The package was published in May. It provides a comprehensive framework to align national and regional reforms and investments with EU priorities. The main goals are boosting competitiveness, securing strategic autonomy, increasing resilience and strengthening preparedness. The circular economy is part of the solution.

The package identifies responding to emerging threats as a key policy challenge. 

The energy crisis is at the top of the list. The EU needs to ensure clean, homegrown and affordable energy in order to be less exposed to geopolitical risks in terms of oil supply and of course decrease pollution. The Circular Economy Act, in line with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, will assist industries with replacing virgin fossil materials with circular and bio-based ones.

Developing strategic autonomy in the area of critical raw materials is also imperative, and the circular economy can play a key role here. Urban mining is a great way to become less dependent on imports. The proposed Industrial Accelerator Act will strengthen industrial capacities in key sectors while staying on track with the transition to decarbonised manufacturing.

The EU needs to become more competitive. Accelerating an affordable clean energy transition and decarbonisation is one way of doing so, and the package recommends that Spain, Lithuania, Greece and Denmark strengthen waste management and promote a circular economy. 

The circular economy may not be able to solve all the challenges facing the EU - but it makes a good contribution to the various solutions!