EU announced 55-million-euro investments in two initiatives: a new circular economy resource centre and a SWITCH programme
During the World Circular Economy Forum 2024, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen announced two initiatives aimed at advancing circular economy globally.
The establishment of the EU Circular Economy Resource Centre under the Global Gateway strategy will facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges and partnerships between EU and third-country stakeholders, fostering the uptake of sound circular economy policies and business models worldwide. The Commissioner announced a €15 million commitment from the European Commission.
In addition, she launched the “SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa” programme. The European Commission will contribute €40 million over five years to this programme, which will promote the transition to circular economies. It will focus on capacity building, policy support and improved access to finance, particularly targeting the packaging and plastic waste as well as the electronics and e-waste value chains.
Urpilainen said: “No one can predict the future, but that does not stop us from impacting it. It is possible to make circularity the next megatrend. The vision behind the Circular Economy Resource Centre is to share policy and business know-how and best practices with partner countries. This is also in line with the ambitions of the SWITCH to Circular Economy in East and Southern Africa programme, a great initiative increasing circularity in key value chains, and I am glad we can now deploy it in these regions in Africa. It is part of our positive offer Global Gateway, and consistent with our enhanced engagement with African partners.”
Read more about both initiatives and their background in DG INTPA’s article.