Quali principi giuridici per l’economia circolare nell’Unione europea?

Which legal principles for the circular economy in the European Union?

Abstract

The contribution focuses on four principles that can steer and guide the transformation of the European economy towards the circular economy, in the context of the European Green Deal and the sustainable development policies of the European Union. On the one hand, two 'old' principles already well established in EU law are examined, namely the integration principle and the principle of sustainable development. On the other hand, two emerging 'new' principles not yet fully recognised in Union law are analysed, namely the principle of non-regression and the principle 'in dubio pro natura'. A unified legal framework for the circular economy in the context of the European single market may emerge from the combination of these old and new principles.