On 20 April, the European Non-Energy Extractive Industries (NEEIP) organised the 2016 Forum on the circular economy. The goal was to highlight what the industry has already achieved and what still remains to be done to obtain a circular economy that best serves society. The NEEIP Forum is the annual event with high level representatives from the European Commission, European Parliament and other relevant EU institutions addressing topical policies currently under debate.

Renaud Batier, Cerame-Unie Director General, opened the event stressing that a circular economy needs primary and secondary raw materials. He pointed out that a lead resource efficiency indicator should not be imposed in the context of a circular economy and highlighted the need to further develop markets for secondary raw materials. Speakers from the European Commission confirmed the continued importance of primary raw materials. Mr Schally confirmed that DG ENVI took stakeholders’ comments into account on the resource efficiency target. However, the Commission will still use the lead indicator to monitor the implementation of the circular economy at national level.

In June, the MEP rapporteur Simona Bonafѐ from the European Parliament ENVI Committee published the draft report on the waste framework directive and landfill of waste. With regards to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, member states should encourage the establishment of EPR schemes for all products. MEP Simona Bonafѐ calls the European Commission to set up recycling targets for industrial waste to be met by 2025 and 2030. According to this draft report, by 31 December 2018, the Commission shall present a review of the Ecodesign Directive in order to broaden its scope to cover all main product lines, including non-energy related product groups, such as construction materials. This report will be voted in the ENVI Committee on 7 November. Furthermore, the circular economy package was discussed by the Environment Council on 20 June. Read the Council conclusions on the EU action plan for the circular economy.