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Previous congresses

In 2001 and 2004, PRO EUROPE organized the European Recycling Weeks which were resounding successes. Central to these events was the organisation of PRO EUROPE’s International Congress.

The 1^st Congress was entitled "Recycling as Part of Daily Life in Europe" and was held in Madrid in September 2001. Over 600 participants from more than 20 countries shared their experiences and views for the first time at a forum of this kind. It demonstrated that sorting waste has become a reality shared by many European citizens.

The 2^nd Congress took place in Berlin in October 2004 and served as a key information and discussion forum for interested participants from a total of 37 countries. It pursued three thematic objectives: to recall the context of the emergence of producer responsibility, to place recycling within a perspective of sustainable development, and to show the educative dimensions of the Green Dot schemes via the First European Youth Eco-Parliament. The Congress concluded by stressing the need to strengthen recycling markets and step up international co-operation.

The 3^rd International Congress was held in Paris in October 2006. This event was entitled "Green Dot 2006: a successful path to environmental citizenship". As with the Berlin Congress, the Youth Eco-Parliament (YEP) took place in parallel for the second year running.

Finally the 4^th International Congress was held in Prague in May 2008. This event was entitled "Green Dot 2008: From waste to resource management". As with the Berlin and Paris Congress, the Youth Eco-Parliament (YEP) took place in parallel.

Key conclusions from the past congresses are:

• Co-operation and communication between all stakeholders such as policy, industry, and society are needed on the path towards a successful sustainable future.
• Citizens of Europe should take up their responsibility and recycle household waste as part of their commitment to the environment and a sustainable future.
• There is a need to strengthen recycling markets and step up international co-operation.
• Environmental citizenship and encouraging people to adopt good environmental habits in their daily lives is crucial to the long term success of environmental policy
• Continue the shift in environmental policy from "end of the pipe" solutions towards an integrated approach aimed at preventing environmental impact throughout products' life cycle, and a more sustainable management of natural resources.

 

Visit the Berlin congress website www.proeurope-congress.com/site2004

Visit the Paris congress website www.proeurope-congress.com/site2006

Visit the Prague congress website www.proeurope-congress.com/site2008