Commission Work Program 2025: keyword – simplifying.

Translated by Valeria D’Alessandro

Last week, Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, as well as Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency, and Dombrovskis, European Commissioner for Economy, Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, presented the Annual Work Program to the European Parliament[1].

Despite it already being well know what kind of atmosphere is spreading, during the presentation, the two Commissioners chose “unprecedent simplification” as their main objective. This announcement sparked strong and sharply divided reactions among the various political factions in Parliament.

Nevertheless, as previously stated, institutional efforts are focused on progressively and robustly reducing the regulatory burden, which is expected to consequently ease administrative processes. This impact would extend to the private sector as well, allowing companies to have their bureaucratic and accounting processes streamlined.

In a time of crisis like this, the Commission appears willing to reconsider some of its core foundations, advancing with compromises to relaunch Europe. This approach aims to grant the EU greater competitiveness, an area where its shortcomings have contributed to the perception of the Union as a slow-moving “pachyderm”, not agile enough to face new challenges.

Practically speaking, according to the Program, around 51 initiatives are set to be implemented throughout 2025, with 11 specifically focused on executing a planning process. Regarding this, it is important to highlight that the Program includes three “omnibus” packages, which will have a significant impact on a deregulation, starting from key policies established in recent years. For instance, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) are expected to undergo revisions. Further measures aimed at simplifying investments are likely to follow, along with interventions related to the digital sector and the Common Agricultural Policy[2].

As expected, the presentation generated an immediate and strong reaction, starting with members of the Socialist and Green parties – part of the current majority in the European Parliament – who received the program with noticeable distrust and concern. For many MEPs, this initiatives risks triggering a deregulation process that, while potentially boosting competitiveness, could also jeopardize the ambitious goals that once unified the second Von der Leyen Commission.

The response was markedly different among representatives of the EPP (European People’s Party) who welcomed the move positively, along with the ECR (European Conservatives and Reformists). These reactions highlight a clear divisions among the various political groups in the European Parliament, potentially challenging the balance of power and shaping future policies.

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