European networks
OVAM has been a member of the Coordination Group of the ECESP since 2017. This platform, hosted by the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Commission, offers a place for stakeholder dialogue, exchange of knowledge and best practices and discussion on accelerating the transition to a circular economy.
The 24 Members of the Coordination Group act as ambassadors, arrange the annual European Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference and coordinate thematic Leadership groups. The thematic focus areas for OVAM on this platform are circular procurement and textiles.
OVAM represents Belgium on the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste, which allows us to disseminate Belgian good policy practices and inspires our own. The platform was established by the European Commission in 2016 to support the achievement of Sustainable development Goal (SDG) 12.3 food waste target and maximise the contribution of all actors.
It brings together EU institutions, experts from EU countries and relevant stakeholders. The Platform aims to support all actors in defining measures needed to prevent food waste, sharing best practices and evaluating progress over time.
This Pact brings together governments and frontrunners from across the whole value chain. They work together towards four goals aimed at design, responsible use, recycling capacity and the use of recycled content.
The Pact supports this work by providing a platform for exchanging ideas, displaying good practices and discussing challenges - needed to build a new circular default for all to follow.
In the Benelux Union, the governments of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg are working together to share information and exchange best practices. OVAM represents the Flemish government in the Working Party on Circular Economy.
OVAM is member of ACR+, an international network of cities and regions sharing the aim of promoting sustainable resource management and accelerating the transition towards a circular economy in their territories and beyond.
The Common Forum is a network (started in 1994) of contaminated land policy-makers, regulators and technical advisers from environmental authorities of the Member States of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association.
It is a platform for exchanging knowledge and experience, for cooperating on soil policy and for offering expertise to other stakeholders (in particular through cooperation with existing European and international networks). OVAM plays an active role in this forum and represents Flanders at annual meetings, workshops and events.
The Common Forum is the driving force behind the International Committee on Contaminated Land (ICCL), a global network present in more than 70 countries.
OVAM initiated the EmConSoil network (Emerging Soil Contaminant governance & policy) an international multi-stakeholder network. This is an open network for stakeholders from different sectors and countries.
The aims are to exchange knowledge, develop strategies and policies, raise awareness, and intensify collaboration between all stakeholders. This will be done by information sharing on a website, conferences such as the annual ENSOr (International workshop on Emerging policy challenges on New SOil contaminants), workshops, etc.