Today, on the occasion of the 5th edition of the EU-Peru International Circular Economy Forum in Lima, the EU launched the Circular Transition Team Europe Initiative in Peru. This Team Europe Initiative will promote Peru’s transition to a Circular Economy, Clean Energy and Sustainable Cities, as part of the Global Gateway, the EU’s strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport sectors and to strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. The Team Europe Initiative will coordinate and promote public and private European actors in Peru to support the country towards a circular economy.
European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, said: “With Global Gateway, the EU is supporting its partners to deliver a model of growth that drives a just transition for a climate-neutral and more resource-efficient society. The Team Europe Initiative on circular transition that we launch today in Peru, alongside the Peru Circular Platform, will allow us to collaborate closely for more sustainable cities and communities. This is part of our broader engagement with the Latin American and Caribbean region.”
European Commissioner for Environment, Virginijus Sinkevičius, said: “The case for the circular economy gets stronger every day. Europe strives for an economy that is inclusive, competitive, and climate-neutral, with growth decoupled from our use of resources, but Europe can never achieve this massive transformation on its own. Peru and other Latin American countries have been key allies in promoting circularity, and we have built strong partnerships in recent years. Together, we promote a transition that will help our economic prosperity, while preserving our livelihoods and our precious environment.”
The “Circular Transition” Team Europe Initiative was launched during the 5th edition of the EU-Peru International Circular Economy Forum in Lima, taking place on 13-15 September, and gathering international and local experts on the theme of “Building the ecosystem for a Circular Economy”.
EU engagement on circular economy in Latin America and Caribbean
At the regional level, the EU is a strategic partner of the Latin America and the Caribbean Coalition on the Circular Economy since 2022 and promoter of the “AL-INVEST Verde” programme, an initiative promoting sustainable growth and jobs creation by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and a more circular economy in Latin America.
The EU is working towards a renewed partnership with the Latin America and the Caribbean, with the perspective of an EU-LAC Summit in 2023. This includes the joint opportunities provided by the Global Gateway strategy with investments for sustainable connections.
Ever-closer EU-Peru cooperation on circular economy
In Peru, the EU has mobilised assistance to support the development of the Circular Economy Roadmap for the industry sector and forthcoming roadmaps for the agriculture and fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Similarly, the EU has supported Peru in advancing regulation on Single-Use Plastics, and now the country’s Circular Economy Platform – involving both the public and private sectors.
The circular transition is at the heart of the EU’s bilateral cooperation programme with Peru (2021-2027).
The 5th International Forum on Circular Economy (FIEC) was prepared by The European Union in Peru (EU), together with the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM), the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR). Taking advantage of the Team Europe approach, the forum also welcomed the participation of experts from EU member states Germany, Austria, Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Sweden as well as from partners Argentina, Chile and Mexico.
