Cities are at the heart of Europe’s resource challenge and central to its circular economycircular economyA systems solution framework that tackles global challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution. It is based on three principles, driven by design: eliminate waste and pollution, circulate products and materials (at their highest value), and regenerate nature. transition. Across Europe, trailblazing cities are showing that the circular economy isn't just a vision for tomorrow, it is happening today. Now, a group of frontrunners are advocating for the policies needed to scale local successes into Europe-wide transformation.
The Circular Cities Frontrunner Group
In 2024, in a bid to accelerate Europe's transition to a circular economy, a coalition of European cities wrote an open letter to newly elected Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). Led by the City of Amsterdam with support from ICLEI Europe and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the Circular Cities Frontrunner Group advocated for stronger policies to reinforce the role of cities in the circular economy transition. The group includes Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Malmö, Milan, Porto, Prague, Turku and Utrecht.
A roadmap for Europe-wide action
On 30 June 2025, the Circular Cities Frontrunner Group, together with ICLEI Europe and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, launched a new policy brief that lists nine EU‑level actions capable of speeding up the transition to a circular economy. These proposals aim to cut material use, create jobs, and keep Europe competitive.
The brief urges the next European Commission and Parliament to
Leverage circular economy to cut consumption-based emissions
Reduce material consumption to enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy
Ensure the transition to a circular economy is just and inclusive, leaving no one behind
Ensure a multilevel governance approach in policy development and implementation
Shift funding from piloting towards scaling-up
Build capacity in cities to support circular economy implementation
Build the case to reform the linear tax system
Leverage public procurement to provide a launch market for circular businesses
Send clear signals to de-risk private investment
“Cities are crucial to the circular economy transition, serving as vibrant hubs for innovation where resources, capital, data, and talent converge. This policy brief highlights concrete examples of what's possible from frontrunner cities demonstrating incredible leadership. However, cities can only go so far without a supportive EU policy environment. The current momentum, including the potential for a new Circular Economy Act, is a critical opportunity to push for policies that enable cities to scale these efforts across Europe.” – Sarah O’Carroll, Institutions Lead, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
The call comes at a crucial time as the next European Commission and Parliament prepare to set the agenda for the coming years. The brief contributes to ongoing discussions around the Circular Economy Act, the EU’s competitiveness agenda and related policy initiatives.
Facts underline the stakes. The EU material footprint stands at 14.1 tonnes per capita while environmental taxes raise only 2.2% of GDP, leaving fiscal room to fund circular growth. Cities, as major drivers of resource use and innovation, are where this potential must be activated.
The policy brief outlines several success stories, such as Amsterdam’s doughnut model and Porto’s repairrepairOperation by which a faulty or broken product or component is returned back to a usable state to fulfil its intended use. incentive, that demonstrate how cities are already responding and highlight the types of EU action needed to scale these efforts.
Cities across the ICLEI network can endorse the demands online.
