The European Commission wrapped up a two-day roundtable focused on regulatory simplification with the goal of enhancing the global competitiveness of European firms, a initiative that has faced backlash from trade unions and environmental organizations.

The discussions, presided over by Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovkis in Brussels, aimed for a twenty-five percent reduction in reporting obligations and considered revisiting pivotal directives concerning corporate sustainability and due diligence.

Civil society organizations, including the European Trade Union Confederation, have voiced significant worries that these measures may dilute established regulations.

Deputy General Secretary Isabelle Schömann characterized the discussions as heavily biased toward trade associations and large enterprises, warning that revisiting these directives might subject various obligations like thresholds, reporting mandates, and civil liability to major alterations.

During a press briefing, the Commission asserted that its proposals would not change the fundamental goals of the existing regulatory framework.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy that will include a forthcoming omnibus package set for presentation on February twenty-six, additional proposals ahead of summer, and a Clean Industrial Deal aimed at fostering economic growth while upholding environmental standards.

Maria van der Heide, head of EU policy at ShareAction, warned that the simplification effort could jeopardize the integrity of the European Green Deal, and a coalition of civil society groups has formally urged the Commission to guarantee that its process remains transparent, evidence-based, and fully compliant with EU law.