European Economic
and Social Committee
EU Bioeconomy Strategy: Towards a circular, regenerative and competitive bioeconomy
What is the EU Bioeconomy Strategy about?
The EU Bioeconomy Strategy sets out a vision for a sustainable and circular bioeconomy that reduces dependence on fossil resources, mitigates climate change, and fosters innovation and competitiveness. It focuses on three main pillars: developing new value chains, strengthening ecosystems, and promoting a just transition. The strategy also emphasises the need for cross-sectoral cooperation, involving agriculture, forestry, fisheries, food, bio-based industries, and waste management.
The European Economic and Social Committee’s opinion on the subject will assess whether the strategy’s objectives are ambitious enough, how it can be implemented effectively, and what role civil society should play in shaping and monitoring its progress.
Why is it important and what are the main challenges for civil society organisations in drafting the opinion?
1. Balancing the economy with nature
The bioeconomy must deliver on both economic and environmental goals. While the strategy aims to create jobs and boost innovation, there are concerns about the potential over-exploitation of biological resources. The EESC must ensure that the strategy promotes regenerative practices and does not compromise biodiversity, ecosystems and people’s health.
2. Ensuring inclusivity and social fairness
The transition to a bio-based economy should not leave anyone behind. The opinion must address how to support workers, farmers, and local communities, ensuring that the benefits of the bioeconomy are widely shared.
3. Enhancing coherence with other EU policies
The bioeconomy strategy must align with other policies such as the European Green Deal, the Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Common Agricultural Policy. The EESC is examining how to avoid conflicts and create synergies between these policies.
According to the Commission proposals, what’s new in this bioeconomy strategy compared to previous EU policies related to the bioeconomy?
The European Commission’s updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy introduces several new elements compared to the previous versions (2012 and 2018):
- Industrial uptake and market expansion: While previous strategies focused on research and innovation, the updated framework prioritises scaling up bio-based innovations, developing lead markets for bio-based materials and technologies, and ensuring a sustainable supply of biomass. The goal is to accelerate the industrial uptake of bio-based solutions and reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil resources.
- Competitiveness and resilience: The new strategy places greater emphasis on strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in the global bioeconomy market, which is projected to grow rapidly. It includes measures to support European industries in leading the transition, such as the proposed Bio-based Europe Alliance and increased investment in biotech and biomanufacturing.
- Innovation and investment scaling: The Commission plans to generate greater demand for bio-based content in products, including by setting targets in relevant EU legislation. This represents a shift from research-focused support to market-driven implementation.
How have EU civil society networks reacted to the Commission proposals?
Joint civil society position – CSOs call for a future‑proof EU Bioeconomy Strategy
A coalition of around 60 European NGOs (including Oxfam, Fern, Ecodes, European Environmental Bureau members and others) has warned that the bioeconomy risks exceeding ecological limits if it focuses mainly on substitution and growth. They are calling for strict respect of planetary boundaries, reduced overall biomass demand, and strong social and environmental safeguards.
https://eeb.org/en/commissions-bioeconomy-strategy-falls-short-of-curbing-europes-resource-crisis/
https://denkhausbremen.de/en/csos-call-for-a-future-proof-eu-bioeconomy-strategy/
Have any views emerged from the EESC?
Arnaud Schwartz, rapporteur for the EESC opinion on the Commission proposals, from the Civil Society Organisations’ Group, stated: ‘We have a real problem with this new strategy. First, the Bioeconomy Strategy does not acknowledge the need to drastically reduce pressure on ecosystems, phase out the fossil-based economy and make the bioeconomy really circular. This is a crucial omission, given that the EU’s unsustainable production and consumption are already massively overshooting ecological boundaries and putting people, nature and businesses at risk. Second, it falls short of setting standards and methodologies for responsible use and non-use, and fails to set out what uses of biomass are genuinely most valuable to society. For instance, it fails to prioritise the material uses of biomass – which are more sustainable and resource efficient – over its use for energy. If we want a resilient society, aligning with natural cycles is crucial, so let’s not forget that the EU’s bioeconomy must be a model of global responsibility, not just of regional competitiveness.’
What’s next?
The EESC’s EU Bioeconomy strategy - Towards a circular, regenerative and competitive bioeconomy opinion is expected to be adopted during April’s plenary session. It will provide a comprehensive assessment of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, highlighting both its potential and the areas where it needs improvement. The opinion will also emphasise the importance of multi-stakeholder dialogue and robust monitoring to ensure that the strategy remains relevant and effective in the face of evolving challenges and planetary boundaries.
Key sources and further reading:
Arnaud SCHWARTZ (France)
Member, EESC Civil Society Organisations' Group
Vice-President of ‘France Nature Environnement’ (FNE)
Board member, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
© EU/EESC