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💔 STATE OF DISUNION

Ben Snelson

We hope the week has treated you well, wherever you are. 

In this edition, we take a closer look at the state of our Union ahead of next week’s State of the Union speech – and it’s not looking good. A heavy-handed deregulation agenda dressed up as “simplification” has left us with what can only be described as a State of Disunion…

And the “simplification circus” doesn’t stop there – this time, it’s nature in the firing line. We invite you to stand with us against this dangerous agenda through one of the most successful grassroots campaigns in recent memory.

Also inside: two in-house pieces on the future of our food and farming system, plus a special anniversary (sorry, no cake).

Come for the updates, stay for the questionable puns. Consider supporting our work, one coffee at a time. Happy reading!

💔 STATE OF DISUNION

BACK TO SCHOOL – Brussels is back from holiday, and next week, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will deliver her State of the Union. But if recent months are any guide, the state of our Union is far from where it should be – weighed down by a heavy-handed deregulation agenda dressed up as “simplification.”

DEREGULATION IN DISGUISE – Ahead of the SOTEU speech on 10 September, we want to set the record straight: what the Commission calls simplification is in fact deregulation of the very laws that protect people and planet. And given the speed and confusion of this process, one might even call it complexification.

This was our message at this week’s press conference. Since the start of UVDL II, Brussels has faced a tsunami of so-called simplification initiatives: six omnibus packages already (touching everything from sustainability reporting and due diligence to agriculture and chemicals), a seventh now on the table for the environment, and more coming in agriculture (again) and energy.

👉 Check out our EU simplification explained – an FAQ: developed together with key partners.

WAIT… WHAT’S DEREGULATION AGAIN? Think of it as tearing pages out of the rulebook. In practice, it means dismantling protections that keep water clean, forests standing, food safe, and people healthy. Instead of cutting red tape, these proposals threaten to unravel the safeguards Europe relies on. True simplification should mean efficient and smarter implementation, harmonising methods, aligning definitions – not lowering standards or targets.

TEXTBOOK ERROR – Weakening these rules won’t boost so-called competitiveness. Instead, it undermines Europe’s innovation and fuels long-term risks. Even the European Central Bank has warned that dropping sustainability standards could create systemic financial threats. The real irony of all this is that the EU’s environmental acquis was built to strengthen competitiveness by preventing fragmented national standards from becoming barriers in the single market.

A QUESTION OF TRUST – When “simplification” becomes another word for deregulation, it erodes confidence not just in the rules but in the institutions behind them. And trust matters for everyone, and rebuilding it takes time. Sweeping changes made in haste create legal uncertainty for citizens, regulators and businesses alike, undermining the stability companies need to plan and invest. Deregulating laws that haven’t even been fully implemented or consequences assessed only deepens that instability.

WHERE ARE THE REAL TEACHERS? – Leadership means resisting populist shortcuts and investing in a resilient Europe for the next generation. Sustainability is the smartest lesson plan: it cuts risks, reduces costs, and future-proofs our economy.

So next time you hear politicians praise “simplification,” ask: Who really benefits from tearing up the rules? Spoiler: not the good students – but the polluters hoping to skip class while the rest of us pay the price.

 THE “SIMPLIFICATION” CIRCUS CONTINUES 

HANDS OFF NATURE! The next target in the deregulation drive? Protections for nature. Barely a year after the EU adopted the long-awaited Nature Restoration Law (NRL), the simplification circus is already circling with pitchforks.

WAIT, THEY’RE DOING WHAT NOW? The EU Commission is bundling decades of hard-won environmental rules into yet another “omnibus.” Laws like the Birds and Habitats Directives – which have safeguarded rivers, seas, forests, and the species we love that depend on them – are being wheeled up to the chopping block.

Words are failing to describe such reckless acts of self-harm, but a few spring to mind quite quickly: irresponsible and short-sighted.  

WHAT WE DEMAND

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD – The new agenda is showing its true colours by tearing up protections instead of strengthening them. That’s why the EEB, together with partners, launched the Hands Off Nature campaign this week. Already, over 100,000 people have spoken up in the consultation. Add your voice before 10 September – and stay tuned. There will be more moments to stand up for nature.

🚜 BIG ANNIVERSARY IN THE FARMING SECTOR 

Exactly a year ago, something remarkable happened. A diverse group of voices – from farmers and consumer advocates to civil society and industry – came together under the EU Commission’s Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture. Despite their differences, they all agreed explicitly that “business-as-usual is not an option”.  

Europe’s food system today is failing – driving farmers into debt and closure, fuelling a rise in diet-related diseases, and accelerating devastating loss of Europe’s precious wildlife and delicate ecosystems.  

HISTORIC CONSENSUS – This shared urgency led to a landmark report: “A Shared Prospect for Farming and Food in Europe”. It marked the first time such a wide range of stakeholders collectively called for a new direction in EU food and farming policy – a rare and powerful consensus in a sector often marked by division. 

ACTION PENDING – Now, one year on, we’re revisiting that historic agreement. We’re taking stock of the promises made and the progress (or lack thereof) so far. What’s changed? What still needs to? And is the European Commission truly listening to the very voices it brought together? Check out the piece below! 

🐑 ANIMALS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN FARMING… 

TOAD-ALLY AMAZING – Animals have, for centuries, been at the heart of European farming – not just as a food source, but as vital contributors to the land, the culture, and the ecology of rural life. They grazed fields, fertilised soils, supported biodiversity, and sustained resilient, local food systems and proud cultural traditions. But somewhere along the way, Europe traded away this harmony… 

BAAA-D IDEA – In just a few decades, industrial livestock farming has expanded at an astonishing pace – replacing traditional systems with factory farms that prioritise profit over welfare, scale over sustainability. The result? Rising emissions, polluted waterways, the erosion of rural communities, and widespread animal suffering.

BEE-LIEVE IN CHANGE – These are not just unfortunate side effects – they are symptoms of a rotten system. And yet, as the consensus report made clear, it doesn’t have to be this way. Check the latest New Leaf article on why we need happier animals in Europe!  

📣 A WEEKEND OF MOBILISATION 

RED LINE FOR G@ZA – On 7 September, Brussels will once again draw the Red Line for G@za – even bigger, even louder. The EEB is among more than 150 organisations backing the action. The last march brought together over 100,000 people – and it’s happening again this weekend. #SpeakUpForP@lestine 

We stand with international law – with the rulings of the International Court of Justice, and with the right of Palestinians to live free from violence, oppression and occupation.

RISE FOR CLIMATE – Also on Sunday: the Rise for Climate demonstration – a call for leaders everywhere to act now to save our planet. Expect performances, family activities, and music from a 600-strong choir. The EEB will take the stage too – our Deputy Secretary-General, Patrizia Heidegger, will reflect on the EU Green Deal – where we stand, and where we go next.

👉 Join us at one – or both – of these crucial events!

🧠✨ DOPAMINE HIT  

As ever, here are a few slightly happier updates to get your weekend off to a perky start: 

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By: Ben Snelson. Special thanks to the EEB’s editorial team: Roi Gomez, Ruby Silk and Alberto Vela. Editor: Christian Skrivervik.

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