Launched in June 2024 under the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme, CE-PRINCE aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy by fostering cooperation between the public and private sectors. The project aims to help public authorities integrate circular criteria into tenders while supporting enterprises to adapt their business models and improve their readiness for green procurement.
During the first project phase, CE-PRINCE partners completed the Transnational Initial Assessment, mapping the state of circularity in both demand (public administrations) and supply (enterprises). This work revealed disparities and opportunities that shaped CE-PRINCE’s Transnational Strategy for Circular Green Public Procurement, published in early 2025. The Transnational Strategy outlines shared objectives and policy directions to standardise circular procurement practices across Central Europe and enhancing circular procurement by boosting cooperation between public and private sectors, and aligning demand and supply of circular goods and services.
Focus of the meeting: presenting the Transnational Action Plans
The 2nd Advisory Board meeting marked an important step forward — the presentation of the draft Transnational Action Plans (TAPs) created by CE-PRINCE for the public and private sectors. These plans are the operational tools translating the strategy into practice.
The TAP for Public Authorities focuses on reinforcing the capacity of public bodies to design, implement, and monitor procurement procedures that include circular criteria.
The TAP for Private Enterprises aims to improve companies’ circularity and help them align their products and services with GPP requirements.
Both documents provide structured frameworks of actions targeting the project’s four key sectors – agri-food, construction, manufacturing and tourism-related services and goods, with country specific aspects.
The upcoming actions will include training sessions, webinars, and seminars to strengthen technical and policy skills, advocacy meetings and symposia to raise awareness and promote alignment between national and EU frameworks. CE-PRINCE TAP will also facilitate peer-to-peer exchanges to share experiences and good practices and at last but not least, pilot initiatives to test circular criteria in real procurement and business cases.
CE-PRINCE aims to engage a wide range of target groups, including public procurers, policy officers, and decision-makers at all levels of government, SME owners, sustainability managers, and procurement teams in enterprises, business associations, and networks active in green and circular innovation.
Next steps
Advisory Board members are invited to review the draft TAPs and provide feedback and recommendations by 29 October 2025. Their inputs will help CE-PRINCE to finalise the Action Plans, which will be published by the end of November 2025.
The next Advisory Board meeting is foreseen for Spring 2026, when partners will present tangible outcomes from pilot and capacity-building activities, opening space for further exchange and policy dialogue.