Jyrki Katainen, Vice-President of the European Commission with special responsibility for Employment and Investment, and Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research and Innovation, presented on Thursday 11 October the Commission's new strategy for developing a "sustainable and circular bioeconomy".
The presentation of this strategy is not a surprise, in that it was announced by Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the Commission, and its first Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, in a letter of intent attached to the State of the Union address. This initiative also follows a first strategy on the subject, presented in 2012 (see EUROPE 10552).
This strategy "is a partial solution to the biggest challenges our planet is facing, mainly rise of population and climate change", Katainen said at a press conference. The objective – the commissioner continued – is to "make sure that modern technologies can contribute to circularity and circular economy as a whole".
This updated strategy is structured around three pillars: the development and strengthening of bio-based sectors, the rapid deployment of bioeconomies across Europe and protecting the ecosystem.
These three pillars will thus make it possible, in the near future, to set up 14 measures to effectively support the development of the bioeconomy. Among these, it should be noted that the Commission wishes to establish an investment platform for the circular bioeconomy, which should have a budget of €100 million, in particular to de-risk private investments and thus strengthening the platform.
The institution also wishes to launch pilot bioeconomy development actions in low-carbon waste management or agriculture. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)