European countries develop a circular bioeconomy with support CEE2ACT project

On 13 and 14 September 2022, representatives of 17 European organisations, including Wageningen University & Research, gathered in Budapest at the kick-off meeting of the CEE2ACT project, funded under the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme. The European Green Deal has set Europe on its path to being the first climate-neutral continent by 2050 and achieving a green transition that is just, fair and inclusive. One of the seven core pathways to deliver this climate neutrality is the bioeconomy. The 2018 update to the EU bioeconomy strategy highlighted the relevance of developing national bioeconomy strategies and action plans to deploy a sustainable and circular bioeconomy across Europe, considering economic, social and environmental aspects. To date, there are still Member States, including many from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) that do not have a national bioeconomy strategy and action plan despite their high biomass resource base and new bioeconomy potential. However, there are relevant regional initiatives supporting bioeconomy in Central and Eastern European countries. CEE2ACT in the Netherlands.