In December 2014, it became clear that the European Commission’s circular economy package was to be ditched and re-tabled, causing a stir across the EU. Critics argued that there are strong environmental and economic reasons for focusing more on resource efficiency in the EU; the circular economy could give Europe the competitive edge it so desperately needs in order to consolidate its modest recovery. At this Policy Briefing, Sabine Weyand, Director of Policy Co-ordination at the Secretariat General at the Commission, was invited to explain the reasons for this decision, and to talk about what the more ambitious new package entails and what the timeline is for 2015.