Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference
One year after adoption, working together for the future.
Location: Brussels
Date: 9-10 March 2017
To showcase the key deliverables achieved so far and to debate future deliverables with stakeholders, the Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee are organising a Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference 9-10 March 2017 in Brussels. The two-day conference will culminate with the formal launch of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform whose purpose and implementation will be discussed during the second day.
Due to the expected large interest in this conference and to the limited capacity of the premises, the number of registered persons per organisation will be limited to 2. Should the number of applications exceed the maximum number of available places, participation will be determined on the basis of a balanced stakeholder and geographical representation.
Agenda
Day 1: 9 March 2017
Location: European Commission, Charlemagne building (170 Rue de la Loi, 1000 Brussels)
08:30 Registration
09:30 Introduction- An inter-institutional endeavourIn this introduction, participants will hear from First Vice President Frans Timmermans about how the circular economy provides a development model to achieve sustainable consumption and production globally as part of the 2030 Agenda. The President of the European Economic and Social Committee, Georges Dassis, will share with participants how civil society can be involved in this process. Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska will look at what has been achieved so far and Commissioner Karmenu Vella will share with us what is expected in the future.
10:15 Plenary Session I – The circular economy in motion
Participants will have the opportunity to hear the views of leading European businesses and experts on what is needed to complete the transition. Experts representing consumers, trade unions and local authorities will enrich the panel discussion by sharing challenging views on the implementation of the circular economy.
12:00 Lunch
13:00 Split-up sessions
During the afternoon, the participants will have the opportunity to discuss and share their views on upcoming deliverables and work-streams:
Parallel sessions from 13:00 to 14:30
o Plastics Strategy
o Monitoring Framework
o Promotion of water reuse
Parallel sessions from 14:45 to 16:15
o Options for the interface between chemicals, products and waste legislations
o Innovation for the circular economy
o Product policy for resource efficiency: how to make progress?
16:15 Coffee break
16:30 Plenary session II – A financial endeavour
This session will be dedicated to financing opportunities within the circular economy. Speakers from the European Parliament, the European Investment Bank, national authorities, the Committee of the Regions as well as investors will inspire the debate by presenting their commitments and sharing their unique experiences.
17:30 Closing
Representative of the European Economic and Social Committee Vice President of the European Commission Jyrki Katainen
Day 2: 10 March 2017
Location: European Economic and Social Committee, Jacques Delors building (99 Rue Belliard, 1040 Brussels)
The second day of the conference will take the form of an interactive discussion focusing on participants’ expectations of a European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform. Participatory roundtables will allow attendees to give their views on what this platform should focus on and how it should work. Inputs provided during this half-day session will be taken on board to get the platform running at full speed.
08:00 Registration and coffee
09:00 Welcome and outline of activities
The exchange of expertise, information and best practices happening on the ground, triggering the uptake of circular models, is a key factor for ensuring an effective transition. The Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee are launching the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform to help make that happen.
09:45 Interactive workshops
These two participatory sessions will involve all attendees in order to gather their views on what the platform should be for and how it should work.
Round 1: Why create a European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform? (09:45-10:30)
A wealth of expertise and information is currently available in a variety of sectorial, regional or national networks, but it does not necessarily flow easily where it is most needed. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the role of the platform highlighting the areas where its added value could make a difference.
Round 2: How should the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform work? (10:40-11:30) Involvement of stakeholders can take different forms. The participants will explore which options will allow the most effective working method of the platform. 11:30 Coffee break
11:45 Putting it all together
A number of participants will present the results of the different workshop discussions.
12:30 Next steps and formal launch of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform
High level representatives from the EESC and the European Commission will formally launch the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform and will outline the next steps to be taken.