Presentation of the 2nd Circular Change Conference: Walking the Talk - Enabling Circular Transformation

Ljubljana, 13th April 2017

The presentation of the programme of the 2nd Circular Change Conference 2017 at the House of the EU in Ljubljana was representation of strong partnerships with the Slovenian Government – the co-organiser of the second conference day – , cities of Ljubljana and Maribor, who are hosting the event on 11th and the 12th May, and the Dutch and the Italian Embassies in Slovenia and AmCham Slovenia.
Just after the opening of the Circular Change Academy a video message of the Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Miro Cerar, introduced the press conference.  The message of the prime Minister is straight-forward: the time is now in Slovenia and Europe for the transition to circular economy.
Slovenian Government consider that transition moment strategic, confirmed Tadej Slapnik, State Secretary at the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, Head of Partnership for Green Economy, an initiative under which the Government coordinates all ministries and external stakeholders who contribute to the green economic and social transition.
Ladeja Godina Košir, the leader of the Circular Change Platform, introduced the key messages and the speakers on programme of the 2nd Circular Change Conference, which will take place the 11th May at Ljubljana Castle and the 12th May 2017 at Hotel Habakuk, Maribor. Dr. Janez Potočnik, The Chair of the Advisory Board of the CC Platform and one of the keynote speakers at the event, underlined that the Circular Change Platform is now recognised as the focal meeting point for the circular economy in the country. He expressed the support to the mission that Slovenia adjoins the most advanced European countries in the circular transition.
The circular transformation is a hot topic at EU level, exposed Franc Bogovič, Member of the European Parliament, EPP.
H.E. Bart Twaalfhoven, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Slovenia, briefly exposed an already advanced state of implementation of circular economy model in the Netherlands, which will be on focus at the Circular Change Conference and exposed examples from the every-day life, a demonstration of sharing economy being rooted in the Dutch culture.
Elisa Scelsa, Managing Director, ITA – Ice, Ljubljana Office, representative of the Embassy of the Republic of Italy, enlightened the Italian best practices and emphasised the full support and trust from her side to the Circular Conference.
The local implementation of the circular transition in Slovenia will be one in the focus of the Conference: Tjaša Ficko, Vice-Mayor of the City of Ljubljana, and Božidar Resnik, Managing Director of Wcycle Institute, representative of the City of Maribor, outlined the full involvement in the support of the event.
A pre-event, Green Plus Digital Is Circular – One Year On, will be hosted by AmCham, as confirmed by Ajša Vodnik, Executive Director, AmCham Slovenia, the traditional partner fo the Conference.
The press conference confirmed the broad partnership created around the Circular Change Conference, believed certain will be an opportunity to share European experiences in the field. Becoming the European Circular Hot Spot in the near future is a natural ambition of the Conference, exposed Jurij Giacomelli, founder of Giacomelli Media, a consulting firm that launched the Circular Change Platform. “This should not be merely  an ambition of the Platform itself, but of all of us, stakeholders, who have to prove the commitment and the ability to become one of the front-running countries, leading the circular transition.”