JASPERS 2021 Information brochure
The Joint Assistance to Support Projects in European Regions (JASPERS) advises on strategies, programmes and projects for investments supported by European Grant Funds, with the aim of promoting growth and paving the way to a smarter, greener and more connected Europe.
In preparation of the European 2021-2027 programming period, JASPERS has started to advise national managing authorities of European funds, on how to integrate the circular economy policy objectives in: the national, regional and/or local strategic frameworks, the European fund operational programs and the project pipeline development.
An initial JASPERS finding is that national circular economy strategies are a cornerstone to develop and embed circularity. The present working paper provides an overview of existing circular economy strategies in Europe and of the emerging best methodological, implementation and monitoring practices. In working through the paper, strategy makers will understand which aspects and elements are attention points and key success criteria for the establishment of their own strategy.
This working paper comes with an accompanying Excel Database summarizing the 70+ circular economy strategies developed in Europe as of May 2021 that have been reviewed in preparation of this paper.
In 2021 JASPERS completed 102 advisory assignments, including 85 in the European Union. Support was provided for the preparation of projects in a variety of sectors: transport; energy; innovation; digital and human capital; water and environment; climate change mitigation and adaptation; urban development; circular economy; and capacity building.
In 2021, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank committed to financing JASPERS over several years. JASPERS’ support to beneficiary countries — EU Member States and Western Balkan candidate countries for EU accession — is needed more than ever in light of the impact of recent conflicts on the global economy, uncertainties linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ever-growing challenges of climate change adaptation and the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
JASPERS completed 131 assignments across all mandates in 2020, and the European Commission approved financial contributions to 49 major projects supported by JASPERS at project preparation stage, or appraised by JASPERS, with total project costs of €19.2 billion and €7.1 billion of EU grant support. Projects addressing health, emergency response, energy, research, environment and climate change witnessed increase in demand for assistance.