Circular economy: a way to support strategic autonomy and competitiveness

Measures to support shifting Europe’s economy away from a current model based on ‘take, make, dispose’ are likely to become part of European Union law under a new Circular Economy Act, due to be ratified in 2026.

At the launch of the EU’s Green Week in Brussels, experts discussed how the creation of a circular economy could support strategic autonomy and competitiveness in the 27-member Union.

The moves towards greater official and strategic support for a low-emission, resource-efficient, recycling-based economy, reflect growing grassroots appreciation from civil society, educators and entrepreneurs for greener ways of life, as reflected in the European Training Foundation’s Green Skills Awards, the finalists of which were announced June 2.

Long-term prosperity

In a keynote speech opening three days of talks, roundtables and discussions, Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, said global challenges including military and trade wars, and fierce competition for resources, made recycling and supporting a circular economy essential.

“We need to build on our strengths and turn challenges into opportunities. To protect our citizens' wellbeing, our long-term prosperity and our way of life,” she said.

“We are a continent of high skills and high standards. But we are also a continent with limited natural resources.”

Signalling a more structured drive towards addressing the waste and pollution inherent in current global business models, the Commissioner added: 

“We should drastically increase the recovery and recycling of strategic and critical raw materials, which currently stands at less than 1%. This is more than just an economic opportunity—it's is the only way to reduce our dependence on the handful of countries that we source our rare earths and critical raw materials from.”

Green Skills Awards

The Commissioner’s comments closely match the aims of the ETF’s Green Skills Awards, where five outstanding initiatives – from Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Spain, Tunisia, and Türkiye – have been shortlisted as finalists. They were selected from over 250 applications from more than 50 countries.

In Kazakhstan, the Mangystau Energy College, has introduced an officially recognised, industry-backed training course for skilled workers in the renewable energy sector.  The two-year, 10 months programme aims to develop key professional competencies in equipment operation, installation and management, wind power and thermal, nuclear and hydroelectric power station maintenance, and management and installation of solar energy converters.

North Macedonia’s entry is itself a green skills competition: the annual Best Business Concept for Green Innovation, organised by the National Centre for the Development of Innovation and Entrepreneurial learning through the Centre of Vocational Excellence in Green Innovation for secondary-level students. Launched more than 15 years ago, and supported at the highest governmental levels, it involves both students and teachers, culminating in a Grand Final at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering-Skopje.

In Spain, POWAR STEAM, founded by Pablo Zuloaga Betancourt, develops education tools and methodologies for climate education, integrating technology, environmental sensors, and an AI-driven curriculum to create engaging, real-world experiences. A special Climate Simulator sensor kit equips students, educators and families with the skills to analyse, adapt and innovate for a sustainable future. Projects with schools and colleges have included “growing mushrooms and controlling their environment”, “creating bio-pigments” and "identifying different soil types in an ecosystem.”

Tunisia’s Sendi ibtissem gératne – Send me a guarantee – training centre offers rural women tailored progammes aimed at improving their economic and social autonomy. Training in entrepreneurship, crafts, baking, hairdressing and other skills are designed to strengthen practical and theoretical skills, and promote access to resources, networks, and gender equality. Courses emphasise green skills and the circular economy, and the project collaborates with companies that offer internships and job opportunities.

Antalya – one of Türkiye’s top tourist and agricultural regions – has launched a Solar School initiative to help meet burgeoning demand for solar photovoltaic panel installers. With demand for such workers set to increase 51% by 2029, Antalya’s Metropolitan Municipality in partnership with the national employment agency and Çanakkale University and Project Solar, have launched the training project. It aims to provide basic solar energy systems training to 200 young people aged 15-29 who are ‘Neither in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)” and live in Antalya.

The top three ETF Green Skills projects are being chosen by a public vote, open until June 30 here.

For Our Planet

The ETF is also partnering with the EC’s For Our Planet campaign this year. The campaign rewards green skills projects in the area of Circular Economy.  The winning project, from Malaysia, was  showcased at the EU Green Week in Brussels.