On 17 November 2021, the European Commission tabled a proposal to revise EU rules governing shipments of waste. The proposed regulation aims at easing shipments of waste for reuse and recycling in the EU, to support the transition to a circular economy; ensuring that waste exported from the EU is managed in an environmentally sound manner in the destination countries; and stepping up enforcement to counteract illegal shipments of waste. While supporting the proposed streamlining and digitalisation of procedures, stakeholders have stressed the need for significant improvements to ensure that the new regulation fulfils its objectives, in particular as regards exports of waste.

EPRS policy podcast - Revision of the EU's Waste Shipment Regulation

The European Commission has announced the establishment of a 'right to repair', with a view of saving costs for consumers and facilitating the development of a circular economy. The right to repair may refer to different issues and situations: repair during the legal guarantee, the right to repair after the legal guarantee has expired, and the right for consumers to repair products themselves. Rates of repair depend on the type of a product, with the cost of repair being the most important reason consumers avoid repair. Research shows that consumers favour products that are easily repaired, but their willingness to pay for such products depends on the type of product and the way information on the reparability is presented to them...

EPRS policy podcast - Right to repair

Open strategic autonomy ensures the capacity to cope alone if necessary but without ruling out cooperation whenever possible. It relies on foresight to identify threats and ensures resilience by anticipating the required responses. Can the resulting preparedness also prevent crises (or dissuade others from creating them) by normalising internally situations that would else become emergencies?

EPRS STOA podcast - What if open strategic autonomy could break the cycle of recurring crises?

The aim of the legislative proposal for a Union certification framework for carbon removals initiative is to ensure high-quality EU certified carbon removals, through a transparent and credible governance framework. In doing so, this would open up the possibility for further investments towards carbon removal activities and increased deployment.

EPRS podcast policy - A Union certification framework for carbon removals

The European Union produces more than&nbsp;2.2 billion tonnes of waste every year. It is currently updating its&nbsp;legislation on waste management&nbsp;to promote a shift to a more sustainable model known as the circular economy.

The circular economy is a&nbsp;model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the&nbsp;life cycle of products is extended.

In March 2020, the European Commission presented the circular economy action plan,&nbsp;&nbsp;which aims to promote more sustainable product design, reduce waste and empower consumers, for example by creating aright to repair). There is a focus on resource intensive sectors, such as&nbsp;electronics and ICT,&nbsp;plastics,&nbsp;textiles&nbsp;and construction.

In February 2021, the Parliament adopted a resolution on the&nbsp;new circular economy action plan&nbsp;demanding additional measures to achieve a carbon-neutral, environmentally sustainable, toxic-free and fully circular economy by 2050, including tighter recycling rules and&nbsp;binding targets for materials use and consumption&nbsp;by 2030.

In March 2022, the Commission released the&nbsp;first package of measures&nbsp;to speed up the transition towards a circular economy, as part of the circular economy action plan. The proposals include boosting sustainable products, empowering consumers for the green transition, reviewing construction product regulation, and creating a strategy on sustainable textiles.

In November 2022, the Commission proposed&nbsp;new EU-wide rules on packaging. It aims to reduce packaging waste and improve packaging design, with for example clear labelling to promote reuse and recycling; and calls for a transition to bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

Circular economy

This package contains the events between 1st July 2019 and 31 December 2020. For latest events, see related links.

In its resolution on the European Green Deal, Parliament called for an ambitious new circular economy action plan aiming to reduce the total environmental and resource footprint of EU production and consumption, with resource efficiency, zero pollution and waste prevention as key priorities.

Circular economy (2019 - 2020)

As part of a shift in EU policy towards a circular economy, the European Parliament worked on four legislative proposals introducing new waste-management targets regarding reuse, recycling and landfilling. The proposals also strengthen provisions on waste prevention and extended producer responsibility, and streamline definitions, reporting obligations and calculation methods for targets.

#EUelections2019 - Circular economy

EP Plenary session - Circularity requirements for vehicle design and management of end-of-life vehicles

Press conference on the Final vote on the right to repair

EP Plenary session - Common rules promoting the repair of goods

EP Plenary session - Empowering consumers for the green transition

Press conference on the gas and hydrogen markets directive

Press conference on The right to repair

EP Plenary session - Union certification framework for carbon removals

This Infoclip shows views of trafic and cars, a car factory, tests of a car prototype, a vehicle ricycling center, a collecting center and supplying of recycled car parts. The European Parliament discusses new rules covering the entire vehicle lifecycle, from design to end-of-life. This Infoclip show various steps of the car lifecycle, from manufactoring to recycling. In 2023, the Commission proposed a new regulation on circularity requirements for vehicle design and improved management of end-of-life vehicles, in line with the European Green Deal. According to the new regulation, new cars’ components should be easily replaced, reused, recycled, remanufactured, or refurbished. Besides, 20% of new vehicles’ plastic parts should consist in recycled material, in order to reduce waste. There are 285.6 million motor vehicles on EU roads and every year around 6.5 million vehicles come to the end of their lives.

Infoclip: Circularity of the design and end-of-life of vehicles

This infoclip shows in the first sequence footage of collection of unsold food (which otherwise would have been wasted) from a market, and in the second sequence collection of second hand clothes and its upcycling. With a Waste Framework Directive MEPs propose higher binding waste reduction targets to be met at national level by 31 December 2030 - at least 20% in food processing and manufacturing (instead of 10% proposed by the Commission) and 40% per capita in retail, restaurants, food services and households (instead of 30%). Parliament also wants the Commission to evaluate if higher targets for 2035 (at least 30% and 50% respectively) should be introduced, and if so, asks them to come up with a legislative proposal. MEPs agree to extend producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, through which producers that sell textiles in the EU would have to cover the costs for collecting, sorting and recycling them separately.

Infoclip: Texile and food waste

Following the final vote on the new rules promoting the right to repair for consumers, rapporteur René Repasi briefs media on its scope and answer questions. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press Conference by René REPASI (S&D, DE), rapporteur on Right to Repair

European Parliament approved new rules promoting the repair of goods. This footage shows MEPs debating and voting on the provisional agreement reached with the Member States on the so-called “right to repair” for consumers. Consumers receive a new right to claim repair for products that are technically repairable under EU law (e.g. washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and smartphones). To encourage repair and to revitalise the EU repair market, the rules also put in place a European online platform to find local repair shops or sellers of refurbished goods. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: extracts from the debate (22.04) and from the vote

René REPASI (S&D, DE), rapporteur, holds a press conference on EU rules to make repairs easier and more convenient. Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur on EU rules to make repairs easier and more convenient

Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. MEPs debate on draft legislation to make it easier for consumers to repair defective goods even after the expiration of the guarantee. The proposal complements other ongoing EU initiatives that pursue the European Green Deal objective of sustainable consumption and the circular economy. Closing statements by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: closing statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, and by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner on Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. MEPs debate on draft legislation to make it easier for consumers to repair defective goods even after the expiration of the guarantee. The proposal complements other ongoing EU initiatives that pursue the European Green Deal objective of sustainable consumption and the circular economy.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: MEPs debate

Parliament adopts its negotiating position on new rules promoting the right to repair and more sustainable consumption of consumer goods. MEPs debate on draft legislation to make it easier for consumers to repair defective goods even after the expiration of the guarantee. The proposal complements other ongoing EU initiatives that pursue the European Green Deal objective of sustainable consumption and the circular economy. Opening statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Sunčana GLAVAK (EPP, HR), and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Common rules promoting the repair of goods: opening statements by René REPASI (S&D, DE), Rapporteur, Sunčana GLAVAK (EPP, HR), and Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries

circular economy (T)

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