Court of auditors urges EU to strengthen recycling markets and accelerate enforcement

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has called on the EU Commission to strengthen recycling markets and enforce compliance with municipal waste management and recycling targets. In its special report 23/2025, the Court highlights that implementation has lagged behind EU legislation due to weaknesses in planning, infrastructure investment, and economic incentives. Early warning reports by the Commission show disappointing progress toward EU waste targets, prompting the ECA to assess whether EU legal initiatives, enforcement mechanisms, and EU-funded projects are fit for purpose. The Court conducted in-depth analyses in Greece, Poland, Portugal, and Romania, chosen for their prior risk of non-compliance and significant Cohesion Fund waste project spending during 2014–2020. The analyses revealed gaps in planning, implementation, and the efficient use of resources. Based on these findings, the Court made three key recommendations: 1. Strengthen EU recycling markets to make recycling economically viable and promote the use of recycled materials. 2. Accelerate enforcement of waste legislation to ensure member states meet EU targets. 3. Assess the feasibility of harmonized landfill and incineration taxes to provide economic incentives for better waste management. The ECA stresses that achieving EU waste targets requires not only legislation but also effective enforcement, targeted financial incentives, and strategic infrastructure investment. These steps are crucial for advancing the EU toward a circular economy and meeting its sustainability goals.