# Circular Economy Act (CEA) Canonical URL: https://digital-acquis.eu/initiative/circular-economy-act-cea Entry type: initiative Source edition current through: 17 July 2026 (2026-07-17). This is not a page modification date. Status: forthcoming. A delivered initiative is not necessarily legislation in force. Instrument: Law Date as recorded: Q4 2026 Date kind: quarter Status note: quarter starts after 2026-09-06 Promised timeline: Planned for Q3 2026. Record content updated: 2026-08-14 ## Previous steps Consultation ## Summary The Act will create a true Single Market for waste and secondary raw materials, boosting supply and demand for quality recyclates at competitive prices. It will harmonise end-of-waste criteria, simplify and expand extended producer responsibility (including a one-stop producer registry), and revise e-waste rules to recover critical materials, while aligning with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products framework. Public procurement criteria, incentives for scrap use, and digitalised demolition permits will accelerate circular design and recycling. Strong enforcement—including for e-commerce channels—will ensure compliance. ## Sources - [Official source]() ## Action items (0; complete published list) ## Citing documents - [Political Guidelines 2024-29]() — status: not recorded. The Political Guidelines link European competitiveness with industrial renewal, digital innovation and simpler rules for businesses. They propose support for AI, data sharing, biotechnology and strategic investment, alongside cleaner energy, circular production and changes to public procurement. A Union of Skills would connect education, training and recognition of qualifications across borders. The programme also covers hospital cybersecurity, protection against online manipulation and harmful platform design, and measures to improve working conditions. International partnerships and economic security form part of this agenda, while institutional reforms and stronger cooperation on lawmaking are intended to support its implementation. Source document doc-002, action item 30013: > This will be the purpose of a new Circular Economy Act, helping to create market demand for secondary materials and a single market for waste, notably in relation to critical raw materials. - [State of the Union 2025]() — status: not recorded. The address connects European competitiveness and technological sovereignty with simpler business rules, stronger investment and faster development of digital and clean technologies. It outlines work on startup finance, the 28th regime and the Single Market, alongside AI infrastructure, quantum technology, circular production and industrial acceleration. Energy measures focus on grids and infrastructure bottlenecks. The address also proposes support for independent journalism and media literacy, and expert advice on protecting children online. Institutional cooperation and changes to EU decision-making are presented as further elements of the reform agenda. Source document doc-008, action item 90005: > I am convinced: the future of clean tech will continue to be made in Europe. But for that, we also need to make sure that our industry has the materials here in Europe. And the only answer here is creating a truly circular economy. So we need to move faster on the Circular Economy Act. And move ahead in those sectors that are ready. Finally, we need to keep up the speed. So the Commission will propose an Industrial Accelerator Act for key strategic sectors and technologies. In sum, when it comes to digital and clean tech: faster, smarter and more European. - [Commission work programme 2026 + Annex]() — status: not recorded. The 2026 work programme sets out planned legislation and policy initiatives across competitiveness, technology, energy and social policy. It includes changes to company rules, innovation and procurement, together with proposals concerning advanced materials, chips, cloud infrastructure, quantum technology and biotechnology. Other work covers product rules, circularity, energy systems, capital markets and competition procedures. Security and border-management measures sit alongside proposals on jobs, labour mobility, education, digital fairness and audiovisual media. Better regulation and intergenerational fairness are also part of this programme, which records indicative timetables and proposed legal bases. Source document doc-009, action item 100011: > Circular Economy Act (legislative, Article 114 TFEU, Q3 2026) - [One Europe, One Market Roadmap]() — status: delivered. The roadmap organises planned work around simpler rules, a more integrated Single Market, trade, affordable energy and the digital transition. It sets milestones for measures affecting company formation, investment, procurement, products, research and labour mobility. Energy priorities cover grids, infrastructure, security and decarbonisation, while the digital programme includes business wallets, communications networks, cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, chips and quantum technology. Trade agreements and measures addressing supply-chain dependencies complete the programme. By placing these initiatives in a common timetable, the roadmap connects the policy agenda with specific stages of legislative work and investment projects. Source document doc-013, action item 140019: > Circular Economy Act (Proposal: Q3 2026) Q3 2027 - [Competitiveness Compass]() — status: not recorded. The Competitiveness Compass brings together work on innovation, industrial transition and the conditions for businesses to grow in Europe. Its agenda spans startups, strategic technologies, research and investment, alongside affordable energy, cleaner industry and circular production. Measures on the Single Market, simpler rules, procurement and standardisation accompany this sectoral work. The programme also includes trade partnerships, raw-material supplies, security and preparedness. Skills, labour mobility and quality jobs connect the economic agenda with workforce needs. The programme combines strategies, legislative proposals, investment initiatives and coordination measures across these policy areas. Source document doc-019, action item 180025: > Circular Economy Act [Q4 2026] - [E-commerce Toolbox]() — status: delivered. Source document doc-020, action item 190004: > Plans to propose a Circular Economy Act which will explore to further develop Extended Producer Responsibility and how to strengthen enforcement. - [Clean Industrial Deal]() — status: not recorded. The Clean Industrial Deal connects industrial decarbonisation with affordable energy, investment and demand for cleaner products. Its measures address electricity costs, permitting, grid infrastructure, state aid and finance for industrial projects. Product standards, procurement and support for circular production are intended to strengthen markets for low-carbon goods and access to raw materials. The programme also covers trade partnerships and changes to the carbon border mechanism. Skills, quality jobs and measures supporting a fair transition accompany the industrial agenda, linking changes in production with the needs of workers and communities. Source document doc-023, action item 220028: > Circular Economy Act Q4 2026 - [European Preparedness Union Strategy]() — status: delivered. Source document doc-029, action item 280010: > European Water Resilience Strategy: The Commission will propose a strategy setting a path toward water security by ensuring availability of clean water, protecting against water-related risks, and promoting nature-based solutions; a Circular Economy Act will complement it by increasing circular and biobased materials in EU value chains to reduce critical raw material import dependence. - [Single Market Strategy]() — status: not recorded. The Single Market Strategy addresses obstacles to operating, trading and working across EU borders. It combines simplification and stronger implementation with changes to company rules, public procurement, product regulation and services. Digital procedures, common standards and better recognition of qualifications are intended to reduce fragmentation. The strategy also covers worker mobility, construction and business services, communications networks and transport. Measures for SMEs and small mid-caps seek to make compliance more proportionate and improve access to markets and finance. Cooperation with national authorities and potential changes to preventive and enforcement tools support the wider programme. Source document doc-033, action item 320020: > Address the fragmentation created by heterogenous national EPR schemes through further harmonisation, simplification and digitalisation, including through a digital one- stop shop for information, registration and reporting (as part of the legislative proposal for a Circular Economy Act Q4 2026) Source document doc-033, action item 320021: > Reform end-of-waste and by-product criteria and provide a more harmonised, leaner framework in the Single Market for reaching end-of-waste and by-product status. Ease the adoption of EU-wide end-of-waste criteria and enable the adoption of such criteria for priority waste feedstocks. Facilitate cross-border shipments of waste feedstocks for recycling (as part of the legislative proposal for a Circular Economy Act - Q4 2026). - [Strengthening EU Economy Security]() — status: delivered. Source document doc-069, action item 550025: > As outlined in ResourceEU, further develop secondary markets for critical raw materials, including through the Circular Economy Act, to make it easier to finance strategic CRM projects in areas identified as high-risk for economic security purposes. - [RESourceEU Action Plan]() — status: delivered. Source document doc-070, action item 560010: > By Q3 2026, the Commission will propose measures to increase CRM recovery in the Circular Economy Act, including from e-waste. ## Current developments Latest updates from Digital Policy Alert and Global Trade Alert. No reviewed developments available; this does not establish that no developments exist. ## Associated policy priorities - [Single Market Deepening & Harmonisation]() ## Broader policy context (shared priority; not a direct citation) - [Action Plan against Cyberbullying]() — status: delivered. The Commission will present a comprehensive EU approach to prevent, detect and respond to cyberbullying, with a primary focus on minors and youth. It will set a common EU definition, promote national strategies and focal points (e.g. trusted flaggers), and prioritise vulnerable groups including girls and women, LGBTIQ youth, migrants and persons with disabilities. Actions span prevention and digital well-being, safer product design, streamlined reporting and takedown (scaling good practices like France’s App 3018), victim support, and proportionate responses to perpetrators. Delivery will leverage and enforce the DSA, BIK+ and victims/VAW directives, with progress monitored through Safer Internet Centres, BIK policy reports and DSA enforcement. - [AVMSD Revision]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will run the AVMSD ex-post evaluation under Article 33 by 19 December 2026, followed, where appropriate, by proposals to review the Directive. Council conclusions (May 2025) suggested key reform priorities: clarify scope (incl. influencers/professional creators), ensure coherent interplay with DSA/EMFA, strengthen protection of minors and rules for VSPs, safeguard prominence/access to general-interest content and major events, and improve cross-border enforcement through the new European Board for Media Services. The exercise should keep the Single Market as the anchor (country-of-origin), avoid overlapping obligations, and de-risk regulatory fragmentation via clear definitions and digital-by-default, once-only procedures. - [Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation (CPCR) Reform]() — status: forthcoming. The Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation provides a framework for national authorities to work together on cross-border breaches of consumer rules. The authorities can seek information from domain registrars and banks, use mystery shopping, and order the immediate removal of websites hosting scams. The Commission coordinates cooperation and can coordinate EU-wide action, while authorities may accept business commitments to correct practices and provide remedies and compensation. - [Cybersecurity Act 2 & Simplification Package]() — status: in progress. Cybersecurity Act 2 would repeal the current Cybersecurity Act and reform ENISA, the European cybersecurity certification framework and ICT supply-chain security rules. The proposal aims to strengthen EU cyber capabilities and resilience, improve coordinated governance, speed certification schemes and reduce fragmented compliance requirements. It would provide a harmonised framework for non-technical ICT supply-chain risks, including measures addressing high-risk suppliers, while a related directive would simplify scope, definitions, ransomware reporting and supervision of cross-border service providers. - [Digital Fairness Act (DFA)]() — status: forthcoming. Based on a fitness check of EU consumer law in 2024, the Commission plans to propose a Digital Fairness Act that curbs manipulative design (“dark patterns”), addictive features and subscription traps; clarifies rules for influencer and AI-driven marketing; strengthens protections for minors; and streamlines information duties so consumers face less overload and can cancel easily. Options include amending the Unfair Commercial Practices and Consumer Rights directives or proposing a new regulation, ensuring coherence with the DSA, DMA and the AI Act. It will drive harmonised, high-impact enforcement with clear duties for platforms and advertisers, easy redress for consumers, and deterrent penalties. - [e-Declaration for the Posting of Workers]() — status: in progress. The proposed e-Declaration would create a voluntary multilingual public interface linked to the Internal Market Information System for posting-worker declarations. Participating host Member States could require service providers from other Member States to use a standard electronic form, with data transferred automatically to national authorities. The proposal aims to reduce administrative burden, improve administrative cooperation and inspections, and support protection of posted workers' rights without changing the underlying posting framework. - [Energy Labelling Omnibus]() — status: in progress. On 24 June 2026 the Commission proposed a regulation simplifying the EU rules on energy labelling and tyre labelling, one of its omnibus simplification packages. The Commission says the simplified rules will make requirements easier for suppliers and retailers of home appliances, electronic devices and tyres, while ensuring that consumers still receive the information they need when buying a product. The proposal keeps the energy labelling framework, which the Commission says has proven effective in reducing energy use, and streamlines the rules to make them easier to apply, cut costs and facilitate enforcement. It widens digital options, such as electronic shelf displays, a QR code in related documentation or on the product, and displaying the label as part of the contractual offer. The Commission estimates administrative savings of up to €125 million annually over the next 10 years. Some newer labels, including those for smartphones, will also give information on durability and repairability. - [EU Action Plan on Online Fraud]() — status: forthcoming. The EU Action Plan on Online Fraud is a forthcoming Commission initiative announced in the 2030 Consumer Agenda and action plan for consumers in the single market, adopted on 19 November 2025. The Commission says online fraud schemes are among the fastest growing crimes online and are causing significant harm to consumers. To strengthen the ability to combat online fraud in the EU, it will publish an action plan on online fraud. Its goals will include boosting prevention measures, making law enforcement action more effective and strengthening support for fraud victims in recovering their funds. The Consumer Agenda does not give a date for the action plan's publication. - [EU Digital Travel Application]() — status: in progress. The EU Digital Travel application would let travellers create a digital travel credential and submit travel data for checks before reaching an external border. The proposal aims to reduce bottlenecks while helping border authorities verify documents, identity and security risks in advance. It provides for single or repeated use, secure validation against the travel document's chip and possible storage in the European Digital Identity Wallet. - [EU Inc. – 28th Regime]() — status: in progress. It will create an optional, EU-wide corporate framework—digital by default—to let innovative firms set up, operate, and raise capital seamlessly across borders. The proposal may rely on TFEU Article 352 or a harmonised national form via Articles 50/114, with a progressive, modular design. It targets 48-hour incorporation and “once-only” data sharing via BRIS, EUID, and an EU Company Certificate, leveraging the European Business Wallet. Investment-friendly options under consideration include simpler capital increases, flexible share classes, and standard private-equity terms. Complementing the European Innovation Act, it cuts failure costs, fragmentation, and compliance burdens. - [European Business Wallet]() — status: in progress. It will provide a legally recognised digital identity for economic operators, enabling companies to share verified data and credentials across borders and receive notifications in a secure channel. Built on BRIS and the European Unique Identifier, and aligned with the EU Digital Identity Wallet rollout and the Once-Only Technical System, it replaces document-heavy compliance with interoperable, data-based exchanges. The Wallet is a cornerstone of the Single Market simplification agenda and the EU Startup & Scaleup Strategy, lowering costs for SMEs, easing licensing and reporting, and making cross-border operations seamless, turning digital-by-default rules into practice across the EU business lifecycle. - [European Product Act (EPA)]() — status: forthcoming. The European Product Act would update three parts of EU product law: the new legislative framework of product rules, market surveillance and compliance, and standardisation. The Commission work programme 2026 schedules the legislative measures for Q3 2026. It cites Article 114 TFEU for the framework and standardisation updates, and Articles 33 and 114 TFEU for market surveillance and compliance. - [MDR/IVDR Reform]() — status: in progress. The MDR/IVDR reform proposal seeks a leaner, less costly framework for medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices while retaining a high level of patient health protection. It would improve oversight and coordination of notified bodies, widen the expertise and advisory role of expert panels, and provide further support through the European Medicines Agency. The proposal also aims to improve the single market and reduce risks of device shortages. - [Multimodal Digital Mobility Services]() — status: in progress. The proposed Regulation on multimodal booking aims to make it easier for travellers to search for, compare, combine and book travel options across transport modes. It would set common requirements for multimodal digital mobility services, including neutral display and ranking, marketing-information data, emissions information and certain data sharing. The proposal excludes SMEs from its scope, repeals the computerised-reservation-systems code of conduct, and provides for national enforcement, complaints, penalties, monitoring and reporting. - [Omnibus IV (mid-caps)]() — status: in progress. The Commission will fast-track simplification by empowering common technical specifications when harmonised standards lag, and by digitalising compliance so firms can demonstrate conformity faster and paper-free. The package also extends existing SME mitigating measures to small mid-caps and removes redundant paper requirements in product laws, easing conformity assessment and cutting reporting overlaps. Together with the Single Market Strategy, it targets quicker time-to-market, legal certainty and lower costs while maintaining high safety and consumer protection. Delivery will be tied to measurable burden-reduction targets and periodic scorecards so businesses see real, near-term gains in every Member State. - [Single Digital Booking and Ticketing]() — status: in progress. The Commission will propose an EU framework enabling passengers to buy a single ticket for cross-border rail journeys across multiple operators, with passengers’ rights applying across the whole trip. It will mandate interoperable data and open, non-discriminatory APIs for schedules, fares and reservation systems; ensure through-ticketing, real-time disruption information and seamless refunds/re-routing; and set governance for liability, revenue settlement and dispute resolution. The initiative complements paperless mobility actions and aims to make rail a convenient, default choice for long-distance travel while boosting tourism and Single Market integration. - [Single Market Barriers Prevention Act]() — status: forthcoming. The EU will move from reacting to fragmentation to preventing it at source. Building on the Single Market Strategy, the Act would systematise ex-ante screening of draft national measures, reinforce notification/transparency obligations, and require Member States to self-assess EU-law compliance before adoption, curbing “gold-plating.” It would hard-wire a competitiveness/SME check for significant amendments, introduce rapid-reaction deadlines to fix non-compliant rules, and align agencies and regulators to ensure uniform application. Annual progress reporting and more decisive infringement where needed will anchor accountability, complemented by a shift to digital-by-default administration and a “1-in, 27-out” simplification ethos to keep new barriers from emerging. --- [Reading guide and interpretation notes]() · [Methodology]()