Without promoting the uptake of high-quality plastics produced in the EU, the transition to a circular economy cannot be achieved. This requires enforcing mirror measures on imports of recycled polymers ,and plastic products (finished/semi-finished), or equivalent workable mechanisms to restore a level playing field. This also includes ramping up targeted incentives in infrastructure for collection and sorting, boosting investment in EU recycling by exploring Green VAT and implementing EPR bonuses, ensuring high-quality standards, establishing uniform design-for-recycling criteria, and reforming public procurement to favour EU recyclates. It is also essential to reduce the incineration and landfilling of plastic waste, which is diverted from the circular loop.

Strong enforcement starts with properly staffed and well-equipped authorities, including Customs authorities, harmonised rules, and consistent market surveillance. National authorities should benefit
from structured training, industry dialogue, and digital traceability tools. Separate customs codes for fossil-based and for every non fossil-based feedstocks and products (bio-based, recycled and carbon captured), as well as a harmonised EU verification framework, and a streamlined third-party certification are essential for detecting non-compliant imports. Oversight of recycled content claims, compliance with food contact material legislation, and REACH8 enforcement must apply equally to imports, backed by robust traceability standards and test methods.

Delivering circularity at scale requires targeted support for breakthrough technologies, fostering a regulatory environment that de-risks investment and accelerates innovation while keeping supporting existing capacities. Advancing efficient collection systems, scaling sorting and separation technologies, and supporting all recycling technologies - while prioritising the most sustainable ones - is essential. To unlock investments and build a unified and competitive circular plastics market, the EU must strengthen
coordination, harmonise rules for recycling and substances, and clarify governance at Member State level.

Stronger links between circularity and climate policy are essential, with a comprehensive package of supporting measures for the EU plastic industry. Recycling, masterbatching, compounding, and converting should be eligible for the support measures included under the NZIA, CISAF, IDAA and CEEAG, typically applicable to the energy-intensive industries (EIIs). The plastics industry must benefit from affordable energy schemes, tax relief, and emissions-based funding to remain competitive. State Aid, including operating aid, is urgently needed, with resource allocation focusing on CO₂ savings, resource efficiency, and circularity, with dedicated access for SMEs and existing companies. Current revenues on plastics, such as those from ETS7 and Plastics own resource, should be reinvested into a dedicated fund within the Competitiveness Fund, to support the circularity of the plastic industry, including waste management.

Consistent and harmonised implementation and enforcement of EU law across Member States is essential. This includes strict enforcement of recycled content targets, backed by third-party certification and clear penalties. Legal clarity and coherent rules interpretation are needed to boost investment confidence, as well as reducing red tape via streamlining permitting and reporting processes. Harmonised compliance audits and EU-wide End-of-Waste criteria are needed to scale circular solutions across the Single Market. For example, in the case of food-contact material, the Commission must increase its resources to ensure the sufficient supply of safe recycled plastic. This entails ensuring that competent authorities conduct their audits, completing the relevant Union register, and fast-tracking the approval of the so-called novel technologies.

Increased harmonisation of EU-wide EPR rules, definitions, and eco-modulated fees are essential to avoid market fragmentation and ensure fair competition. EPR should target market failures, reward design-for-recycling and recycled content through material-neutral, more harmonised requirements and criteria. Strategic governance should have full value chain representation, for example through an advisory board.
Operational governance of PROs should be independent. Fee-based competition that could incentivize minimal compliance should be prevented.