One of the main components of the European Green Deal is the shift by the EU to a circular economy, which has several tangible advantages including less strain on natural resources and sustainable growth and consumption.
This change is necessary to stop the loss of biodiversity and safeguard important ecosystems, as well as to reduce harmful emissions and bring the EU to climate neutrality by 2050. It will also assist in addressing worries about Europe's reliance on imported resources and access to raw materials in the midst of recent disruptions to global trade and geopolitical tensions.
With so much on the line, cohesion policy is essential to implementing the circular economy shift across the EU and guaranteeing that all areas benefit. In keeping with this significant role, the 2021–2027 programming period comprises a scheduled
With so much on the line, cohesion policy is essential to implementing the circular economy shift across the EU and guaranteeing that all areas benefit. This significant role is reflected in the €12.5 billion allocated for waste management and the circular economy in the 2021–2027 programming period, of which more than €8.6 billion came from EU funding as of November 2023 (Cohesion policy: supporting the circular economy).
A waste hierarchy was established by the 2008 Waste Framework Directive, with recovery and recycling coming after prevention and readying waste for reuse. Disposal is the least preferred option and comes in last. In order to strengthen Europe's resource independence, stop the loss of important resources, and encourage the creation of substitutes
A waste hierarchy was established by the 2008 Waste Framework Directive, with recovery and recycling coming after prevention and readying waste for reuse. Disposal is the least preferred option and comes in last. The 2021–2027 Cohesion Policy Investment Framework prioritizes higher ranked levels in order to foster the development of raw material substitutes and reduce the outflow of valuable materials, thereby increasing Europe's resource independence. This also entails updating or modernizing the infrastructure for waste management and recycling.
