Make your voice heard in Europe
As announced in the 2015 Commission Work Programme, a new and more ambitious Circular Economy Package will be presented before the end of 2015. The package will lay out the green growth opportunities and build on the previous EU resource efficiency and innovation initiatives. To support the public consultation in collecting the views of stakeholders on the main policy options and measures explored for this initiative, the Commission is organizing this Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference on 25 June 2015.

The conference is open to all stakeholders wishing to contribute in shaping the European economy policy making. It will consist of a plenary session with keynotes from circular economy experts and business representatives, followed by a series of split-up sessions addressing specific factors of the circular economy, and it will be closed by a panel.

We also invite you to bring along examples of your own circular economy initiatives to share with others on the day. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Please note that attendance is free but registration is required.

What is the circular economy?
A circular economy is an economic model which aims at keeping the added value of products for as long as possible in the economic value chain and seeks to minimise residual waste. This means that resources stay longer within the economy, and when a given product has reached the end of its life, it can be productively used again.

Why a circular economy?
Global competition for resources is increasing while the concentration of supply of resources, particularity critical raw materials outside the EU, is making our industry and society dependent on imports and vulnerable to high prices, market volatility and political situation in supplying countries. Transition to a more circular economy will increase resource independence and, if accompanied by increased efficiency, it can promote competitiveness. This however requires changes throughout value chains, from extraction processes, material and product design and production processes to new business and market models, from new ways of turning waste into a resource to new modes of consumer behaviour. This implies also a need for innovation and investment not only in technologies, but also in organisation, society, finance methods and policies.

Indicative timing

08.45   Registration

09.30   Introduction by First Vice President Timmermans with Commissioners E. Bieńkowska and K. Vella

10.00   Plenary Sessions + Panel discussion

12.00   Lunch

13.00~16.15      Split-up sessions (2x3):

Split up sessions intended to discuss specific areas of the circular economy: 

16.15    Coffee

16.30    Feedback to the plenary and moderated discussion with a panel of stakeholders

17.30    Closing speech by Vice President J. Katainen