Kumitat Ekonomiku u Socjali Ewropew
It-tranżizzjoni lejn Ekonomija Ċirkolari hija prijorità ewlenija fl-aġenda tal-KESE bħala soluzzjoni biex tiġi miġġielda l-kriżi klimatika u tiġi protetta l-pjaneta tagħna. Hija opportunità kbira għas-soċjetà ċivili peress li tista’ tgħin biex:
Il-mudell “take-make-waste” tal-produzzjoni u l-konsum li għadu jiddomina l-ekonomija tagħna llum mhux biss qed jilħaq il-qofol tiegħu f’riżorsi moħlija, iżda wkoll qed idgħajjef il-ġlieda kontra t-tibdil fil-klima. Għall-kuntrarju tal-ekonomija lineari, Ekonomija Ċirkolari hija disinn riġenerattiv u restorattiv li jiffoka fuq il-ħolqien u ż-żamma tal-valur ekonomiku, filwaqt li jindirizza l-isfidi ambjentali globali bħat-tibdil fil-klima, it-telf tal-bijodiversità u t-tniġġis filwaqt li jrendi benefiċċji ekonomiċi.
L-aħbar it-tajba hija li t-tranżizzjoni ċirkolari diġà qed isseħħ fil-prattika. Il-partijiet ikkonċernati mis-soċjetà ċivili inklużi n-negozji, it-trade unions, l-akkademja u l-komunitajiet tal-għarfien, l-organizzazzjonijiet taż-żgħażagħ kif ukoll l-NGOs u gruppi ta’ interess oħra qed joħolqu u jimplimentaw ħafna inizjattivi ċirkolari fil-livell lokali u reġjonali. Il-katalizzazzjoni ta’ soluzzjonijiet ċirkolari u tat-tmexxija mill-partijiet ikkonċernati rilevanti hija l-aħjar opportunità tal-Ewropa biex taċċellera t-tranżizzjoni lejn Ekonomija Ċirkolari.
Bħala tali, il-Pjattaforma Ewropea tal-Partijiet Interessati tal-Ekonomija Ċirkolari, inizjattiva konġunta tal-KESE u tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea, hija pjattaforma stabbilita fl-2017 biex tlaqqa’ flimkien il-komunità tal-Ekonomija Ċirkolari fl-Ewropa. Il-pjattaforma mmexxija mill-partijiet ikkonċernati tappoġġja t-tranżizzjoni tal-Ewropa lejn Ekonomija Ċirkolari billi trawwem id-djalogu, tikkondividi l-għarfien u taqsam l-aħjar prattiki.
The objective of the Communication on the role of waste-to-energy in the circular economy is to ensure that the recovery of energy from waste in the EU is consistent with the objectives pursued in the Circular Economy Action Plan.
In this opinion, the EESC calls for society to begin an economic transition from over-exploitation of resources and a throw-away culture to a more sustainable, job-rich era, based on quality rather than quantity. In order to cope with the fundamental shift to a new economic model with major systemic consequences in many areas, it is recommended that a new cross-cutting and permanent body be set up in the EESC to analyse these developments.
The EESC fully backs the objective of switching to a greener, resource-efficient and circular economy. It is happy to see that the Commission has come forward with a broader set of proposals covering all the stages of the product lifecycle compared to the previous circular economy package; however, it raises concern over the lower level of ambition, which is likely to lead to lower economic and environmental benefits.
The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) believes that the prospect of a European circular economy should bring a major boost to the systemic competitiveness of the EU, a driver for growth and a generator of new green jobs and skills.
The Committee welcomes the two communications and the package of amendments to the waste directives and supports the campaign to make all businesses and consumers aware of the need to phase out the current linear economic model of "take, make, consume and dispose" .
Planned obsolescence is associated with a form of industrial production that relies on a minimum renewal rate for its products. Although product renewal is necessary, certain abuses need to be addressed. The EESC would like to see a total ban on products with built-in defects designed to end the product's life.
An interview with Maria Nikolopoulou, member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) from the Workers' Group, representing the Spanish trade union Comisiones Obreras. She is currently one of the Vice Presidents of the NAT Bureau and member of the Steering Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform.
In an annual conference held entirely online on 3-4 November, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) voiced its determination to help make the Circular Economy Platform a real hub of the collective effort to build a circular economy in Europe.
