The Environment Ministers of the EU Member States are convinced that the Second Circular Economy Action Plan, a key element of the European Green Deal, must be used for a post-Covid-19 green and circular EU recovery.
The conclusions on this subject adopted by the Environment Council on Thursday 17 December provide comprehensive political guidance to advance the 35 actions planned by the Commission. (see EUROPE 12623/5, 12613/20).
The EU Council asks the Commission to: - launch the actions and present, as soon as possible, the legislative proposals set out in the Circular Economy Action Plan, by carrying out comprehensive impact assessments; - devote the necessary resources to ensure and facilitate the implementation of the Action Plan and its enforcement, providing timely guidance and reporting regularly to Member States on the progress of implementation.
It recognises the central role of the transition to a circular economy in boosting competitiveness, innovation, employment and welfare by promoting circular business models and purchasing practices, entrepreneurship and research, extending the use phase of products, adding more value and functionality to products, buildings and goods.
It also stresses the importance of preventing resource depletion and waste and improving waste management, establishing an effective single market for non-toxic products, high-quality secondary raw materials and the use of digital data and technologies.
The text recalls that decoupling economic growth from resource use and the shift to circular systems in production and consumption will be instrumental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the EU’s climate neutrality by 2050, reversing biodiversity loss, conserving and restoring ecosystems and ecosystem services, increasing resource efficiency and achieving a toxic-free environment. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)