EU 'circular economy' will boost resource efficiency

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Linear Model ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Resource Efficiency ◽  
Public Consultation ◽  
Waste Prevention ◽  
Green Technologies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Eu

Subject Circular economy in the EU. Significance The European Commission launched on May 28 a public consultation on an ambitious 'circular economy' package for increasing resource efficiency, which it is likely to release to coincide with the Paris COP21 meetings. The prevailing growth model since the industrial revolution has relied on a 'take-make-consume-dispose' pattern. There is increasing recognition that this linear model, which assumes resources are abundant and that disposal is cheap, is unsustainable. The market for green technologies is worth 1 trillion euros and is expected to double by 2020. Impacts Integrated eco-design, waste prevention and reuse policies could yield savings for EU businesses of up to 600 billion euros annually. Additional measures to increase resource productivity by 30% by 2030 could boost EU GDP by nearly 1% and create 2 million additional jobs. The EU will seek to broaden acceptance of the circular economy paradigm beyond its borders, via bilateral and multilateral frameworks.

scholarly journals Looking ahead - from fossil fuel to a circular bioeconomy in Europe. Evolution and behaviour

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 296-306
Author(s):  
Gheorghe Zaman ◽  
Giani Ionel Grădinaru ◽  
Bogdan Florin Matei
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Renewable Resources ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Resource Efficiency ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Energy Industry ◽  
The Eu

Abstract Giving due consideration to sustainability, the new concept of bioeconomy has faced strong support from international policymakers, changing the way the economy is currently working. And it does not involve only the replacement of fossil feedstock with bio-based fuels, but also acquiring value from waste and bringing to light the resource efficiency that can lead to a smooth transition from a linear to a circular economy. This paper aims to track the EU states movement in implementing the bioeconomy best practices by building clusters based on their progress in adapting their industries to the new requirements. To make this possible, we created two scenarios for recording the evolution of the energy industry in 27 countries: the first one that groups them according to the fossil-fuel sources, and the second one based on renewable resources. Our results revealed that the biomass tends to be used as a complementary source and not a substitute, in comparison to the traditional fuels. Same actors keep the leading positions in both scenarios, making us believe that they may face strong challenges in reaching the European Commission goals. Thus, the present study emphasizes the need to develop highly efficient policies for all EU members to keep the same path.

'Juncker Plan' could mean EU investment bulge

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chinese Investment ◽  
Investment Plan ◽  
Eu Referendum ◽  
Commission President ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

Subject The possible economic impact of the EU investment plan (the 'Juncker Plan'). Significance The EU investment plan launched by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker just over a year ago has made a slow start. This will encourage doubts that have existed since the scheme's inception about its operation and likely impact. Impacts Even by 2020, the EU economy will still probably require every effort to boost growth and make up for lost investment. Given continuing strong demand for high-grade bonds and equity investments, it should be possible to achieve the fundraising target. The plan could become a vehicle for Chinese investment into the EU: China is talking of 5-10 billion euros in future investments. The geographical distribution of funded projects could be politically sensitive within the EU. The plan could come under scrutiny during the UK EU referendum campaign; UK projects may come too late to have an impact before the vote.

EU plastics strategy will hinge on public concern

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Marine Environment ◽  
Plastic Waste ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Public Concern ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Plastic Packaging ◽  
North Western ◽  
The Eu

Subject The EU’s plastic waste strategy. Significance The European Commission on January 16 published a strategy for tackling plastic waste, setting a goal of making all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030. The strategy comes amid growing concerns about the damage caused by plastic pollution, particularly to the marine environment, and a ban by the Chinese government on imports of certain types of waste including several plastics. Impacts Meeting the Commission’s goals for recycling could cost between 8 and 16 billion euros over the next 30 years. Greater investments in recycling could generate 200,000 jobs in the sector across the EU. North-western EU members may be best placed to take advantage of opportunities arising from greater emphasis on recycling.

Russia's policy on Bosnia seems to be hardening

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
European Commission ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Economic Relations ◽  
Balkan States ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Political Game

Subject Russian influence in Bosnia. Significance Russia seems much more adept at playing the Balkan political game than the EU or the United States. Thanks to that and the gradual weakening of Bosnia’s EU perspective, Russia has managed to fill the EU vacuum and establish influence over Bosnia-Hercegovina (BiH) with a minimum of investment. Impacts BiH could achieve EU candidate status in 2019 if it can satisfy the European Commission that it is meeting required conditions. The EU’s much stronger economic relations with Balkan states will limit Russian influence. Russia’s presence in both Bosnia and Serbia will continue to take the form solely of being able to influence Serbs.

scholarly journals Metals in the circular economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 120 ◽  
pp. 02014
Author(s):  
Vessela Petrova
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Wood Biomass ◽  
Green Technologies ◽  
Renewable Materials ◽  
Ferrous Metals ◽  
Non Ferrous Metals ◽  
Sustainable Transition

Traditionally, green technologies are associated with renewable materials, such as wood, biomass, water and earth, instead of the metals that formed the backbone of the industrial revolution - steel, copper, iron, tin and aluminum. Although at first glance it does not seem that they will play a role in the sustainable transition, in fact many of the building blocks of the circular economy would not exist without them [1] A number of European organizations are adamant that non-ferrous metals are essential for Europe’s low-carbon transition because of their central use in breakthrough technologies including clean mobility, renewable energy and batteries. Moreover, they play a significant role in the circular economy strategy launched by the European Commission in 2015. Contrary to this assertion, another one claims that the circular economy should be linked to reduced material use and waste consumption.

EU comitology reform could politicise regulation

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Member State ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Interest Group ◽  
European Parliament ◽  
Member States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Regulation ◽  
Regulatory Decisions ◽  
The Eu ◽  
Final Reform

Subject Proposed reform of the EU comitology procedure. Significance The little-known ‘comitology’ procedure plays a key role in EU regulation. In recent years, this process has been breaking down as member-state expert representatives in comitology committees often abstain from voting, forcing the European Commission to take controversial decisions on its own (and accept any blame for them). In response, the Commission has proposed reforms that would pressure member states to take a position on (and hence political ownership of) controversial regulatory decisions. Impacts Government representatives, interest-group representatives and corporate lobbyists will be most affected by comitology reform. Despite adding transparency and avoiding blame-shifting to Brussels, the reforms would probably not help the EU’s image with citizens. The European Parliament might demand -- as part of any final reform package -- an increase in its involvement in the comitology process.

EU will offset the drop of China's NME status

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Market Economy ◽  
Domestic Market ◽  
Fourth Quarter ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Export Prices ◽  
Standard Methodology ◽  
Legal Challenges ◽  
Chinese Export ◽  
The Eu

Subject Prospects for the EU dropping China from its NME list. Significance On July 19, European Commission officials presented their plan to tackle the expiry on December 11 of a provision in China's WTO accession protocol, which allows WTO members to derogate from regular anti-dumping rules towards China. The EU has used this derogation to classify China as a 'non-market economy' (NME) in its anti-dumping regulation. Such status requires the application of the 'analogue country' methodology for dumping calculation. Pursuant to it, Chinese export prices are not compared to the price of Chinese products on their domestic market, but to the price of the product concerned in a comparable market economy. This generates higher dumping margins and duties than under the regular methodology. Impacts The upcoming proposal is unlikely to close the debate between opponents to and supporters of China's MES. Under pressure from some businesses, the EU may apply a non-standard methodology for dumping calculation after December 11. This new methodology may give rise to legal challenges and be questioned in the longer term. Clarity on this matter is unlikely before the fourth quarter given the way the EU works.

Growing drone use will drive international regulation

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
International Regulation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Privacy Concerns ◽  
Red Tape ◽  
The Eu

Significance The EP's move gives parliamentary backing to the effort to develop common EU drone rules. The report advanced nothing novel, but will both encourage and put pressure on the European Commission to act. EU agreement on regulations governing drone use in controlled airspace and for commercial purposes would be a key step in expanding drone construction and services. Impacts The emergence of a comprehensive regulatory framework will trigger the full commercialisation of drone operations. The EP report will increase pressure on the European Commission and EU states to find funding to support drone technological development. The EU will seek to establish enough of a common regime to encourage development without so much 'red tape' as to deter investment. Regulators must also balance safety and privacy concerns against industry pressure to allow wider exploitation of the technology. Achieving the international 2028 target for full airspace integration will require resolution of several technological issues.

Poland-EU constitutional crisis will not end soon

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Rule Of Law ◽  
Constitutional Tribunal ◽  
The Government ◽  
Polish Government ◽  
The Eu

Subject European Commission concerns about the rule of law in Poland. Significance The Commission has sent a formal Opinion to the Polish government, activating the first stage in the EU's 'Rule of Law Framework'. It expresses concerns about respect for the rule of law in Poland (a fundamental founding value of the EU), and in particular about the Polish government's handling of the crisis over the Constitutional Tribunal (TK, for Trybunał Konstytucyjny) Impacts Poland's EU position is likely to suffer as a result of the dispute, making it more difficult for it to achieve other political goals. Polish politics will remain unsettled and polarised, with the opposition using the Commission's Opinion to challenge the government. Legal uncertainty may translate into lower investment by individuals and enterprises dampening economic growth in the medium-to-long term.

EU telecoms regulation poses competitiveness dilemmas

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
International Competitiveness ◽  
Regulatory Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Market Consolidation ◽  
The Eu

Significance The European Commission is reviewing the EU regulatory framework for telecoms. In reforming the framework, and adjudicating on current telecoms mergers, policymakers face a tension between two priorities: promoting international competitiveness and investment, which generally entails market consolidation and incumbent power; and maintaining competition in national markets, which typically involves liberalisation and tough antitrust policies. Impacts With Deutsche Telekom becoming BT's largest shareholder as a result of the latter's EE acquisition, closer ties are likely in coming years. A full takeover is a possibility after the lapse of the three-year restriction on Deutsche Telekom increasing its 12% BT stake. This would require a shift in stance from the EU competition authorities, given their misgivings over more modest telecoms concentrations.

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