The Implications of Brexit for Establishing a European Circular Economy

Armin Ibitz

《Tamkang Journal of International Affairs》 24卷1期 (2020/07) Pp. 1-55

https://doi.org/10.6185/TJIA.V.202007_24(1).0001

摘要

In 2015, the European Commission laid out its Circular Economy Package for providing the way to a transition towards a sustainable European economy. The package was followed by a serious of measures aimed at increasing circularity in the EU economy. While the first steps were carried out, it proved to be a long way to establish a circular economy. In 2019, the circularity rate stood around 11% with large variations among the Member States. When the new Commission proposed its EU Green Deal in 2019, a new impetus was given to promote the economic transition. However, efforts come at a time when the Union is confronted with several serious enormous challenges (e.g., increased global competition, raw material scarcity, mounting volumes of waste, climate change, Covid-19). Furthermore, in February 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union after four years of draining negotiations. With the departure of the UK, the EU has not only lost a major economic power but also a Member State actively steering discussions during EU environmental policy-making processes. Accordingly, Brexit will change the face of the EU and its efforts in establishing a circular economy. True, in the past UK governments showed a mixed record of environmental policy engagement. And London did not spare criticizing, down-washing or even blocking several environmental regulations of the EU (e.g., habitat laws, glyphosate, energy efficiency directive, national renewable targets), but the Union lost an active and highly developed economic and political power with extraordinary capacities, international outreach and influence. Accordingly, Brexit not only represents a major change to environmental governance in the United Kingdom but also for the Union. The study seeks to reveal major consequences of Brexit in regards to environmental policy-making of the EU-27, particularly focusing on the circular economy. To what extent does Brexit hamper EU efforts in establishing a circular economy? What are the consequences for EU policy-making aimed at reducing material consumption, increasing resource efficiency, and closing industrial loops? The study discusses short-term and long-term consequences in the economy and also in the political realm.

關鍵字

Circular Economy ； European Union ； Brexit ； Green Deal

參考文獻

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