French Senate Advocates Stronger Governance for Circular Economy

The French Senate has endorsed a call for an interministerial governance model aimed at enhancing the circular economy in France, as elucidated in the Agec law, five years after its implementation. A recent report from the Senate's commission on territorial planning and sustainable development noted that substantial progress on the Agec law has been unsatisfactory. By January 2025, only half of the French population had access to biowaste source separation, falling short of the universal access goal set for the end of 2023.

To address these shortcomings, the Senate proposes an urgent need for a new governance model. This includes a comprehensive strategy led by the Prime Minister's office, which would ensure that all ministries incorporate circular economy principles into public policy effectively. The report critically highlights that many of the 81 objectives stated in the Agec law are at risk without significant changes in governance.

Moreover, the Senate recommends implementing financial incentives for local authorities that fulfill their recycling and reemployment commitments. It emphasizes that regional governments will play a critical role in the effective implementation of circular economy initiatives, asserting that adequate territorial anchoring is necessary to operationalize the national strategy rather than leaving it as a theoretical framework. Without these enhancements, the ambitions of the circular economy policy could remain largely unmet.