Towards the Circular Economy in Croatia - the Perspective of EU Green Deal on Regional Level

Abstract

Since the European Commission launched the Circular Economy Package in December 2015 named “Closing the loop: EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy”, many changes are expected both in European Union economy as well as in the Member States’ national economies. Due to new Package, a transposition of legislation is required as well as adjusting the business climate and citizens’ habits in order to fully implement the Package and experience the benefits of Circular Economy in Europe. The transition to a new economy pattern Commission perceived as essential due to new economic, global and environmental challenges. Assessing the waste management, the data showed that some member states already recycle almost 80 % of waste, while others are far away from achieving the Europe 2020 Strategy goals, including Croatia. The Circular Economy Package is nowadays part of EU Green Deal, one of the highest ranked strategic documents, which emphasizes the need for efficient use of resources by transition to the clean circular economy approach as well as to renew the biodiversity and to decrease the pollution. The authors analyse legislative framework and trends in green economy, with special attention on Croatia, and Primorje-Gorski Kotar county. This paper emphasizes the significance of the Circular Economy and its benefits and present the policy implementation capacities on the national and regional level to implement the circular approach to economic process.