Green Rules, Global Reach: Can the EU Export the Circular Economy in cooperation with international partners

Environmental standards can be powerful companions in the transition to circularity. Making sustainable products the norm therefore is a key objective of the Green Deal. Internationally, the prospect of access – or not - to a Single Market of 450 million consumers can incentivise producers to align to EU benchmarks and inspire non-EU authorities to adopt EU’s existing “off the shelf” regulatory approaches. At the same time it is important to ensure that new standards do not impose excessive compliance costs and are well understood and supported by both businesses and international partners.

• How to reap the benefits of EU’s standard setting power, without triggering backlash? 
• How to reinforce EU competitiveness, factoring in the external implications of new circularity rules? 
• How to boost trade on a green level playing field? 
• Can EU standards inspire higher environmental standards in partner countries?

This session will explore the measures that can strengthen EU’s existing international partnerships and help foster new ones in a rapidly shifting context - from advanced regulatory cooperation – involving both public and private actors - to awareness-raising and investments, for example through the Global Gateway.