As the confusion continues as to the Commission’s plans to withdraw the Circular Economy Package, Seas At Risk and five other NGOs question the reasons for this withdrawal in a new statement.

The Commission has given various reasons why the withdrawal is necessary, but none of them stand up to scrutiny. The statement was made available for MEPs and stakeholders during a public hearing on the Circular Economy on Thursday in between Environment Committee meetings where Karl Falkenberg, the Director General of the commission’s environment department, faced a grilling by MEPs.

Seas At Risk believes that a circular economy, where waste is minimised and products are designed to be reused or recycled continuously, is the ultimate solution to marine litter. When everything has a further use, and products are made to be as durable as possible, waste is less likely to end up in the ocean to cause damage as marine litter.

Because of this vital connection to marine litter, Seas At Risk will continue to follow this file, and work to ensure that the new proposal, promised by the end of 2015, is even more ambitious and better placed to deliver a truly circular economy.

NGO Statement:EU Circular Economy Package: Questioning the reasons for withdrawal

Seas At Risk is a European association of non-governmental environmental organisations working to protect and restore the health of the marine environment of the European seas and the wider North East Atlantic. As a member, Project AWARE joins more than 20 additional member organizations from 14 countries to advocate for the ocean.

Photo courtesy of PW Divers, Cyprus