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‘Simplification’ sounds good, doesn’t it? Less paperwork, faster procedures, lighter duties. Who wouldn’t be on board? But if this intro smells like irony, don’t blame yourself. Or us. The word itself is starting to sound more like a warning than a solution in Brussels. The good intentions behind the Commission’s simplification push are clashing with an execution that feels chaotic, undemocratic, and potentially irreversible.
Serious thought: dismantling rules that took years of negotiation, diplomacy and expert input, all in a matter of weeks and without proper democratic oversight, isn’t simplification; it’s chaos. If laws can be crippled before they are even implemented, what is left of the EU’s proud co-decision process?
In this edition, we dig into the deregulation drive causing waves in Brussels, highlight the pushback against growing attacks on civic space, and reward your curiosity with three META deep dives.
🛡️ RULES TO PROTECT
ATTENTION AUX BUS! Since February, the Commission has launched four so-called Omnibus proposals, with a fifth on the way. These legislative packages are the scissors with which EU policymakers hope to meet an arbitrary new target: slash administrative burdens by 25%. But the result? Hard-won environmental and social protections are being quietly gutted, without proper consultation or evidence.
THE MESS™ – Take the first omnibus rocket, aimed at the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The Commission’s proposal has sparked outrage from all corners. Banks say without climate reporting, they can’t assess green investments. Academic experts warn of legal chaos from scrapping mandatory green transition plans. Big businesses complain about uncertainty when rules change overnight. Trade unions decry weakened worker protections. The proposal is even under inquiry by the European Ombudsman for lack of transparency. Could this have been handled any worse?
WHOSE BURDEN IS IT ANYWAY? Yes, the green transition could be made smoother for businesses. But there’s a difference between red tape and regulation. Between making rules clearer and dismantling essential protections. At our “Rules to Protect” conference this week, trade unions and civil society showed how deregulation leads to rising pollution, weakened rights and rising public costs. As EPSU’s Pablo Sánchez put it: “For those who make money, protection might seem like a cost. For the rest of us, it brings huge benefits.”
TIME TO BACKTRACK THE BACKTRACK – With more omnibuses in the pipeline, the Commission must rethink. The European Green Deal isn’t the cause of all economic ills; it’s a scapegoat. Corporate lobbies have smelled blood and are going for the kill. They want more access to taxpayers’ money while ditching the conditions attached. And once again, policymaking is happening behind closed doors, with little input from anyone except big industry players.
REAL ISSUES, REAL IMPACT – Many companies face serious challenges that go far beyond red tape: soaring energy prices, a shortage of skilled workers, weak Single Market integration, and a flood of illicit products on unregulated online marketplaces. Plus, insufficient market surveillance leaves businesses exposed to unfair competition. If policymakers want to truly support the economy and the green transition, these are the real problems that need tackling.
🫂 NATURE & RENEWABLES: FRIENDS, NOT FOES
ANOTHER OMNIBOMB – Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen dropped a bombshell a few weeks ago: the “energy omnibus” will change environmental protection laws to speed up permitting for renewables. Despite the commissioner’s attempts to soften the blow, stakeholders are unanimous: focus on implementing existing rules to accelerate renewables, not deregulation!
INDUSTRY + NGOs = SAME MESSAGE – Nature protection is not the bottleneck for renewables. Renewable energy industry and NGOs agree: permitting delays are caused by structural problems, like understaffed authorities, poor planning, and insufficient data, not environmental law.
DON’T USE A SLEDGEHAMMER TO CRACK A NUT – Simplification can’t turn into overcomplication. If renewable projects end up flawed and harmful, they risk turning communities against them. This is no trivial issue, with local opposition rising across Europe. Want faster permits? Put more people and resources into the system, not fewer protections.
🚴 WHAT ABOUT HOUSEHOLDS?
PEOPLE-FIRST POLICIES – One big problem of subordinating EU action to large corporations’ agendas, all in the name of so-called competitiveness, is that we may lose sight of households’ real struggles. Voters won’t care how much paperwork was lifted from multinationals. They will ask what was done to lower energy bills, secure housing, and ease the cost of living. Brussels should remember this, especially with reactionary forces eager to exploit any EU stumble.
A SOCIAL CLIMATE TOOLKIT – Climate action may have an intended toll on households, especially through carbon pricing on home and transport fossil fuels. At the EEB, we have created a matrix highlighting what measures can cut emissions, support people in energy or transport poverty, and create lasting impact. With EU countries submitting Social Climate Plans this month, it’s crucial to get the mix right: effective emissions cuts and fair burden-sharing. Check out our policy toolkit.
📣 IN OTHER NEWS
🔴 JOIN THE RED LINE FOR GAZA – This Sunday, thousands of civil society organisations, trade unions and citizens are forming one united red human chain through the streets of Brussels. Because in Gaza, all red lines have long been crossed. International law and international humanitarian law must be universally applied, and aid must urgently reach Gaza. More info about the march here.
🤥 THE SMEAR MACHINE – Smears on civil society are back. Recent articles in the German media, starting in Die Welt, recycle tired and misleading claims about EU funds for NGOs. This time, targeting several organisations, including our member ClientEarth, as part of a broader playbook aimed at delegitimising watchdogs who dare to stand up to corporate power. While polluters and lobbyists pour hundreds of millions into shaping the agenda, environmental groups receive a tiny fraction – 0.006% of the EU budget – to uphold laws, protect people and planet, and hold power to account. These smears are not about transparency; they are about restricting the right of civil society to speak truth to power.
🌱 SCIENTISTS FOR LIFE – More than 80% of EU habitats are in bad shape, and scientists are sounding the alarm. In a new open letter, biodiversity experts are urging the EU to drastically scale up nature funding in the next long-term budget. Without it, the EU risks missing its 2030 targets and undermining both ecosystems and the economy. Investing in nature is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. From the LIFE programme to Cohesion Funds, we already know what works. Now it’s time to fund it like our future depends on it – because it does. Read and sign the full letter here.
🧠 THE DOPAMINE HIT
A weekly dose of good news to brighten your inbox:
– Colombia cuts deforestation by one-third as government targets Amazon and illegal mining. Read more here
– New maps reveal the best “win-win” opportunities worldwide to regrow forests and tackle the climate crisis, without harming people or wildlife. Read more here
– 18 more nations ratify High Seas Treaty to protect marine biodiversity. Read more here
– Breda, in the Netherlands, becomes the first National Park City in the EU. Read more here
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By: Alberto Vela. Special thanks to the EEB’s editorial team: Ben Snelson, Ruby Silk and Roi Gomez. Editor: Christian Skrivervik
