Responding to Commissioners Katainen and Timmerman's presentation of the latest version of the circular economy package during this afternoon's plenary session, GUE/NGL MEP Josu Juaristi Abaunz called for much more ambition.

MEP Juaristi Abaunz commented: “Your proposal is not ambitious enough and there are not enough specifics in terms of implementation, which means that it is not going to lead to the change we need to create a circular economy which will, amongst other things, get rid of waste altogether.”

In terms of the financial framework for waste management, he added: “The Commission is clear that any investment on this front must deliver on recycling objectives. Indeed, you are confirming that there will be no investment in incinerators and this  would only be possible in exceptional cases, which we welcome.”

“I would ask you to be more ambitious in terms of prevention and re-use in the selective collection of bio waste and in setting recycling objectives. This is perfectly possible and entirely feasible as the region of Gipuzkoa, Contarina and the city of Ljubljana show. We can make more progress,” he concluded.

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20

Nikki Sullings + 32 483 03 55 75