ACCELERATING GREEN TRANSITION IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE - OVERVIEW OF SOME EU-11 GREEN SPECIFIC STRATEGIES

This study examines the state of research on green transition, with a focus on circular economy, and bioeconomy, across eight Central and Eastern European countries (EU-11): the four Visegrad countries plus Slovenia (who joined EU in 2004), and the later entrants Romania, Bulgaria (2007), and Croatia (2013). A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles (2015-2023), along with official documents, forms the basis of analysis. The paper identifies the status of green and circular transition research in EU-11, highlighting key policy interests, including the need for coordinated strategies, cooperation, stakeholder engagement. The study also evaluates the influence of EU accession timing on green transition dynamics and underscores the importance of national efforts in shaping these strategic visions. While circular economy strategies are in place for most countries, dedicated bioeconomy strategies are still lacking, with Visegrad countries and Croatia currently under development.