Within the framework of the CROSS-REIS project, the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Rijeka, in cooperation with Komunal, successfully organized a three-day conference and training for local policy makers on circular public procurement, held in Zagreb at the Westin Hotel.
The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including representatives of local self-governments and public utility companies, policymakers, and practitioners, alongside experts from academia, ministries, national institutions, and professional associations. Among the contributors were representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition, the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, the Association of Cities in Croatia, public utility companies, and universities, creating a dynamic platform for dialogue between policy, practice, and research.
Implemented as part of the CROSS-REIS Global and Local Collaboration work package, the event aimed to strengthen the role of cities and public institutions in the transition toward a circular economy, with a particular focus on public procurement as a strategic governance tool.
The programme combined plenary lectures, panel discussions, and hands-on training, addressing key challenges and opportunities in sustainable municipal systems.
Day 1 opened with welcome addresses by institutional representatives, followed by a plenary lecture by Prof. Saša Drezgić (University of Rijeka) on the strategic and operational aspects of public utility systems. A keynote on regulatory frameworks for waste management was delivered by Sonja Polonijo (Association of Cities in Croatia). The programme continued with several panel discussions, featuring contributions from representatives of the Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund, the Association of Cities in Croatia, public utility companies, and trade unions, as well as experts such as Ana Knežević (Croatian Consumer Protection Association), Prof. Ljubo Jurčić (Croatian Economic Association), and Jože Leskovar (Kostak, Slovenia). Discussions focused on the sustainability of pricing, regulatory frameworks, and comparative perspectives across countries.
Day 2 focused on green and circular public procurement as a key policy instrument. Plenary lectures were delivered by Assoc. Prof. Saša Čegar (University of Rijeka), Martina Matanović (Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition), and Valentina Turkalj (Central State Office for Central Public Procurement), addressing strategic approaches, policy frameworks, and practical implementation of green procurement. These were complemented by panel discussions on procurement procedures and market conditions, featuring experts such as Marijana Kovačević, Jelena Ribić, Martin Mahović, Romano Perić, and Danijel Fosić, moderated by Mirjana Čusek-Slunjski. A dedicated session by Assoc. Prof. Vladimir Čeperić (University of Zagreb) explored the application of artificial intelligence in public procurement.
Day 3 was dedicated to an academic workshop, where participants engaged in practical training on implementing circular procurement. Sessions were led by Assoc. Prof. Saša Čegar, who presented a toolkit for assessing institutional readiness and defining actions, and Dr. Damir Juričić (University of Rijeka), who introduced approaches for integrating life-cycle costing and measuring circular impacts in procurement processes.
Through interactive sessions and exchange of experiences, participants gained valuable insights into how public procurement can serve as a powerful lever for systemic change, enabling more sustainable, efficient, and resilient local economies.
This activity represents one in a series of five trainings planned within CROSS-REIS across widening countries, each involving local stakeholders and decision-makers. By building capacities at the local level, CROSS-REIS continues to foster evidence-based policymaking, cross-sector collaboration, and practical implementation of circular economy principles.