Based on policy insights produced by CCRI projects and the broader CCRI community, this report aims to bring local and regional needs directly to the attention of policymakers, helping sharpen the policy framework and further unlock tangible circular economy actions on the ground.

The report builds on the results of three analytical workstreams carried out in the context of the project: 

Workstream 1: Analysis of challenges and barriers - Drawing from an extensive literature review, an open online stakeholder consultation, and a series of multi- and bilateral stakeholder dialogues, this stream identified the systemic obstacles to advancing the circular transition. The analysis was further refined through interactions with CCRI Thematic Working Groups and a rigorous internal review process. 

Workstream 2: Mapping and analysis of policy insights from CCRI projects  - This workstream involved an in-depth screening of policy insights put forward in CCRI project reports. These insights were systematically mapped against the challenges identified in the first phase to ensure that proposed solutions directly address the realities faced by cities and regions. 

Workstream 3: Prioritisation and alignment with the Circular Economy Act (CEA) - Through a structured prioritisation exercise and targeted dialogues with key partners – including the OECD, ICLEI, and the Circular Cities Frontrunner Group – ten high-impact actions were identified.  These were subsequently further refined into six headline recommendations specifically aligned with the priority topics of the CEA.

Artificial intelligence–based tools supported the synthesis and structuring of inputs, while all outputs were critically reviewed and cross-checked to ensure accuracy and relevance. A multi-stakeholder dialogue was held on 12 February 2026, in Brussels and online, with the purpose of validating and further refining the recommendations through collective expert and practitioner review. Approximately 140 stakeholders participated, representing cities, regions, industry, and academia from across Europe.

The report is structured as follows:

• Section 1: Introduction and cross-cutting challenges.
• Section 2: Prioritised policy recommendations, with challenges, targeted sectors, and actionable steps, illustrated with good-practice examples from CCRI stakeholders. 
• Section 3: Conclusions and outlook.