Throughout the second quarter, EXPRA contributed the practical experience of producer responsibility organisations to the debate on the future Circular Economy Act. Through exchanges with the European Commission, the European Parliament and key stakeholders, the Alliance underlined a central message: a genuine Single Market for secondary raw materials will only work if it is built on effective collection, sorting, recycling, data, enforcement and financing systems.
A key moment was EXPRA’s participation in the European Commission’s High-Level Dialogue on the Circular Economy Act, chaired by Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné and Commissioner Jessika Roswall. The discussion confirmed the growing recognition that Extended Producer Responsibility must play a central role in Europe’s future circular economy framework.
EXPRA stressed that harmonisation alone will not deliver results. Common EU minimum requirements must be clear, robust and effectively implemented across all Member States. Europe already has many examples of well-functioning EPR systems and proven best practices; the challenge is ensuring that these are applied consistently. Eco-modulation is a clear example: although it has been mandatory for several years, its implementation remains uneven across Europe.
EXPRA also highlighted the importance of preserving the integrity of producer-led, not-for-profit systems, increasing transparency and earmarking of EPR fees, and establishing clearer responsibilities for online sales and marketplaces.
As the Commission develops the Circular Economy Act, EXPRA will continue to bring the operational experience of its members to the discussion and advocate for EPR systems that support practical delivery, environmental performance and Europe’s resource resilience.