Simplification of EU rules

The need to simplify legislation

The EU is determined to strengthen its long-term competitiveness and to keep its economic, social and environmental objectives intact. A simpler regulatory framework, in which the EU simplifies certain rules and laws, is a key component of this endeavour. Apart from reducing the administrative burden, it will allow EU businesses to flourish and foster a more innovative investment environment.

The call for simplification comes from the highest political level in the EU. In recent years, EU leaders in the European Council have, on several occasions, identified the need to simplify rules to boost the EU’s long-term competitiveness and stressed the importance of a simplicity by design approach.

To boost our competitiveness, all instruments and policies must be harnessed in a comprehensive and coherent manner at both EU and member state level. Business as usual is no longer an option.

Budapest declaration, 8 November 2024

Simplification is one of the main priorities of both the strategic agenda 2024-2029 and the Budapest declaration on the new European competitiveness deal, which called for a 'simplification revolution'.

• Budapest declaration on the new European competitiveness deal
• Programme stratégique 2024-2029

Reducing administrative costs and reporting

The main aim of simplifying EU legislation is to reduce administrative costs and reporting requirements for EU businesses.

Concrete targets include reducing both costs and reporting obligations by at least 25% for all businesses (a saving of €37.5 billion) and by at least 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2030.

Omnibus packages

Since February 2025, in response to the request from the European Council, the Commission has presented twelve simplification proposals, also referred to as 'omnibuses', to the Council and the Parliament for adoption.

The co-legislators are discussing and negotiating the proposed measures before the new rules can be adopted and become EU law.

Omnibus I: sustainability

The first omnibus package proposed targeted amendments to EU legislation in the field of sustainability with a view to:

• simplifying due diligence obligations
• making sustainability reporting more accessible and easier to implement
• simplifying and strengthening the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism

The aim is to reduce the complexity of EU requirements for businesses and to boost competitiveness, while preserving the EU's economic, social and environmental objectives.

On 24 February 2026, less than a year following the Commission's proposal, the Council gave the final green light to a simplification of sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements for companies.

• Council signs off simplification of sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements to boost EU competitiveness (press release, 24 February 2026)
• CBAM: Council signs off simplification to the EU carbon leakage instrument (press release, 29 September 2025)

Omnibus II: EU investments

The second omnibus package aims to simplify existing legislation as regards EU investments, such as the InvestEU programme, with the aim of mobilising €50 billion in additional public and private investment to support certain EU policies.

Omnibus III: common agricultural policy

With the aim of boosting farmers' competitiveness, the third omnibus package focuses on revising legislation to:

• reduce the administrative burden and controls
• simplify payment schemes for small farmers and the rules on conditionality
• improve funding for farmers in times of crisis

The measures could lead to annual savings of up to €1.6 billion for farmers and more than €200 million for national administrations.

The Council gave its final green light on the simplification of the common agricultural policy in December 2025.

Omnibus IV: small mid-caps and digitalisation

The fourth omnibus package features measures to simplify the single market in several areas in particular by:

• supporting small mid-caps
• boosting the digitalisation of product legislation
• introducing common specifications for the free circulation of products
• reducing record-keeping obligations for SMEs and small mid-caps, including with regard to GDPR rules
• postponing by two years battery due diligence requirements

• Simplification: Council and Parliament strike deal to help growing businesses thrive and accelerate digitalisation (press release, 9 June 2026)
• Simplification: Council adopts law to ‘stop-the-clock’ on due diligence rules for batteries (press release, 18 July 2025)

Omnibus V: defence readiness

The aim of the proposals featured in the fifth omnibus package is to facilitate and boost defence investments and conditions for the defence industry, and to simplify security and defence procurement.

The proposals are in line with the Commission's white paper for European defence - Readiness 2030, the goal of which is to create the conditions for a massive defence investment surge in Europe, with up to €800 billion in additional expenditure possible in the coming years.

Omnibus VI: chemicals

The sixth omnibus package aims to simplify EU chemical legislation by decreasing compliance costs and administrative procedures for businesses across the chemical value chain, while maintaining a high level of protection.

These measures could lead to at least €363 million of annual savings for the industry.

Omnibus VII: digital

The seventh package of measures proposed by the Commission on 19 November 2025 includes two proposals for regulations to simplify the digital legislative framework, specifically in the areas of:

• data
• the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• cybersecurity
• artificial intelligence

• Digital rulebook: Council agrees position to simplify data protection, privacy and cyber reporting rules (press release, 21 October 2026)
• Artificial intelligence: Council gives final green light to simplify and streamline rules (press release, 29 June 2026)

Omnibus VIII: environment

The six legislative proposals featured in the eighth package, presented by the Commission on 10 December 2025, aim to facilitate and streamline existing environmental laws with a focus on:

• speeding up environmental assessments for granting permits
• simplifying industrial emissions standards
• simplifying obligations relating to authorised representatives for extended producer responsibility
• boosting access to geospatial data

• Simplification: Council agrees negotiating stance to cut red tape for small packaging producers (press release, 21 October 2026)
• Simplification: Council agrees negotiating stance to fast track environmental assessments (press release, 30 September 2026)
• Simplification: Council agrees negotiating stance to simplify and streamline environmental rules (press release, 25 June 2026)
• Omnibus VIII (European Commission)

Omnibus IX: automotive industry

The automotive package, presented by the Commission in December 2025, features measures to support the sector's efforts in the transition to clean mobility by easing administrative burdens and cutting costs for EU manufacturers.

Omnibus X: food and feed safety

The 10th package of measures, proposed by the Commission in December 2025, aims to streamline and simplify food and feed legislation in specific areas through measures such as:

• stronger import rules for pesticide residues
• faster market access procedures for biopesticides
• improved renewal procedures for pesticides and biocides and feed additive authorisations
• digital labelling options for feed additives

According to Commission estimates, the proposed measures could lead to administrative cost savings of almost €1 billion per year.

• Council agrees negotiating stance to simplify and streamline food and feed safety requirements (press release, 30 September 2026)
• Council agrees position to simplify and strengthen food and feed safety requirements (press release, 27 May 2026)
• Food and feed safety: Council adopts new law to streamline rules on biocides (press release, 11 May 2026)
• Omnibus X (European Commission)

Omnibus XI: taxation

The taxation package, presented by the Commission on 24 June 2026, is designed to simplify EU tax rules and reduce compliance burdens for businesses while maintaining the existing strong level of protection against tax fraud, evasion and avoidance.

Key measures include:

• simplifying intra-EU withholding taxes
• eliminating duplication
• streamlining procedures
• incentivising R&D spending

Omnibus XII: energy products

The regulation on simplification and better use of digital options for energy and tyre labelling, proposed by the Commission on 24 June 2026, aims to make it easier for suppliers and retailers to comply with the rules, while continuing to give consumers the information they need when choosing a product.

According to the Commission's estimates, these measures are expected to save businesses and market surveillance authorities up to €125 million annually over the next 10 years.