European Environment Commissioner in Bucharest to discuss Circular Economy opportunities

Romania has considerable improvement to make on waste management relative to other EU Member States. Eurostat figures include high landfill (70%) and low recycling rates of municipal waste (13% while the 2020 EU target is 50%). This is coupled with insufficient implementation capacity that often impedes the effective use of EU funds. At the suggestion of the Commission, the Romanian authorities established in October 2018 an inter-ministerial Waste Management Committee, in order to consolidate the position and impact of the Ministry of Environment towards other authorities and in order to facilitate the mapping of needs, competencies and possible technical assistance in this sector in Romania. The Structural Reform Support Service (SRSS) financially supports this initiative.

Romania has great potential to increase the amount of wealth it generates from the material resources already circulating in its economy. Today Romania’s “resource productivity stands at €0.33 per kg, compared to an EU average of €2.04 per kg. Driving this up will require investment, innovation and entrepreneurship. Whereas many companies are aware of the benefits of energy efficiency and waste reduction (30% and 31% of Romanian companies respectively said that they have taken measures in these areas), 59% of Romanian companies say that they have invested less than 1% of turnover in becoming more resource efficient.

Karmenu Vella, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, is in Bucharest today to explain how Romania can get on a “virtuous circle”  where resources are used efficiently, creating business opportunities for re-manufacturing, repair, re-use, product sharing and for recycling. Mr Vella will highlight that the Commission is there to help Member States by offering technical assistance, structural fund support and support in the exchange of best practices. To that end, the Commissioner brings with him experts that can explain how they have broken away from linear “extract-produce-consumer-throw away” models. Quick progress is necessary and possible if the respective national and local authorities take action on the ground. The programme will include exchanges of experience with ministers and high-level officials, and a conference for the private and public stakeholders that are key to such a transition. This is the second event in a series of ‘Virtuous Circles’ missions to 12 EU Member States.

Mr Vella said: “My visit to Bucharest is to emphasise that a structural reform of the waste management system will accelerate Romania’s transition towards a more competitive circular economy. This is not something for the environment ministry and the waste agencies only. Cross-ministerial co-operation is essential to implement the recently adopted policies, in particular on Extended Producer Responsibility and on a landfill tax. It is important to recognise that there are also significant business and employment opportunities in the good application of these polices, next to the clear environmental benefits”.

Compliance with EU waste legislation is an essential part of the solution. The structural reforms and investment in better waste management will also provide profitable business opportunities and potential jobs, particularly for cities and regions. The aim of the ‘Virtuous Circles’ missions is to share ideas and best practices from across the EU to tap into these opportunities, while improving the implementation of EU rules on waste on the ground. For example separate collection and processing of biowaste, a requirement from 2023, will bring on tap thousands of tons of potential nutrients or biogas.

14 Member States, including Romania, were shortlisted as being at risk of missing the 2020 recycling target on municipal waste in a Commission report on implementation of waste legislation, including the Early Warning report adopted on 24 September 2018. For each Member State the Commission presented blueprints for action to ensure compliance with EU waste legislation. 

Mrs. Grațiela Leocadia Gavrilescu, Deputy Prime-Minister and Minister of Environment will give a welcome address.

The visit comes ahead of the Romanian Presidency of the European Council. It will allow Romania to showcase that the country is committed to advancing the sustainable development agenda, namely by bringing more attention to the implementation of environmental legislation.