EU Bioeconomy strategy - Towards a circular, regenerative and competitive bioeconomy

Key points

The EESC:

• highlights that Europe is a resource-constrained and highly import-dependent continent, among others on fossil fuels and raw materials, in an increasingly tense geopolitical situation. At the same time, the overexploitation of natural resources is one of the main causes of ongoing loss of biodiversity. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, coherence between EU climate and biodiversity targets and the circular economy must be ensured. A robust and well-defined bioeconomy strategy will complement progress made on the circular economy and willallow for decarbonisation, well-being and long-term competitiveness within planetary boundaries;
• recalls that the EU will only be a global leader if its institutions establish strict principles and safeguards in relation to what can serve as inputs into the bioeconomy, be it primary or secondary biomass from agriculture, aquaculture, forests, nature or municipal/industrial waste for example. The EU Bioeconomy Strategy must focus on the green transformation of the economy taking into account environmental and social aspects. A sustainable and circular bioeconomy will strengthen EU’s economy and competitiveness, reduce the dependence on fossil resources, contribute to achieving the climate targets and creating new jobs as well as environmental and social benefits. This leadership should prioritise quality jobs, especially in rural and remote regions. These principles should be quantifiable, enforceable and monitored across the supply chain, and applied equally to European and imported feedstock. Importantly in the global context, we need to tackle the unfair competition from under-priced (often subsidised) fossil feedstock, that does not price in externalities of extraction, use and depletion;
• reminds that the EU needs to be clear about the value to society of the use and non-use of the bioeconomy, while making a strict commitment to the waste hierarchy, prioritising a reduction of resource use first, to make the bioeconomy truly circular and competitive. While the proposed strategy does mention a hierarchy of use of biomass that fosters resource efficiency, the safeguards should be strengthened towards long-term and multi-cycle solutions to also close the loop.

This opinion was elaborated with the participation of the following Enlargement Candidate Members from Serbia:

• Ms Jovana RADLOVIĆ, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia

• Ms Čedanka ANDRIĆ, “Independence” Trade Union Confederation (“Nezavisnost”)

• Ms Nataša ĐEREG, Center for Ecology and Sustainable Development