The European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) hosted the 2019 European Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference on 6 and 7 March 2019 in Brussels. 
 
One of the most important events of its kind in Europe, the conference brought together stakeholders at different levels of governance, civil society and business at a crucial moment in the development of circular economy policies and business models. 
 
This year’s edition attracted 400 participants on the first day, which celebrated the transition towards circular economy and the EU’s central role in driving this paradigm shift, with a specific emphasis on the urgency of action. Speakers also noted that change will be multidirectional – bottom-up, from the reality on the ground to the higher levels of authority, but also top-down.
 
On the second day, the ACR+ team moderated one of the eight workshops scheduled for the day, focusing on circular procurement. During the first part of the workshop dedicated to the tendering process, ACR+ member Zero Waste Scotland presented two cases on ICT and furniture and EEB addressed how European Green Public Procurement criteria can support public authorities and suppliers in the tendering process. The presentations were followed by a discussion on needs assessment, market engagement,selection and award criteria and contract management. The workshop continued with a panel on Green Deals, which featured, among the three participants, ACR+ members OVAM and INEC. The discussion continued after the workshop and will go on, especially in the framework of the recently started “Circular Procurement: Accelerate circular economy through procurement power, alliance- and capacity building” project.
 
You can watch the plenary session and access the complete programme here: https://circulareconomy.europa.eu