The launch of the updated bioeconomy strategy for Europe took place on Monday 22 October as part of an event held under the Austrian Presidency. The 2018 update aims to accelerate the deployment of a sustainable European bioeconomy so as to maximise its contribution towards the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as the Paris Agreement. The update also responds to new European policy priorities, in particular the renewed Industrial Policy Strategy, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Communication on Accelerating Clean Energy Innovation, all of which highlight the importance of a sustainable, circular bioeconomy to achieve their objectives.

Copa-Cogeca and Sitra, two Coordination Group members of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform who are very active in the area of bioeconomy, welcomed the updated strategy.