“We coordinate the development of the action plan based on the circular economy strategy together with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of the Environment. This is happening within a project with European funding. We have a first draft action plan that was submitted to a consultation stage within the strategic environmental assessment procedure. We received a series of observations and comments, and colleagues from the Ministries of the Economy and the Environment helped us to develop it and to identify the priority actions that will be included in this plan,” Luminita Balalau, Director, Department of Sustainable Development Strategies, Programs and Projects, Government of Romania said during Circular Economy Conference organized by Sustainability Today.

“These actions were established according to some criteria: feasibility of implementation, urgency, relevance to European directives, but also the existence of good practices. The plan includes at least 5 priority actions for each of the 9 sectors that have potential for circularity and that are mentioned in the national strategy, but also a set of transversal measures. It is important to focus on increasing skills through training and education programs, digitization, ecological public procurement.

Responsibilities, funding sources and deadlines for implementation are established for these measures.

The circular economy coordination committee was established by the decision of the prime minister. We have a regulation for the organization and operation of this committee. The members of the committee are represented at the level of state secretaries, and all ministries are involved to contribute to the transition to the circular economy.

We are thinking of organizing commissions for each sector mentioned in the circular economy strategy, and for each commission to be taken over by the ministry with the most responsibilities in that sector.

It is very important to ensure policy coherence. This will be achieved by establishing specialized commissions. Each ministry will have to have an implementation structure, as provided by the national strategy, with specialists who will work in accordance with the action plan.”

Full recording of the conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz1zrmH4Sa8&t=8196