Since the start of Ursula von der Leyen’s second mandate as Commission president, the EU executive has put forward 10 so-called omnibus proposals that reopen existing laws to get rid of anything deemed overly burdensome.
“We are determined to bring about change so that in Europe and in the member states we can more quickly and effectively create an environment where companies can grow and develop the global competitiveness they need,” von der Leyen said during a meeting with leading conservative politicians in Berlin on Monday.
So far, EU decision-makers have agreed to reduce environmental disclosure obligations for companies, make it easier for small-scale farms to access EU money, and delay new requirements forcing companies to track and disclose where they source their raw materials.
More omnibus proposals are expected later this year, including on energy and taxation.
But the Commission also wants to rethink the lawmaking process itself, including by reducing the length of impact assessments and public consultation periods.
The plan to speed up lawmaking has alarmed civil society groups, trade unions, academics, businesses and citizens, who warn it could make EU decision-making more opaque and weaken scrutiny of the economic, social and environmental impact of new laws.