NCES to succeed) and profitability are not sufficiently involved. Finally, the
multilevel/multi-actor interaction between national, regional and municipal authorities, the business sector and NGOs is rather complex and bureaucratic, and interests
are often conflicting not complementary.
These problems are not insurmountable; if resolved and linked to the SSS,
synergy opportunities can arise. Regional design based on competitive advantages
can provide the long-term perspective and public-private cooperation the CE needs.
Natural resources are available in the country and so are untapped secondary
resources and waste. Using them as inputs for the revision of the SSS can lead to
the generation of new competitive edges exploiting the scientific skills and expertise
as well as productive tradition and know-how in technical trades. Agri-food is a
sector with growth potential that requires modernisation and reduction of production
costs. It is a priority in almost all SSS, so it is important to link it to its CE dimension
in terms of production, consumption and waste management. A similar aspect can be
exploited in the case of renewable energies.
Good governance and the exploitation of all available funding opportunities
including good practices for new tools will be necessary to catch up with the EU
average and even leapfrog. Policymakers should devise a generally acceptable
coordination structure with clear demarcations of competences to ensure smooth
cooperation between all administrative levels and the business sector while considering using new instruments, such as financial engineering and green or technology
public procurement to enhance the role of business. Learning from the profitable CE
investment in other countries and using EU peer learning opportunities in combination with pilots in Greek regions could enhance further the implementation of CE in
Greece. Pilot the more mature Greek regions (Crete, Attica, Epirus in terms of R&D;
Western Macedonia and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in waste management), which, as demonstrated by this exercise, advance faster than others, so that
the revised SSS in these regions could be used as pilots for the CE. Finally, the
national strategy for circular economy needs to be redesigned in order to be more
implementation-oriented. That is, include more explicit goals, set specific targets,
propose a practical framework, and create a roadmap to enhance cooperation
between the different levels of public administration, as well as to develop synergies
across society and private and public sectors.
The revised SSS can be instrumental to help allocate more funds for projects
promoting the circular economy in both national and regional level and by developing a modern strategy, which will incorporate the SDGs and EU Action Plan, and
address upcoming challenges, while it will also transform the production model to
become more sustainable and competitive in the long-term. Using the crossreferencing methodology of SSS and CE strategy goals adapted for the needs and
competitive advantages of each country proves a very helpful tool in this endeavour.
This is the main lesson drawn from the Greek exercise.
220
L. Tsipouri et al.
multilevel/multi-actor interaction between national, regional and municipal authorities, the business sector and NGOs is rather complex and bureaucratic, and interests
are often conflicting not complementary.
These problems are not insurmountable; if resolved and linked to the SSS,
synergy opportunities can arise. Regional design based on competitive advantages
can provide the long-term perspective and public-private cooperation the CE needs.
Natural resources are available in the country and so are untapped secondary
resources and waste. Using them as inputs for the revision of the SSS can lead to
the generation of new competitive edges exploiting the scientific skills and expertise
as well as productive tradition and know-how in technical trades. Agri-food is a
sector with growth potential that requires modernisation and reduction of production
costs. It is a priority in almost all SSS, so it is important to link it to its CE dimension
in terms of production, consumption and waste management. A similar aspect can be
exploited in the case of renewable energies.
Good governance and the exploitation of all available funding opportunities
including good practices for new tools will be necessary to catch up with the EU
average and even leapfrog. Policymakers should devise a generally acceptable
coordination structure with clear demarcations of competences to ensure smooth
cooperation between all administrative levels and the business sector while considering using new instruments, such as financial engineering and green or technology
public procurement to enhance the role of business. Learning from the profitable CE
investment in other countries and using EU peer learning opportunities in combination with pilots in Greek regions could enhance further the implementation of CE in
Greece. Pilot the more mature Greek regions (Crete, Attica, Epirus in terms of R&D;
Western Macedonia and Eastern Macedonia and Thrace in waste management), which, as demonstrated by this exercise, advance faster than others, so that
the revised SSS in these regions could be used as pilots for the CE. Finally, the
national strategy for circular economy needs to be redesigned in order to be more
implementation-oriented. That is, include more explicit goals, set specific targets,
propose a practical framework, and create a roadmap to enhance cooperation
between the different levels of public administration, as well as to develop synergies
across society and private and public sectors.
The revised SSS can be instrumental to help allocate more funds for projects
promoting the circular economy in both national and regional level and by developing a modern strategy, which will incorporate the SDGs and EU Action Plan, and
address upcoming challenges, while it will also transform the production model to
become more sustainable and competitive in the long-term. Using the crossreferencing methodology of SSS and CE strategy goals adapted for the needs and
competitive advantages of each country proves a very helpful tool in this endeavour.
This is the main lesson drawn from the Greek exercise.
220
L. Tsipouri et al.