FEAD suggestions on the Proposal for a Regulation Establishing the European Competitiveness Fund and on the design of a non-collected e-waste own resource supportive of its policy ambitions
FEAD, the European Waste Management Association, representing the private waste and
resource management industry across Europe, welcomes the European Commission’s
proposal for a Regulation establishing the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). This Fund
is a key opportunity to consolidate EU instruments that drive innovation, competitiveness, and
industrial resilience while ensuring that the transition to a cleaner economy is anchored in
circularity.
As the private waste management sector, FEAD’s members are central to this transformation,
providing recycled materials, renewable energy, and carbon savings essential to Europe’s
competitiveness and resource sovereignty.
However, while the proposed ECF represents a milestone in industrial policy integration, its
current design does not sufficiently recognise or support the circular economy and
waste management sector. This document sets out FEAD’s recommendations to ensure their
inclusion and visibility in the ECF framework.
In addition, FEAD takes this opportunity to share complementary reflections on the design of
a non-collected e-waste own resource, announced in the forthcoming Multiannual Financial
Framework (MFF) for 2028–2034. While distinct from the Competitiveness Fund, such a
mechanism could reinforce circular economy objectives if properly designed to channel part
of its proceeds back into the WEEE management and recycling sector.
FEAD is the European Waste Management Association, representing the private waste and resource management industry across Europe, including 20 national waste management federations and 3,000 waste management companies. Private waste management companies operate in 60% of municipal waste markets in Europe and in 75% of industrial and commercial waste. This means more than 500,000 local jobs, fuelling €5 billion of investments into the economy every year. https://fead.be