Croatia is one of 14 EU countries at risk of failing to reach the EU target of recycling 50 percent of municipal waste by 2020, and the European Commission (EC) has decided to provide technical assistance, structural fund support and support in the exchange of best practices to help them reach the goal, the EC said in a report published on Monday.

The Commission published a report on how European waste management and recycling rules are implemented across Europe, suggesting ways to improve the rules implementation for each waste stream.

“Despite continuous progress in member states, the Commission identifies serious gaps that must be addressed swiftly so that Europeans are able to reap the environmental and economic benefits of the circular economy. For municipal waste, 14 member states have been identified as at risk of missing the 2020 target of 50 percent recycling (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain),” the EC said.

Legal obligations on the management of municipal waste are laid down in the Waste Framework Directive, which was revised to include new targets, including 55 percent recycled municipal waste by 2025, 60 percent by 2030, and 65 percent by 2035.

“These countries need to do more so that their populations and their economies can benefit from the circular economy,” the EC said in the report.

Croatia, along with Malta, Cyprus, and Finland, missed the material-specific target for recycling wood and metal. Croatia also missed its 75 percent target for biodegradable waste reducion, which was due in 2013.

“With the EU waste rules recently adopted by the European Parliament and by the Council of Ministers, Europe can become the global front-runner for modern waste management and further develop its circular economy,” said Environment, Maritime Affairs, and Fisheries Commissioner Karmenu Vella.

“There are still differences across Europe, but progress is necessary and possible if the respective national and local authorities implement the actions identified in this report. The Commission is there to help,” he added.

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