The Council adopted last March 17 conclusions on the EU’s new Bioeconomy Strategy, which welcome the vision of a competitive and sustainable bioeconomy by 2040, promote the use of circular and bio-based solutions across all relevant sectors—as non-fossil alternatives—and support innovation and investment.
The bioeconomy uses renewable biological resources, such as plants, animals and microorganisms, to produce food, energy and industrial goods.
In its Conclusions, the Council welcomes the EU Bioeconomy Strategy proposed by the Commission as a timely and essential steptowards strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, prosperity and sustainability.
According to the Council’s Conclusions, it is important to effectively implement existing EU legislation relevant to the bioeconomy and to align national actions with the strategy. The Council calls for greater innovation and further measures to encourage investment in sustainable bio-based solutions, in particular the streamlining of approval procedures and the simplification of regulations, and for taking the lead in global action on the bioeconomy.
Creating predictable demand for bio-based materials and technologies is key to unlocking private investment. In this context, the Council highlights the need to identify and strengthen sectors with high potential (pioneer markets).
These lead markets should not be limited to those listed in the EU Bioeconomy Strategy (e.g. bio-based plastics, chemicals, construction materials and fertilisers), but could also be extended to other sectors, such as footwear and textiles, paper or the blue bioeconomy (e.g. the use of algae and sponges).
According to recent reports, the EU is largely self-sufficient in terms of biomass supply (around 90%). The Council calls for a sustainable supply of biomass to be ensured, as this is essential for the long-term viability of the bioeconomy. It calls on Member States to use biomass across all value chains in a resource-efficient and environmentally sound manner, and to promote the use of by-products, bio-waste and waste (secondary biomass).
Background
Across the EU, the bioeconomy supports almost one in twelve jobs, representing a workforce of 17.1 million people. In 2023, the total value of the EU bioeconomy was estimated at €2.7 trillion, and the bioeconomy is considered to be the Union’s fastest-growing sector, whilst protecting the environment and promoting the circular economy.
On 27 November 2025, the Commission adopted the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy in response to the Council Conclusions of 2023 and 2024 on this matter and the European Council’s Strategic Agenda for 2024–2029.
Further information: European Council
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