Commission under pressure over circular economy

(EurActiv, 3 Mar 2015) The EU is failing to create a circular economy that boosts resource efficiency and protects the environment, an influential report has found, piling pressure on the European Commission to deliver a strong replacement for the package of waste, incineration, landfill and recycling laws it controversially axed as part of its drive for "better regulation".

The European Environment State and Outlook 2015 report will inform the next five years of EU policymaking and is written by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

The Circular Economy package of six laws on waste, packaging, landfill, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and accumulators, and electronic equipment waste. was quietly ditched last week after a meeting of the College of Commissioners.

>> Read: Circular Economy package officially dead

Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans, in charge of better regulation, has promised a “more ambitious” version of the bill will be proposed before the end of this year.

On 3 March, campaigners and Hans Bruyninckx, the EEA’s executive director, said the report put the onus on the Commission to deliver an improved bill.

Bruyninckx told EurActiv, “We have done substantial work that illustrates the vital importance of the circular economy and resource efficiency for well-being and competitiveness, and that focusing on these elements contributes to European competitiveness, job creation and economic performance."

“So we are looking forward to seeing the strengthened packages,” he added.

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EurActiv, 3 Mar 2015: Commission under pressure over circular economy