Turkmenistan’s economy grew by 6.3% in the first half of 2026, driven by strong oil and gas output alongside gains in construction, trade, and services. While economic stability remains solid, long-term resilience will depend on accelerating diversification beyond the energy sector.
As the EU prepares its forthcoming Circular Economy Act, circularity is moving from the margins of environmental policy to the centre of Europe’s competitiveness agenda. This article argues that waste is no longer merely a disposal problem, but a strategic test of Europe’s industrial resilience, resource security and ability to build a functioning market for secondary raw materials. With plastics at the heart of the debate, the piece explores why Europe must transform recycling, product design, traceability and material reuse into pillars of a stronger, greener and more self-reliant economy.
