Driving Circular Cities Forward: The CSCP at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2025 Hundreds of experts, city representatives, and pioneers gathered for in-depth exchanges on the future of circular cities at the European Week of Regions and Cities hosted in October 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. CSCP’s Dr. Shirin Betzler and Dr. Johannes Klement contributed by sharing our experiences and insights on circular cities and regions and by engaging with peers on how we can collectively accelerate progress toward more sustainable urban futures. The event was a marathon of ideas: three days packed with seminars, high-level panels, and networking on a shared commitment to drive circular economy in cities at the European Week of Regions and Cities. On day one, the CSCP was present at the C3 Circular City Seminar, an event organised by the Circular Cities Declaration, an initiative in which the CSCP is a partner. Here, the focus was on how can cities endorse circular procurement. The new Guidance Document on Circular Public Procurement demonstrated that we’re long past theory. ICLEI Europe presented practical tools, followed by inspiring examples from the cities of Leuven, Belgium and Riga, Latvia. In breakout sessions, participants discussed specific challenges with city representatives, from procurement guidelines to political hurdles. Day two shifted the spotlight to the heart of European decision-making: the European Parliament. At the final event of the InvestCEC project, the city of Klagenfurt, Germany, took centre stage. A highlight was the panel discussion featuring Member of the European Parliament Sandro Gozi, alongside business and administrative representatives, exploring strategic partnerships and innovative financing models. The message was clear: circular projects require not only vision but also investment readiness. Running parallel and into day three: Europe’s largest regional networking event took place at the European Week of Regions and Cities. Here, the CSCP represented the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) at the CCRI stand and participated in numerous sessions covering a wide range of topics, from construction to textiles to urban mobility. Since 2024, the CSCP plays a crucial role in the implementation of CCRI Communities of Practice for the circular transition across Europe. Key takeaways? The momentum on circular cities and regions is not only growing, it is also becoming more nuanced and therefore more targeted. For cities and regions willing to drive the circular transformation, there is a wealth of support available. The CCRI compass is a good starting point to navigate this landscape. As an active member of the CCRI community, we look forward to contributing our expertise and forging new partnerships to support cities and regions overcome challenges and advance the circular transition! For further questions and to engage with us, please contact Dr. Johannes Klement.