Circular economy getting higher in the EU policy agenda
Published on 24.09.2024
On 18 July 2024, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented to the European Parliament her Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029. On 17 September she presented her list of Commissioners-designate, who will support her during her second mandate.
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The European Commission's new political guidelines for 2024-2029, presented under President Ursula von der Leyen's second mandate, set out a clear agenda focused on strengthening Europe's global competitiveness and innovation. Key themes include enhancing the EU's digital and green transformation, boosting trade, and addressing strategic vulnerabilities such as dependency on foreign resources. These guidelines will guide the European Commission's policymaking through the next five years, shaping Europe's economic, environmental, and geopolitical landscape.
Within this framework, sustainability and the green transition appear among the primary goals and Circular Economy becomes predominant. A "Clean Industrial Deal" is set to accelerate the EU's decarbonisation efforts. Circular economy becomes one of the central topics to enhance resource efficiency. A central element is the strengthening of circular economy practices, aimed at reducing waste and promoting recycling. The Commission intends to reinforce these policies with new legislation, such as the Circular Economy Act. Making reality out of the new legislation is the challenge, and here initiatives like the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative are great instruments for supporting impactful actions.
To achieve such goals, the president of the European Commission will be supported by a diverse group of Commissioners-designate. On 17 September, Ursula von der Leyen put forward a list of Commissioners-designate and determined their portfolios, reflecting the ambitions set out in the Political Guidelines . The Commissioners-Designate that will work on circularity-related issues include Teresa Ribera (Spain; Executive Vice-President - Clean, Just and Competitive Transition), Stéphane Séjourné (France; Executive Vice-President - Prosperity and Industrial Strategy), Jessika Roswall (Sweden; Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy), and Wopke Hoekstra (the Netherlands; Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth). While the European Council formally appoints the Commission’s new leadership, the candidates’ profiles and mission letters have been made publicly available.
