What happened
European Commissioner Jessica Roswall met 16 young contributors on 31 August to discuss their input into the Commission’s Youth Check for the proposed Circular Economy Act (CEA).
The participants presented a position paper developed after a consultation process that included an online exercise for people aged 15 to 29, a youth session at the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform annual conference and further stakeholder exchanges. Academics for Circular Economy and Generation Climate Europe coordinated the paper.
The group called for policy that treats circularity as more than waste handling. Its priorities included more efficient resource use, products designed for repair and repeated use, dependable secondary materials, a transition that remains accessible, investment in circular-economy skills and continued youth participation during delivery.
Why it matters
The planned act is intended to strengthen the commercial case for circular activity. The Commission says it should make it easier for recycled goods, materials and waste to move between European countries, while increasing both availability and demand for high-quality recycled material.
For businesses active in EU circular-material markets, the proposal could affect conditions for sourcing, selling and moving recycled inputs. The Commission has not set out specific business duties in this update.
Background
The Youth Check will feed into the impact assessment for the Circular Economy Act under the Commission’s Better Regulation process. Roswall had previously met young participants during the platform’s annual conference in April.
Further detail is available in the Youth Perspectives on the EU Circular Economy Act.
What's next
The Commission expects to adopt the Circular Economy Act before 31 December 2026. The Youth Check findings are to inform the accompanying impact assessment.
