O impacto da Política de Coesão da União Europeia na Economia Circular e nas Energias Renováveis

The European Union (EU) Cohesion Policy promotes sustainable transitions. It emphasises establishing a solid Circular Economy (CE) plan and a Renewable Energy (RE) transition effort for an environment that matches the United Nations’ sustainable develop-ment goals. This article compares the impact of the European Cohesion Policy on CE prac-tices and RE in Portugal and Slovenia during the last funding programme from 2014 to 2020. Aligned with the EU Green Deal goals, this research analyses qualitative material and quantitative data in indexes crucial to track sustainability development in Portugal and Slo-venia, leading to a forecasting model for the following years (until 2027). These countries were picked due to their similarities in economic circumstances and environmentally friend-ly legal frameworks that allow comparison of the two case studies without overlooking cru-cial variables. By focusing on 12 dimensions within the CE and RE dimensions, the study aims to identify patterns contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the specific needs and strategies to strengthen project selection and implementation in both countries for the 2021-2027 EU Cohesion Policy Programme.