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Commissioner Vella @ENVI on Circular Economy

21 December 2015

Commissioner Vella appeared before the ENVI Committee today for the presentation of the circular economy package adopted by the European Commission on Wednesday 2 December.  

The Commissioner announced that this is the best package that the European Commission can present in the current economic climate.

You can follow the webstreamed session of the ENVI Committee by clicking here.

Mr Vella stressed that the new scope (including water) is much broader than the previous package and it addresses the design of products and consumption patterns that can be changed to prevent waste. It is a mix of soft and hard measures.

The package does not represent a simple aspiration, but it constitues an ambitious and comprehensive framework to make the transition to a circular economy happen. 

The new framework aims to embrace different phases of the life of products: design, production processes, the choices of informed consumers and a modern waste management. Financial instruments and funds are also identified and made available since without a financial axes the circular economy cannot become a reality: the programme Horizon 2020, the EFSI, regional prolicy programs and EIB loans are vital to mobilise private and public investments.     

Green public procurement will play a big role in delivering the circular economy and the Commission is planning to review the legislation governing it.

Compared to the previsous package, the new landfill target (10%) is binding in the new proposal.  

The Commission will propose a strategy on plastics and the presence of chemicals of concern in plastics so that the life cycle of plastic products will be better considered. The Commissioner recalled that the marine litter aspirational reduction target for 2020 is 30%.  

MEPs Florenz (EPP/DE), Bonafé (S&D/IT), Demesmaeker (ECR/BE), Gerbrandy (ALDE/NL), Kyllonen (GUE/FI), Eickhout (Greens/NL) and Pedicini (EFDD/IT) welcomed the speech of Commissioner Vella but they raised criticism on some aspects of the new package especially on the waste dimension. They also criticised the action plan that accompanies the Communication that appears to have watered down the 2011 European Commission Strategy on Resource Efficiency. They also made the link to the energy policy and the upcoming “waster to energy” initiative and chemical policy.       

MEP Huitema (ALDE/NL) asked the specific question on fertilisers and the contribution of the agricultural policy to the circular economy.    

As you can see 2016 will be a very busy year…so follow this blog to keep yourself updated!

Carla

Water matters. EU matters.

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