The European Commission launched a public consultation and Call for Evidence for the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, a landmark legislative initiative to accelerate the EU’s transition towards a circular economy.
The Act, due for adoption in 2026, aims to establish a Single Market for secondary raw materials, increase the supply of high-quality recycled materials, and stimulate demand for these materials across the EU. It is designed to boost economic security, resilience, competitiveness, and decarbonisation, contributing directly to the goals of the Competitiveness Compass and the Clean Industrial Deal to make the EU a global leader in the circular economy by 2030 and double the EU’s circularity rate.
The consultation responds to calls from the Letta and Draghi reports, the Antwerp Declaration (industry), the Budapest Declaration (European Council), and the European Parliament for stronger, more coherent circular economy policy.
As a mission-oriented initiative, ECIV sees this as an opportunity to ensure the new Act is informed by real, place-based needs and cross-sector collaboration. By aligning with existing EU measures – including the Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and the Critical Raw Materials Act – the Circular Economy Act will help create the enabling conditions for new circular value chains, a goal at the heart of ECIV’s “dance floor” for interregional innovation.
The feedback period is open until 6 November 2025 via the Commission’s Have Your Say portal.
ECIV encourages all stakeholders in its nine participating regions – from SMEs and industry clusters to universities, public authorities, and citizens – to take part and help shape the future of Europe’s circular economy.
Link to consultation: Have Your Say – Circular Economy Act
