect PFAS litigation and how existing class action mechanisms may be used.
Panelists will discuss proactive measures businesses can take to mitigate risk, especially as new obligations under the EU’s due diligence regulations require transparency around PFAS usage and environmental impact disclosures.
12:15 Networking Lunch
Ruxandra Cana
Partner
Steptoe
Nathalie Smyth
Partner
Jones Day
13:15 Scientific Insights into PFAS Detection, Risk, and Environmental Impact
Hear from our speakers on the latest scientific advancements in detecting and understanding PFAS, focusing on their varying hazard levels. Join us and appreciate the importance of having a nuanced approach as opposed to one-size-fits-all bans.
• Understanding the differences between various types of PFAS and why a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation and hazard assessment may not be effective
• Exploring the latest techniques for detecting and quantifying PFAS at ultra-low levels, and how these methods have evolved over the past two decades
14:00
Anticipating The
