[{"bbox": [85, 154, 323, 186], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 221, 234, 247], "category": "Section-header", "text": "2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [96, 278, 1135, 678], "category": "Text", "text": "Being a reliable key partner of the European Union in the Indo-Pacific region, the Republic of Mauritius can be a champion for the implementation of the EU Indo-Pacific Strategy that, jointly with the Global Gateway, aims to contribute to stability, security, prosperity and sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific region, fostering the principles of democracy, rule of law, human rights and international law for a like-minded globally connected community, including through, joint research, and trade and investment. Both partners strive at delivering multilateral commitments and tackling issues of common interests, including peace and security, blue and green economy, sustainable trade and inclusive economic governance, climate action, and gender equality. Transitioning to a circular economy model will facilitate inclusive economic development while achieving biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and restoration, climate adaptation and mitigation, and the creation of decent green jobs in local and regional value chains. The adoption of CE principles will further help EU and Mauritian businesses to adapt to rising sustainability standards on the international and EU markets, in line with policy objectives of the EU Green Deal, as well as to make the country more attractive to conscious tourists and investors. This angle is important as the EU and Mauritius are linked by the upcoming deepening of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the EU and five Eastern and Southern African countries, including Mauritius³, from which particularly the private sector is expected to benefit."}, {"bbox": [96, 688, 1135, 1141], "category": "Text", "text": "The priorities of the Mauritian government include the promotion of a more inclusive and sustainable growth model thanks to the adoption of circular economy principles that at the same time will enhance the country's resilience to external shocks⁴, climate change, resource depletion, and biodiversity loss. This engagement translates into national development strategies targeting an inclusive, greener, sustainable, low-emission and climate resilient growth as well as commitments in UNFCCC⁵ and UNCBD⁶. In this area, the EU and its member states, notably France and Germany (through AFD, ADEME, Proparco, and DEG) are longstanding, reliable and pioneering partners of Mauritius. This is demonstrated through a series of financial and non-financial support programmes⁷, and the development, alongside UNEP, of the Roadmap and Action Plan for a Circular Economy in Mauritius (2023-2033). The proposed EUR 3.5 million programme is a substantial part of the Multi-Indicative Programme 2021-27 for Mauritius which comprises EUR 8 million in total. At the same time, it constitutes a limited budget with regards to the financial resources needed for the country's climate change mitigation and adaptation (estimated needs of EUR 6 billion by 2030⁸) as well as economic transformations such as envisaged by the vision of the Republic of Mauritian CE Roadmap, notably that \"by 2050, the circular economy has been embedded in the culture of the country, generating sustainable production and consumption patterns in all levels of society, driving the regeneration of nature, positively impacting the lives of people and the environment and promoting the creation of green jobs. This can position Mauritius as a role model for the circular economy in the region and among Small Island Developing States (SIDS)\"."}, {"bbox": [96, 1151, 1135, 1312], "category": "Text", "text": "The Mauritian roadmap aligns with the EU Circular Economy definition⁹ and incorporates the five pillars of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan¹⁰. Furthermore, it is consistent with the adopted Declaration of the Ministers and High representatives of the Island States of Africa and the Indian Ocean for the development of the Circular Economy in September 2023. In 2023, Mauritius joined the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA) and counts as a pioneer in having developed a CE Roadmap and Action Plan both among the SADC and the COMESA, of which it is also a member. The action plan, which was developed based on a participative approach and inclusive"}, {"bbox": [85, 1355, 1143, 1395], "category": "Footnote", "text": "³ A regional Interim EU-Eastern and Southern Africa EPA, in which Mauritius participates, has been formally applied since February 2019 with three key components, notably trade in goods, fisheries and Economic Development Cooperation."}, {"bbox": [85, 1395, 1143, 1433], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁴ Notably, supply chain disruptions and price spikes caused by the protective measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing wars (e.g., between Israel/Gaza and Ukraine/Russia)."}, {"bbox": [85, 1434, 562, 1453], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change"}, {"bbox": [85, 1453, 502, 1471], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁶ UNCBD United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity"}, {"bbox": [85, 1472, 800, 1491], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁷ EnSAM Technical assistance facility, ADEME FEXTE, SUNREF Programmes I, II, III, AdaptAction etc."}, {"bbox": [85, 1492, 1143, 1550], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁸ According to the Republic of Mauritius' latest NDC (2021), USD 6.5 million are required by 2030, of which USD 4.5 billion external funding, over the next six years (2025-2030); The total needs for implementing the mitigation and adaptation actions identified in this NDC are estimated respectively USD 2 billion and USD 4.5 billion. The circular economy transition can play a role to meet these needs."}, {"bbox": [85, 1550, 1143, 1608], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁹ The EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy (2015, revised 2020) defines the Circular Economy as \"a regenerative system in which resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimized by slowing, closing, and narrowing energy and material loops. This can be achieved through long-lasting design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing, and recycling.\""}, {"bbox": [85, 1608, 1143, 1645], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁰ Namely: Product Policy; Waste Management and Recycling; Sustainable Consumption and Production; Market Development and Investment; Research, Innovation and Skills."}, {"bbox": [1035, 1680, 1143, 1705], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 38"}]