The European Commission has set an objective of reducing administrative burdens and reporting obligations by at least 25% for all businesses and at least 35% for SMEs, by 2029. In the face of weak growth, a growing investment gap, and high energy prices, influential European political leaders have called for a regulatory deep clean of laws that “appear outdated”.
The 2024-2029 EU mandate has, so far, tackled the simplification agenda by launching omnibus packages, a process which has had undesirable impacts on sustainability and has posed a risk to policy coherence and predictability. Simplification of existing legislation, in and of itself, is by no means a damaging process for competitiveness nor for climate and clean energy outcomes. In fact, it is necessary, but it is the method of simplification that matters.
This briefing makes the case that the European Commission should pursue “goal-oriented simplification”, where existing processes are reduced, harmonised and streamlined and the originally intended delivery outcome is strengthened.
In view of the upcoming revision of the Governance Regulation later in 2026, this briefing outlines recommendations that the European Commission should adopt to streamline implementation through goal-oriented simplification.
