National Strategy for the Circular Economy and the National Operational Action Plan
As early as December 2018, the Ministry of Environment and Energy published the National Strategy for the Circular Economy and the National Operational Action Plan 2018-2019. In November 2021, the national action plan was revised and concretized with the country’s new Action Plan for the circular economy, which:
is fully in line with the objectives and commitments of the new European circular economy action plan, is compatible with new European directives and institutional initiatives, takes into account all new legislative developments in Greece such as the new legal framework for waste, alternative management, disposable plastics and related development policies at sectoral and national level, as well as the National Waste Action Plans and the National Program waste prevention.
What exactly is:
The action plan is a four-year roadmap (2021-2025) and includes 71 actions that will make the country’s economy sustainable and competitive at the same time.
What is included:
The new plan includes actions divided into 5 main Axes:
- sustainable production and industrial policy, e.g. ecological design, ecological certification, industrial coexistence, tax exemptions,
- sustainable consumption, e.g. promotion of green public procurement, repair services, reuse,
- less waste with higher value, e.g. financial programs for prevention, institutional framework for prevention,
- horizontal actions, e.g. national observatory, voluntary agreements, coordinating body, indicators, and
- specific product categories to be addressed as a priority e.g. plastic products, batteries and vehicles.
The actions concern the entire Greek territory and cover the entire value chain of commodities, are compatible with the corresponding initiatives of the European Commission for the period 2021-2025, and have predefined implementing bodies.
Coordination of actions:
For the best planning of the actions, there are two Committees in the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Interministerial Committee for the Circular Economy with a view to coordinating actions at national level and the National Council of Circular Economy, which is an advisory committee of Production entities to set strategic priorities for the circular economy.
Also important is the contribution of subgroups of experts who work in support of a specialized subject (eg sustainable financing, biomass).
The first steps
The first actions towards the circular economy are:
The issuance of Law 4736/2020 on the harmonization of Directive 904/2019 concerning the reduction of the effects of certain disposable plastic products.
The approval of the Action Plan for Green Public Procurement by the Ministry of Development and Investment and the Ministry of Environment and Energy in February 2021.
The award of an Eco-label for products from various categories (extended to financial services).
The issuance of specifications for the integration of projects that promote the circular economy in various NSRF financing programs, etc.
Expected benefits:
The new action plan supports the transition to a model of sustainable development with clear goals and actions that will lead to their achievement. With allies regional and local authorities, businesses and consumers, we coordinate the country’s efforts to reduce waste, increase product reuse and recycling, create a market for secondary materials and waste as productive resources, and increase the use of alternatives. reduce the use of hazardous substances and promote circularity in production processes.
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