From June 24th to 26th, Ballyhoura Development joined project partners from across Europe for the first in-person meeting of the iCEAR (Integrated Circular Economy for Action in Rural Areas) project in Giessen, Germany. Hosted by the project’s lead partner, IfLS (Institute for Rural Development Research), along with the District of Giessen, the meeting set the stage for strong collaboration and knowledge exchange among all 13 partners.

As one of Ireland’s representatives in the project, Ballyhoura Development engaged in early strategic discussions on how circular economy principles can be better integrated into local and regional policy frameworks.

Building the Project Framework

The project’s Steering Committee met to clarify roles, responsibilities, and timelines, as well as to review the legal and procedural aspects of this Interreg Europe-funded initiative. These discussions were crucial for ensuring a shared understanding of the project’s objectives and outputs.

We also participated in a policy workshop that looked in detail at the existing circular economy instruments used by partner regions, and how they might be adapted or improved through interregional exchange. 

Seeing Circular Economy in Action

The meeting also featured inspiring study visits around the Giessen region:

• A visit to a combined heat and power plant - originally piloted in 1982 - demonstrated the long-standing local commitment to energy innovation.

• A tour of a wastewater treatment plant and a regional reuse and recycling centre highlighted practical and community-focused examples of circular thinking in action.

These site visits sparked useful conversations about the roles of infrastructure, partnerships involving multiple levels of government, agencies and local community across all sectors, short and long term impact of policy, intended and unintended consequences as well as behaviour change in advancing the circular economy, not just in theory, but on the ground.

Strengthening Connections

Beyond the formal sessions, the event offered valuable time to build relationships with other project partners from Germany, Greece & Albania, Finland, France, Romania, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Ireland. Shared meals and informal conversations helped strengthen trust and set a positive tone for future cooperation.

 As the project moves forward, we look forward to working with community stakeholders to explore how circular economy thinking can support sustainable rural development right here in the Ballyhoura region.