Half of total greenhouse gas emissions come from resource extraction and processing. It is not possibleto achieve the climate-neutrality target without transitioning to a fully circular economy. The new CircularEconomy Action Plan is at the core of the European Green Deal, the EU roadmap towards climateneutrality. The circular economy model where value and resources are maintained in the economy foras long as possible and waste generation is minimised, reduces pressures on natural resources whileboosting sustainable growth and jobs creation. It can make a decisive contribution to decarbonisingthe economy. The generation of waste in the Western Balkans has been increasing steadily over thelast years due to economic development and increased consumption, currently being at around1000kg/capita. While this is still lower than the EU average of 1700kg/capita, the very low recyclingrates (below 3%, in comparison to the EU average of 44%) result in higher per capita amount of wastenot being recycled. The Western Balkans will need to align with the single-use plastic legislation and tofully implement the modernised EU waste legislation, including its recycling and landfill reductiontargets.The overall goal of the project is engaging and empowering young people in circularity actionsfor transforming cities into circular and liveable for better opportunities for employment, cleanenvironment and inclusiveness.The final results of the project are: 1 Research paper from each partner elaborated about the status ofcircularity in rural and urban areas, 3 Training Modules developed on circular economy andsustainability, 20 youth operators are trained within the International Training Course WP2, 1Toolkitfocused on Circular Eco-design is developed for product redesign-repair techniques, At least 10 ruralyouth engaged within the local activities through application of circular economy toolkit in every partnercountry, At least 20 hours of e-learning course develop

The generation of municipal waste has risen steadily in the Western Balkans in recent years and is currently estimated to be at levels similar to those in the new EU member states (although data on solid waste are poor). The generation of municipal waste per capita in the region is estimated to have increased sharply between 2014 and 2018, from 234 to 330 kg (40 percent). This increase is linked to the steady increase in GDP in the same period, although the growth in waste outstripped the growth in GDP. Municipal waste collection is insufficient in most countries in the region, especially in rural areas. Large numbers of waste facilities are outdated. On 2 December 2015, the European Commission establish a package to support the EU's transition to a circular economy.. The Western Balkan and as candidate region to join EU family must adhere the circular economy principles and integrate the community in the process. The project “Circular Economy into Art through Eco-Design” – CEED has the foundation to the European Union directives and Western Balkan needs on green growth and sustainability. “Circular Economy into Art through Eco-Design” – CEED aims to increase competences of youth workers in circular economy principles translated in eco-design, crafting skill and foster their entrepreneurial attitude, know-how to initiate their own start-up business. The total duration of the project is 24 months, composed of two main trainings. The first activity titled “The Circular City we Want” will focus on providing participants with knowledge, methodologies and Non Formal Education tools to locally spread skills and attitudes necessary to eco-design/crafting methods mainly for bulky and electronic waste (furniture, electronic waste, etc). The participants will get information on the life cycle of the products and which are the best methods for re-using and how to deal with. The second activity “Turn Waste into Profit” will involve the same youth workers and leaders who participated in the first project TC, with a focus on exploring the environmental sustainability dimension of Circular Economy business models as well as the instruments and strategy to be adopted in order to employ sustainability instruments/approaches to lower the environmental impact of rural and urban business and communities as well as to open innovative market niches in the recycling industry. Other activities will take place as local events/workshops where young people will realize artistic products and promote sustainability principles through circular economy components.At the end the young workers will gain competences on creating new green business opportunities through recycling and eco-design.

People living in peripheral areas along the Western Balkan generally are exposed to poverty, pollution,and social inequality. Other relevant issues include unplanned settlement, squatter settlement or popularsettlement which explains the occupation by low-income households. The challenges that are present inthe peripheral areas relate to social elements such as discrimination of women and young people,prejudice and inequalities, environmental and urban elements as lack of access to clean water, properwaste collection, housing, access to education and economic elements such lack of employmentopportunities.To address the needs the project aims to gather for a period of 24 months 6 partners from EU andWestern Balkan countries to exchange practices and address the appropriate tools. The overallgoal of the project is engaging -empowering and enabling - youth to lead sustainable actions fortransforming peripheral areas into livable areas through sharing good practices, innovative tools, andmethods. The main objectives of the project are: Empowering young professionals from participatingorganizations with appropriate tools and methods to influence the transformation of peripheral areas intolivable areas, ii) Engaging and enabling rural youth to effectively contribute to scaling up peripheral areasupgrading. iii) Disseminating the results and the methodology of the project with the purpose of making awider impact to the society through online events and virtual communication.The main results of the project are: The capacities of 24 young professionals will be raised through themobility activities, more than 20 rural youth from each organization are engaged in local activities andtheir capacities will be increased, 1 toolkit and gamification game on urban design is developed anddelivered to young professionals, more than 10000 people are reached through dissemination activities,and digital events and communication.