On 30 June 2026, GLOBE EU President Manuela Ripa hosted a conference at the European Parliament on how to bridge policy and practice in Europe’s circular economy transition. The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, investors and civil society to discuss the upcoming Circular Economy Act and the steps needed to make circularity a real driver of European competitiveness, resilience and sustainability.
The discussions highlighted a broad shared message: Europe already has many circular economy rules and initiatives, but stronger harmonization, clearer definitions, better enforcement and more reliable data are needed to make them work in practice across the single market. Speakers stressed the importance of creating a genuine market for high-quality secondary raw materials, improving the functioning of EPR schemes, simplifying waste shipment and end-of-waste rules, and supporting reuse, repair and refurbishment alongside recycling.
The first panel, chaired by Sirpa Pietikäinen, focused on the economic and legislative conditions needed for circular business models to scale, including public procurement, VAT reform, digital product passports, market surveillance and investment incentives. The second panel, led by Manuela Ripa, examined behavioral change, financing, rebound effects, and cross-sector cooperation, with contributions on consumer behavior, circular investment, defense-related circularity, and the role of trade and international cooperation.
Across both panels, speakers agreed that circular economy is not only an environmental agenda, but also an industrial and strategic one. The event concluded with a call for the Circular Economy Act to provide a coherent framework that keeps materials in use for longer, strengthens Europe’s industrial base, and ensures that circularity becomes the new economic standard for Europe.