Leveraging EU expertise to support circular economy business transition and build mutually beneficial partnerships in partner countries

The new EU Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) is a central element of the European Green Deal; it establishes a comprehensive framework to guide the EU towards a clean, competitive and circular economy. It also recognises that Europe will not achieve transformative change by acting alone. It commits the EU to continue to lead the way to a circular economy at the global level and to use its influence, expertise, and technical and financial resources to support the circular economy transition in partner countries and implement the SDGs.

The upcoming Circular Economy Act will further embed these principles into EU policy, ensuring that sustainable, resilient, and competitive global supply chains are developed. In this regard, the Clean Industrial Deal outlines actions to turn decarbonisation into a growth driver for European industries, with circularity playing a key role. The EU will continue to foster sustainable, resilient global supply chains aligned with its environmental and human rights standards, clean energy, green infrastructure and sustainable industries through its Global Gateway strategy.

The EU Circular Economy Resource Centre (EUCERC) is a five-year project funded by the EU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, and implemented by the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra and the Belgian development agency Enabel (2025–2029). It contributes to the implementation of the EU CEAP’s international objectives and strengthens ongoing EU support at country, regional and global level. The EUCERC aims to increase the uptake of sound and inclusive circular economy policies and business models, based on peer-to-peer exchanges and partnerships between EU and third country stakeholders through three complementary labs: the policy lab, the knowledge lab and the business lab. Namely, the business lab supports partner country businesses in going circular and accessing emerging circular economy markets globally.

The EUCERC organises a public debate event on how EU know-how can support the transition of businesses towards the circular economy in partner countries, and create mutually beneficial partnerships. The event brings together businesses, business associations, research and technical organisations, policymakers, and peer EU initiatives to explore ways EU expertise can support the circular economy transition, shedding light on opportunities and successful business collaboration.