all projects

EU monitoring framework: Economic aspects of the circular economy

Client

Eurostat

Year

2023

Partner

DevStat


The second circular economy action plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe was adopted by the European Commission in March 2020 as part of the European Green Deal. As part of this, the EU monitoring framework for the circular economy was revised. This monitoring tool can be used to track progress towards a circular economy in the EU and its Member States.

The existing Monitoring Framework did not adequately cover the economic aspects of the circular economy. Eurostat therefore commissioned Prognos and DevStat to develop a methodological framework for collecting economic data on the circular economy, climate change, and the bioeconomy in a way that allows for regular updates. The resulting tool provides data on economic aspects such as production value, jobs, investments and gross value added by companies active in these sectors. These indicators can be used to monitor EU policies.

New monitoring framework: Monitoring progress towards a circular economy

In January 2018, the European Commission adopted the first EU monitoring framework for the circular economy, to help track the progress of the EU and the Member States. Following the launch of the new Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe, the revised framework captures the focus areas of the circular economy and the interlinkages between circularity, climate neutrality and the “zero pollution” ambition.

The circular economy monitoring framework is split into five thematic areas:

  • production and consumption
  • waste management
  • secondary raw materials
  • competitiveness and innovation
  • global sustainability and resilience

The revised monitoring framework is based on the priorities of the circular economy in the context of the European Green Deal, the 8th Environment Action Programme, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the EU’s security of supply and resilience goals.

This is what we did

Eurostat commissioned Prognos and DevStat to develop a methodological approach that makes it possible to derive key economic variables to characterise the economic activities relevant to environmental policy: circular economy, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, and bioeconomy.

The following activities were carried out:

  1. Development of a general methodological framework
  2. Review of existing approaches to economic measurement of the circular economy and other environmental policy relevant economic sectors
  3. Develop a specific approach that can be used by Eurostat for its economic monitoring of the circular economy and other economic sectors
  4. Collection and compilation of data

The project also developed an automated data collation tool. This will allow the data set to be regularly updated for the Eurostat database.

Links and downloads

To the circular economy monitoring framework (website Eurostat)

More information (Website Eurostat)

Project team: Jannis Lambert, Robert Norpoth, Richard Simpson

Last update: 15.03.2024

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Jannis Lambert

Principal

View profile

Richard Simpson

Project Manager

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

Socially just transition to climate neutrality in the EU

ongoing
| Project

To facilitate the transition to a climate-neutral economy, Prognos is supporting the European Commission in implementing the European Fair Transition Observatory (EFTO).

Data for environmental policy: core economic sectors redefined

2025
| Project

Prognos developed a methodology for Eurostat for regular data collection for the European Environmental Goods and Services Sector (EGSS).

Strengthening European cohesion policy through REGIO Peer2Peer

ongoing
| Project

The Peer2Peer communities are a network of representatives from regional and national authorities in all EU Member States. Prognos recently took over the management of the Circular Economy Community.

Industrial clusters for net-zero technologies in the European Union

ongoing
| Project

As part of the Net-Zero Industry Act, we are working with our partners to conceptualise Net-Zero Acceleration Valleys for the European Commission.

Green Tech Atlas 2025

2025
| Project

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Prognos compiled the Green Tech Atlas 2025. The atlas provides a comprehensive overview of the cross-sectional environmental tech-nology and resource efficiency industries.

Ressource efficiency in Bavaria

2025
| Project

Bavarian industry requires large quantities of raw materials. Our study shows how critical materials can be used efficiently and important savings potential identified.

European Union: From the fossil fuel economy to the bioeconomy

ongoing
| Project

The EU Commission commissioned Prognos, Idea Consult and the nova-Institute to research and promote the transition to a bioeconomy in the European Union.

Design and implementation of the Resilience Expo

ongoing
| Project

Prognos is supporting the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Environment in organising, implementing and establishing the world's first trade exhibition for the climate adaptation industry.

German industry’s resilience and sovereignty

2025
| Project

German industry is heavily dependent on raw materials and intermediate products from abroad, especially from China. Prognos analysed supply chains and developed recommendations for action.

How far are the regions on the road to a circular economy?

2025
| Project update

Prognos has developed a tool for the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) that supports cities and regions in monitoring their circular economy activities.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more