Markku Markkula, Chair of the CoR Green Deal Going Local Working Group and Vice-President of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), addressed the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) multi-stakeholder dialogue hosted by the European Commission, calling for stronger regional leadership in shaping the upcoming Circular Economy Act.
Speaking during the dialogue, Markkula stressed that the success of Europe’s circular transition depends on empowering cities and regions to act as engines of innovation and implementation. “Circular solutions are most impactful when tested and scaled locally. Cities and regions must be empowered as circular innovation ecosystems that integrate planning, permitting, and public procurement to turn circularity into daily economic practice.”
Highlighting the strategic role of public authorities, Markkula identified circular public procurement as one of the fastest and most effective tools to accelerate systemic change. “Helsinki-Uusimaa calls for using public procurement more strategically to scale up market demand for circular services and solutions. This echoes the CCRI recommendation and must become standard across all levels of government.”
He further emphasised the need for stronger alignment between regional strategies and EU-level priorities to maximise impact. “Local Circular Economy strategies, such as Helsinki-Uusimaa’s, should be fully integrated with the EU Missions and New European Bauhaus to accelerate climate-smart, health-aware, and socially inclusive outcomes.”
The CCRI dialogue gathered regional stakeholders to provide input into the forthcoming Circular Economy Act, expected in the third quarter of 2026. Discussions focused on six priority areas: circular public procurement, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, revision of End-of-Waste criteria, product-specific recycled content mandates, recycling of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), and strengthening transnational and regional initiatives.
Participants were encouraged to share successful local practices with scaling potential. Evidence from the Helsinki-Uusimaa Circular Hub — documented in the 2025 report “Stories from the Circular Hub – Uusimaa on the road to the circular economy” — demonstrates how ecosystem-based collaboration across construction, textiles, plastics, food systems and WEEE can translate circular ambitions into concrete action.
The report highlights the importance of cross-sector cooperation, regulatory clarity, competence development and long-term ecosystem building. It also underlines that as much as 80% of a product’s circularity potential is determined during the design phase, reinforcing the need for systemic policy frameworks that support circular design, innovation and market uptake.
The outcome of the dialogue will feed directly into the European Commission’s preparations for the Circular Economy Act, ensuring that regional experience and innovation ecosystems are fully reflected in Europe’s future legislative framework.
About the CCRI Dialogue
The Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (2022–2026) supports cities and regions in implementing circular systemic solutions. The multi-stakeholder dialogue forms part of the evidence-gathering process for the new Circular Economy Act and encourages active engagement from local and regional actors across Europe.