Benelux, Climate, Durability, Economy, Energy

Benelux calls for a strong European Circular Economy Act

29 Jun. 2026

Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg want the European Union to further promote reuse and recycling and to develop a better-functioning market for recycled materials. In a non-paper, the three countries call on the European Commission to make the upcoming Circular Economy Act a strong driver of the circular economy.

According to the Benelux countries, the new European legislation should help reduce dependence on primary raw materials and strengthen the internal market for circular products and materials. Clear and as far as possible harmonised rules are needed to ensure that companies across the EU operate under the same conditions.

In addition, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg call for strengthening both the supply and demand of secondary raw materials from within the EU. More harmonised waste rules would contribute to this by facilitating the transport of these materials within the Union and reducing administrative burdens.

The three countries also advocate improving the collection, sorting and processing of waste, so that valuable materials are not lost. They further call for stronger and better aligned rules on producer responsibility, allowing European circular businesses and industries to grow and compete with linear models.

For electronic waste, the countries call for a revision of the rules to enable better recovery of critical raw materials, thereby reducing the EU’s dependence on imports from outside Europe.

The Circular Economy Act, which the European Commission intends to present after the summer, should, according to the Benelux, contribute to a more circular economy, a stronger internal market for secondary raw materials and greater strategic autonomy for Europe.