Resource efficiency - one of the flagship initiatives of the “Europe 2020” strategy for economic growth - will be the main focus of this year’s FEAD annual conference taking place on 8 October 2010 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Following a morning session on the implementation of the Waste Framework Directive in view of the upcoming end-of-year deadline for the implementation into national law, the afternoon will be dedicated to the contribution of EU waste policy to a resource efficient Europe and future challenges in terms of resource self-sufficiency and climate protection.

Soledad Blanco, Director at DG Environment, and Andreas Versmann, from the waste unit in DG Environment, are included among the keynote speakers of the conference entitled “Modern Waste Management: Key to a Sustainable Use of Resources”. Mieke De Schoenmakere from the Belgian Presidency of the European Union and the Dutch Member of the European Parliament, Judith Merkies, will make introductory statements. Representatives from the Dutch and Hungarian environment ministries will provide a national perspective to the debates and experts from the waste management sector will address the future challenges and opportunities from an industry’s point of view. During the last session, best practice examples of European waste management will be presented in relation to Public Private Partnerships, health and safety and climate change.

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