European Commission’s work programme 2025

In a period of global uncertainty, the European Union is taking decisive steps to shape its economic and regulatory landscape. The European Commission’s 2025 Work Programme, published on February 11, outlines a bold strategy to simplify regulations, promote sustainable growth, and strengthen Europe’s social model.

1. Simplifying Rules and Ensuring Effective Implementation

The EU is a major center for industry and innovation, but its regulations can be complex. The Commission aims to reduce administrative burdens, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Key initiatives include:

1. Omnibus Proposals: Legislative packages to simplify sustainability reporting, due diligence, and taxonomy.
2. Investment Simplification: Changes to the InvestEU programme and European Fund for Strategic Investments to facilitate financing.
3. Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act:  Supporting energy-intensive industries by streamlining permits and authorization processes.
    

2. A New Plan for Europe’s Sustainable Prosperity and Competitiveness

 Europe faces challenges such as unfair competition, fragile supply chains, rising energy costs, and labour shortages. The Competitiveness Compass will guide policies to strengthen Europe’s economic position. Key initiatives include:

1. The Clean Industrial Deal: the heart of the work programme, outlines a roadmap for decarbonisation and industrial competitiveness. It will help Europe achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal, while improving access to affordable energy, creating lead markets and boosting demand and supply of circular materials, products and services, as well as strengthening economic security.
2. Action Plan on Affordable Energy: A strategy to lower energy costs and increase efficiency.
3. State Aid Framework for Renewable Energy: Accelerating investments in clean technologies.
4.  90% emission-reduction target for 2040:  A proposal to include this target in the European Climate Law ahead of COP30 in Belem, Brazil, November 2025.
    

3. Strengthening Europe’s Social Model

The Commission’s programme acknowledges that social and economic transitions must be fair and inclusive. Key measures include:

• Housing and Cost of Living Measures: Addressing housing shortages and affordability issues.
• Labour and Skills Development: Ensuring a workforce equipped to meet the challenges of digital and green transitions.
• Resilience and Adaptation Strategies: Making European cities more sustainable and resilient to climate change.
   

Looking Ahead: What to Expect in practice

The 2025 Work Programme introduces several new initiatives. Notable legislative and policy developments include:

• Competitiveness Compass (non-legislative, Q1 2025)
• Single Market Strategy (non-legislative, Q2 2025)
• First Omnibus Package on Sustainability (legislative, Q1 2025)
• Second Omnibus on Investment Simplification (legislative, Q1 2025)
• Third Omnibus Package (including small mid-caps and removal of paper requirements) (legislative, Q2 2025)
• Revision of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (legislative, Q4 2025)
• Clean Industrial Deal (non-legislative, Q1 2025)
• Action Plan on Affordable Energy (non-legislative, Q1 2025)
• Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act (legislative, Q4 2025)
• European Climate Law Amendment (legislative, Q1 2025)
   

For more information visit Commission work programme 2025 - European Commission