European Commission to set up a Stakeholders Platform on Circular Economy

The ambition of the European Commission to create a dedicated Stakeholders Platform on Circular Economy was announced during the Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference, that took place on 9-10 March 2010. The initiative is expected to be undertaken by the European Economic and Social Committee (EECS) in partnership with the Directorate General for the Environment (DG ENV) of the European Commission. 

In the last day of the event, nearly 300 participants of interactive workshops identified priorities that should be in the focus of the new platform. The preliminary collection of data listed 10 areas:

1.    Exchange open, transparent and independent information, best and bad practices (fiscal incentives, guidelines), links with existing platforms (knowledge).
2.    Raise awareness, foster public acceptance among end-users and consumers
3.    Manage the transitional economy in relation to jobs and skills
4.    Stimulate new sustainable business models (SMEs) and innovation (via ecodesign, industrial symbiosis, new synergies), provide guidance for businesses and workers
5.    Act as a consultation forum, provide recommendation policy makers (design for recycling, green public procurement, tax shift, VAT) also in countries where the concept is not well developed)
6.    Help to clarify the definitions of circular economy, provide a common vocabulary, training and education options
7.    Create more effective incentives to make the transition towards the circular economy (taxation, consumer policy)
8.    Provide assessment and help develop metrics of circularity and environmental impact
9.    Tap into circular cities, the role of municipalities and B2B waste market
10.  Provide networking possibilities

The Commission announced that the next step setting the new platform will be a public Call for Experts. The new platform will be formally structured and start working still this year.