Circular Change at the GPP2ADRION Kick-off Meeting in Padova
On 12–13 September 2024, the University of Padova hosted the official kick-off meeting of the GPP2ADRION project, funded by the Interreg IPA ADRION Programme. The two-day event gathered project partners from across the Adriatic-Ionian region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Slovenia — a strong signal of regional cooperation for a greener future.
Circular Change joined the meeting as a key partner, presenting its role in leading Work Package 1 (WP1) and introducing its vision of connecting the European and Western Balkan circular ecosystems. As an institute with a long-standing experience in developing circular economy roadmaps and facilitating collaboration between policymakers, businesses, and communities, Circular Change acts as a bridge — geographically and conceptually — linking EU Member States and non-EU partners in the joint transition towards sustainable public procurement.
Within the project, Circular Change is responsible for preparing guidelines, methodologies, and coordination mechanisms for all partners involved in assessing the current state of public and green public procurement (GPP) in their respective countries. WP1 includes:
Developing a common model for stakeholder identification and engagement;
Preparing the Benchmark and Gap Analysis Reports on the implementation of GPP for circular economy;
Reviewing existing standards for green and circular public procurement;
Providing instructions for data collection, stakeholder interviews, and reporting on national findings.
As WP1 leader, Circular Change will ensure that knowledge and methodologies are harmonised across the ADRION region and that partners can effectively identify barriers, opportunities, and good practices. The Institute will also implement all project activities in Slovenia, including communication and dissemination, while extending project results through its international network and the European Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform.
The GPP2ADRION project, coordinated by the University of Padova and supported by partners such as the Region of Western Greece, the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism of Montenegro, and multiple chambers of commerce, will run until August 2027. Its aim is to promote Green Public Procurement as a driver of circular economy transformation across the Adriatic-Ionian region, building capacity among public authorities, SMEs, and key stakeholders to turn procurement into a strategic tool for sustainable development.
