Thank you for inviting me again.
Its an honor to join you for the fiftieth anniversary of the Ad Hoc Council, discussing “Reducing the reporting burdens on European Business.”
My role in the European Commission includes simplifying our agenda. Weve engaged intensely with businesses of all sizes.
Today is another chance for meaningful dialogue. I look forward to our exchange after my remarks.
First, lets discuss the simplification agendas goals and necessity.
We face Europes competitiveness challenges in a changing world. Europe must adapt to remain competitive.
We must ensure Europe acts decisively against competitors.
Our future depends on our decisions today. We must preserve our freedoms and quality of life.
Prosperity and security are intertwined. We address both challenges urgently.
The ReARM Europe/Readiness 2030 proposals address security threats, while the Competitiveness Compass focuses on economic growth.
Cutting red tape is crucial for a competitive Europe.
Regulatory burdens have grown, limiting potential and goals.
Businesses see regulation as an investment obstacle.
Our goal: reduce bureaucracy to foster innovation and investment.
We aim to cut €37.5 billion in annual costs by the end of this mandate.
Our strategy, “A simpler and faster Europe,” guides our efforts with four key areas:
- Ensuring EU policies deliver results.
- Making Europe simpler and faster.
- Improving rule-making.
- Strengthening collaboration with stakeholders.
These areas aim to simplify and make EU rules effective.
We stress-test the EU acquis and engage with practitioners to solve issues.
We support Member States in implementing EU law.
Our 2025 work program focuses on competitiveness, security, and resilience.
Simplification is a top priority, with 11 initiatives focused on this.
Major proposals include:
- Sustainability reporting simplification.
- Investment simplification.
- Digital reporting solutions.
- Agricultural policy simplification.
- Defense sector rule simplification.
We presented two Omnibus proposals for simplification, covering sustainability and investment.
Estimated annual savings from these packages: €6.3 billion.
Our simplification agenda is ambitious and comprehensive.
We are committed to making Europe competitive globally.
Thank you for your attention.