The policy package was put together under the stewardship of the former Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik and includes plans to increase targets for the recycling of municipal and packaging waste beyond current levels.
It is currently being screened under the instruction of the newly appointed Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker (see letsrecycle.com story).
Mr Juncker wrote to the new Commission team in November calling for a review of a number of pending pieces of legislation carried forward from the previous Commission. This included the circular economy package and proposals around air quality.
It had been feared that the circular economy policy package might be scrapped altogether, although this now appears to be unlikely, and it is understood that Commissioner Vella does not support overall withdrawal of the circular economy proposals.
Now, sources close to the Commissioner have told letsrecycle.com that he is keen to look in greater detail at the plans left over by the former Commissioner, Dr Janez Potocnik. Commissioner Vella is set to make a recommendation on the future of the policy package to Mr Juncker with an announcement on the future of the plan likely to be made next week.
A series of meetings with stakeholders and MEPs to gauge the level of support for the proposals has taken place.
Vella
The Brussels source confirmed that the Commissioner had offered ‘no real opinion’ on the policy package but that he was looking for ‘action that can be supported by Member States and Parliament’.
The source added: “Commissioner Vella doesn’t personally support withdrawal but does want to look at the detail.”
Publicly Mr Vella has expressed his support for ‘moving forward’ with the resource agenda, and for the circular economy.
Support
Speaking in Brussels on Monday (December 2) at the 40th Anniversary of the European Environmental Bureau, Commissioner Vella said: “We must use the tools we already have at our disposal to strengthen the smart and sustainable pillars of the EU2020 Strategy.
“This, for me, will be a first priority in the coming months: and I will work closely with my fellow Commissioners on the review of the Strategy.
“It is important that we move forward the resource-efficiency agenda continue working on the circular economy.”
A number of MEPs have also written to the Commission calling for support for the circular economy package (see letsrecycle.com story).
Subscribe for free