ECR member Tjisse Stelpsta was appointed rapporteur earlier in 2020 to draw up the European Committee of the Region's opinion on the new Circular Economy Action Plan. The circular economy is one of three priority areas of the EUs' environmental policy. Mr Stelpstra was appointed to the position of rapporteur by the commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE).

In formulating this opinion document, Mr Stelpstra and his expert, Ms Ingrid Zeegers held a variety of bilateral consultations with relevant stakeholders, policymakers, and environmental experts. This included consultations with political organisations such as the “Urban Agenda Partnership" and “Hesus", a private firm dedicated to the recycling of waste from construction. There are still more consultations to take place with the European Environmental Bureau and the European Panel Federation. The working document was first discussed at the 3rd Commission meeting of ENVE on 8 and 9 June. Mr Stelpstra and Ms Zeegers were careful to consider all the relevant consultations when completing their working document. They noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, which occurred concurrently to the consultation and drafting process, that the crisis underlines the need for a sustainable and productive economy even during times of trial.

The working document that serves as a basis for discussion on the draft opinion, in summation, describes the objectives of the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). This includes sustainable industrial production, business creation and the support of locally based small to medium sized enterprises. On the consumer side, CEAP advocates for high quality, safe and reusable products that will also create sustainable jobs in local and regional economies. These smaller local economies are key, as they are the main players in waste management, water distribution, agriculture, and other vital sectors. The responsibilities of local and regional politicians cannot be understated as they will also be the primary creators of political mechanisms that will be the key contributing factor to whether the goals set out by CEAP are actually achieved or not.

The working document also asks the reader and indeed politicians to entertain a different mindset. For instance, in a proper circular economy, there should be no more “waste". All materials should be designed either for industrial re-use or to decompose responsibly into the biosphere. This similar paradigm shift is also undertaken when discussing issues of finance and economics to provide monetary incentives to embrace the sustainability and green goals, especially on a local dimension. Price signals and the value-added tax are discussed as possible policy tools. To conclude, the rapporteur emphasises that for sustainability and green goals to be met, localism is the key. CEAP cannot be a top-down implementation but a horizontal approach where good local jobs are produced, fair trade practices are in effect and local economies remain prosperous. This opinion will be adopted by the commission in September before moving on to the plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions this October​.