The European Commission has set out a basic framework on how it will seek to develop new circular economy proposals.
Following its announcement that it intends to withdraw and then relaunch the Circular Economy Package, documents published by the European Commission on the Work Programme for 2015 show that the Commission intends to set out a more ambitious programme, but it will be “less prescriptive” on how Member States implement the rules.
In the document, Commission Work Programme 2015: A New Start, proposals on the circular economy are seen as part of the jobs and growth agenda and are mentioned within this first priority of the 10 in the document. These ten priorities were developed by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured).
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On the circular economy, the Commission wrote: “Well-drafted EU legislation and its effective implementation can have a major impact on jobs, growth and innovation. Eco-industries and eco-innovation currently supply a third of the global market for green technologies, worth a trillion euros and expected to double by 2020.
“The revised proposal for the circular economy will reinforce this trend thus contributing to green growth. In this area it is important that we agree common objectives for what we want to achieve, with the right level of ambition, whilst being less prescriptive about the means Member States can use to deliver these results, which will make it easier to turn proposals into concrete action on the ground.”
Before withdrawing any legislation, the Commission has promised to seek the views of the European Parliament and Council of Europe on proposals.
View the document at http://ec.europa.eu/atwork/pdf/cwp_2015_en.pdf
