All 54 actions under the Circular Economy Action Plan launched in 2015 have now been delivered or are being implemented, according to a comprehensive report published by the Commission on 4 March. The report presents the main results of implementing the action plan and sketches out open challenges to paving the way towards a climate-neutral, competitive circular economy where pressure on natural and freshwater resources as well as ecosystems is minimised. According to the findings of the report, implementing the Circular Economy Action Plan has accelerated the transition towards a circular economy in Europe, which in turn has helped put the EU back on a path of job creation. In 2016, sectors relevant to the circular economy employed more than four million workers, a 6% increase compared to 2012. Moreover, circularity has also opened up new business opportunities, given rise to new business models and developed new markets, domestically and outside the EU. In 2016, circular activities such as repair, reuse or recycling generated almost EUR 147 billion in value added while accounting for around EUR 17.5 billion worth of investments. The findings of the report were discussed during the annual Circular Economy Stakeholder Conference held in Brussels on 6-7 March.