Greater Focus on the Subsidiarity and Proportionality Principles

This measure is part of the Commission communication A Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook, adopted on 28 April 2026, under the heading of regulatory discipline. The Commission says that regulatory discipline is a means to ensure that the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality are applied consistently in EU law, so that the Union can focus its efforts and resources on areas where EU-level action is necessary, brings the most added value and is proportionate. It says the same discipline must apply when laying down implementing rules, to prevent EU legislation from becoming too long, complex and costly. In upcoming legislative proposals the Commission will seek to propose only well-designed empowerments for delegated and implementing acts which are strictly necessary to implement and enforce EU rules or international obligations. It calls on the European Parliament and the Council to apply the same discipline throughout the legislative process.