Brussels – 24 February 2026. AIM, the European Brands Association, has joined 67 European industry associations in issuing a joint statement calling on the European Commission and co-legislators to anchor the forthcoming New Circular Economy Act (CEA) in a robust Internal Market legal basis (Article 114 TFEU).
The joint statement reflects broad cross-sector support from across the packaging value chain, consumer goods sectors and wider European industry. Together, the signatories underline that only a clear Internal Market foundation can deliver the structural step-change needed to achieve Europe’s circular economy objectives.
Despite ambitious EU targets, waste management performance remains uneven across Member States. Significant disparities in landfill rates and recycling outcomes point to persistent structural shortcomings and fragmented national frameworks. This fragmentation undermines environmental progress and prevents the development of a well-functioning European market for secondary raw materials.
For branded goods manufacturers operating across borders, divergent waste rules create legal uncertainty, administrative burden and barriers to scaling circular solutions. A patchwork of national approaches slows investment, limits economies of scale and weakens the integrity of the Single Market.
The New Circular Economy Act represents a unique opportunity to address these challenges. By establishing harmonised rules under an Internal Market legal basis, the EU can reduce regulatory fragmentation, provide legal clarity and predictability, and ensure a level playing field for businesses and Member States alike. Such an approach would help lagging systems catch up with frontrunners, while accelerating the creation of competitive secondary raw materials markets.
The coalition cautions against weakening the proposal in the name of flexibility. A shift away from an Internal Market foundation would risk perpetuating divergence and legal uncertainty at a time when Europe needs coherence, resilience and competitiveness.
AIM and its fellow signatories stand ready to work constructively with EU institutions to ensure that the New Circular Economy Act delivers meaningful environmental progress while strengthening the Single Market and supporting Europe’s transition to a circular and climate-neutral economy.
