European business priorities for the Circular Economy Act

Key messages

The Circular Economy Act (CEA) must position circularity as a pillar of European industrial competitiveness and open strategic autonomy, intervening only where genuine market barriers persist and where it would consolidate the existing acquis before introducing new obligations.

• Harmonise the single market for secondary raw materials
  The CEA must be grounded in an internal market legal basis under Article 114 TFEU and deliver genuine harmonisation of EPR rules, End-of-Waste criteria and waste shipment requirements.
• Create durable market demand for secondary raw materials
  The CEA should support demand through well-calibrated public procurement criteria,targeted fiscal measures, and selectively applied recycled-content requirements.
• Ensure a strong enforcement and a level global playing field
  The CEA must ensure products sold on the EU market, including via online marketplaces, meet the same requirements as EU-produced goods. Strong enforcement must be consistently applied across Member States.