Competitiveness Council – 29 November 2019
Conclusions on the updated EU bioeconomy strategy

Source: EU Council

Key messages of the Finnish Presidency on occasion of the Competitiveness Council

• the Presidency outlined the key features of the EU bioeconomy strategy. Firstly, the strategy set out to reduce pressure on the environment whilst ensuring the EU’s competitiveness and securing a fair and inclusive transition for all;
• Need for less dependency on fossil-based products, thus helping to achieve EU climate targets;
• furthermore, the bioeconomy can provide opportunities in sustainable growth throughout Europe, in rural, urban and coastal areas;
• today, the bioeconomy represented 10% of the EU’s economy. The  Presidency is  convinced that biomass had the potential to replace fossil resources throughout the value chains, in particular the plastic, chemicals and energy sectors;
• a broader perspective is needed in order to further increase the availability of bio-based materials, for example through:
  • increased resource-efficiency;
  • better use of side streams and bio-waste;
  • new production crops;
  • enhanced forest biomass yield per hectare.
• in the long-term, a sustainable and circular economy must be considered, as well as the role of bio-based value chains within it in order to allow for the best product and material longevity;
• consumer behaviour and product design are  key elements in this regard.

Copy of the Conclusions on the updated EU bioeconomy strategy is available HERE.