ECESP 2026-2028 Work Programme

2026-2028 Work Programme of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform is out

The new Coordination Group of the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform has published its 2026–2028 Work Programme. This work programme is structured around four strategic priorities that reflect both the evolving EU policy landscape and stakeholder expectations.

1. Enhance the effectiveness of circular economy policy and business model tools by translating regulatory developments into practical implementation pathways – especially for SMEs, cities and regions. This includes supporting sustainable product design, longer product lifespans, repair and reuse, remanufacturing and access-based models such as leasing, sharing and pooling. It also includes addressing a growing stakeholder concern: ensuring that circular capacities and infrastructure already developed across Europe can be maintained, strengthened and protected from avoidable failure.

2. Accelerate the deployment of the biobased circular economy by strengthening renewable, regenerative and nature-positive value chains, aligned with planetary boundaries and biodiversity objectives. This priority reflects the EU’s ambition to reinforce strategic autonomy, decarbonisation and rural innovation, while ensuring stronger integration between bioeconomy actions and wider circular economy goals.

3. Contribute to creating a functioning single market for secondary raw materials, increasing both supply and demand for high-quality recycled materials. Reducing Europe’s reliance on primary resources is essential for industrial resilience, competitiveness and economic security. This priority directly supports the European Critical Raw Materials Act and advances the EU Economic Security Strategy by embedding circularity as a tool to reduce strategic dependencies and safeguard access to critical resources for the green transition.

4. Strengthen stakeholder networks, peer learning and citizen engagement – particularly for SMEs, regions and cities – recognising that the circular transition ultimately takes place in communities, workplaces and everyday life. Through inclusive collaboration models and region-specific approaches, the ECESP will help build the capacities, skills and enabling conditions required to scale circular biobased solutions across Europe, in line with just-transition principles and inspired by the values of the New European Bauhaus: sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion.

To deliver on these priorities, the leadership group structure for this mandate introduces a more horizontal and interconnected architecture, enabling topics to evolve beyond annual cycles while maintaining coherence and strategic direction. The five leadership groups are:

  1. Transitioning to circular value chains;
  2. Advancing an integrated circular bioeconomy;
  3. Enabling an inclusive circular society;
  4. Economic and financing instruments for the circular transition;
    and
  5. Increasing demand for European circular solutions

Interested in joining one of these leadership groups?

Anyone interested in joining one of these groups should complete this survey, outlining which leadership group(s) they wish to join and why. This form will be sent to the group leader, who will select applicants based on their area of interest, expertise and experience. The leader will also endeavour to ensure a good geographical balance of members. Applicants should have a background in circular economy that is strategically relevant for the Platform, and they must be able to contribute to EU issues.

About the Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform

The Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform is a joint initiative by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee, the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform brings together stakeholders active in the broad field of the circular economy in Europe