Unlocking circular economy solutions in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship

News

24 October 2023

By Platform

In 2020, the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform organised an online peer review for the region of Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, Poland. The region was seeking advice on how to accelerate the shift to a circular economy.

What is a peer review?

A peer review is a targeted working meeting over 2 days in which the host, who has requested the meeting, meets with selected European peers to exchange knowledge and hands-on experience on the host’s policy challenge.

Each peer review is tailored to the specific policy challenge of the host. The purpose of the peer review is to respond to the challenge by bringing in the experience and knowledge of like-minded policy experts from across Europe.

In short, a peer review is a fast track to tailored policy advice and practical recommendations on how to design and implement regional policies bette

In 2020, the Voivodeship designed its new regional programme to allocate EU funds for sustainable growth in 2021-2027. It saw this as an opportunity to embed the concept of circular economy in the priorities defined for the new programme. The Voivodeship was therefore seeking ideas for action in areas such as:

Sustainable waste management
Eco-innovation
Green entrepreneurship
Product life extension
Resource efficiency
Cleaner energy production.

For inspiration, the Voivodeship contacted the Platform and requested a peer review.

The positive impact of the peer review

In January 2021, the board adopted the key peer review recommendations and included circular economy and related projects in the new regional operational programme. Based on the lessons learnt from the peer review, the managing authority decided to comprehensively integrate circular economy measures under three of the programme’s strategic priorities (a smarter, greener, and a more social Europe).

Consequently, the region began to work more closely with local businesses and residents, as well as municipalities. It prepared a targeted communication campaign for potential beneficiaries to bring about new circular economy projects that could be co-financed by the new programme.

Finally, the Voivodeship shared their positive peer review experience with the neighbouring Pomorskie region, which decided to apply for and host their own peer review. Pomorskie’s peer review took place in June 2022 and looked for solutions to boost local and regional participation in EU research and innovation programmes.