On 27-28 April, TAIEX brought together 300 governmental stakeholders from 22 partner countries, including the Western Balkans, to work with EU Member State experts on the reforms of their economic and environmental policies. Experts from Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Italy and Slovakia shared their views on what regulators can do to limit waste production – and what to do best with the remaining debris.

“We need to rethink our entire relationship with our environment,” said Fanny Marchal, the chair of the event and Deputy Head of the Institution Building, TAIEX and Twinning Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations. 

“Climate change, biodiversity loss, resources depletion and pollution are major challenges that require a profound transformation of value chains, our business models and our consumption habits, to put an end to the destructive production models of today.”

During the event, other sessions covered sustainable practices in construction and textile sectors. European Commission experts also shared their insights into environmental labelling and recycling food packaging, among others.

This year marks 25 years since the launch of the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument (TAIEX) in 1996. Originally established as a “one stop shop” to support EU candidate countries in adopting the EU ‘acquis’ (body of law), today TAIEX promotes EU expertise and best practices globally.