Change at the helm of EuRIC

Emmanuel Katrakis (on the left in the picture), who has served as EuRIC’s Secretary General since the association’s establishment in 2014, decided to step down as of March. Julia Blees (on the right in the picture), EuRIC’s Policy Director is poised to carry forward the association’s vision and mission, which is celebrating its momentous 10th anniversary this year.

Under Emmanuel Katrakis' leadership, EuRIC has experienced remarkable growth, becoming an indispensable partner in advancing the circular economy and sustainability initiatives across Europe. His vision, commitment, and tireless dedication have positioned EuRIC as a key contributor to Europe’s green transition and an indispensable interlocutor of European institutions.

The appointment of Julia Blees as the new Secretary General, set to take over in early April, was made during EuRIC’s latest Board meeting in January 2024. Until the end of March, Emmanuel Katrakis and Julia Blees will work closely together with the team to ensure the smoothest leadership transition.

Julia Blees is a German lawyer and holds a Master of Laws from the US. She has been managing EuRIC’s Paper and Textiles Branch, as well as handling all international and legal matters. In addition to managing the association’s challenging portfolio, Julia Blees is set to continue EuRIC’s legacy and maintain strong connections with the EU institutions and circular economy stakeholders.

EuRIC currently has 75 members from 23 European countries, representing more than 5,500 medium-sized and large companies with around 300,000 employees and a turnover of 95 billion euros.