# Startup and Scaleup Strategy Canonical URL: https://digital-acquis.eu/strategy/startup-and-scaleup-strategy Entry type: strategy Source edition current through: 17 July 2026 (2026-07-17). This is not a page modification date. Status: not recorded. A delivered initiative is not necessarily legislation in force. Document type: Communication Release date: 2025-05-28 ## Summary The strategy aims to make it easier for innovative companies to start, grow and operate across Europe. It combines simpler company rules and digital administration with better access to finance, markets, talent and research infrastructure. Proposed measures include the 28th regime, the European Business Wallet, regulatory sandboxes and support for deep-tech investment. Work on research commercialisation, intellectual property and procurement is intended to help ideas reach customers. Talent initiatives address education, mobility and recruitment, while common definitions, a scoreboard and an annual founder survey would track changes in the startup and scaleup environment. ## Sources - [Official source]() ## Action items (41; complete published list) ### 1. Action item 330001 The Commission will propose a European 28th regime which will provide a single set of rules for companies. It would include an EU corporate legal framework, based on digital-by-default solutions, and will help companies overcome barriers in setting up, scaling up and operating companies across the Single Market. To do so, it will simplify applicable rules and reduce the cost of failure, by addressing specific aspects within relevant areas of law, including insolvency, labour and tax law. It will explore the possibility of enabling companies to establish in Europe more rapidly, ideally within 48 hours (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 1. Digital dimension: yes. ### 2. Action item 330002 The Commission will propose the European Business Wallet as the cornerstone of doing business simply and digitally in the EU, establishing a digital identity for all economic operators and providing a framework for sharing verified data and credentials to enable seamless digital interactions between economic operators and public administrations across the Union (Q4 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 2. Digital dimension: yes. ### 3. Action item 330003 The Commission will propose a European Innovation Act which will also promote regulatory sandboxes, to allow innovators to develop and test new ideas. It will contain a common legal definition and basic principles regarding the establishment of regulatory sandboxes, including cross-border or place-based regulatory sandboxes, while ensuring sector specific needs (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 3. Digital dimension: yes. ### 4. Action item 330004 The Commission will propose a voluntary ‘Innovation Stress Test’ by Member States, consisting of recommendations for Member States to systematically assess the potential impact on innovation when preparing new or revised national legislation (Q12026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 4. Digital dimension: yes. ### 5. Action item 330005 The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 5. Digital dimension: yes. ### 6. Action item 330006 The Commission will revise the Standardisation Regulation to make standard- setting processes faster and more accessible, particularly for SMEs and startups (Q2 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 6. Digital dimension: yes. ### 7. Action item 330007 The Commission will launch a study to assess the extent to which corporate restructuring is organised and regulated at EU and Member State levels creates obstacles for startups, scaleups and innovative companies for business adaptation and innovation in different sectors of the economy, based on firm-level data (2026). This study will support the implementation of the Quality Jobs Roadmap and the Fair Labour Mobility package. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 7. Digital dimension: yes. ### 8. Action item 330008 The Commission will expand the European Innovation Council and simplify ist rules. The EIC will increase its focus on challenge-driven, staged funding for high-risk innovations by introducing more ARPA-like processes. It will also expand its Trusted Investor Network and better engage with EU centaurs and unicorns for policy feedback (2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 8. Digital dimension: yes. ### 9. Action item 330009 The Commission will work with private investors to deploy, as part of the EIC Fund, a market-based, privately managed and privately co-financed Scaleup Europe Fund, with a focused investment strategy aimed at bridging the financing gap of deep tech scaleup companies. The Scaleup Europe Fund will mobilise significant private funds and make direct equity investments in strategic sectors, to contribute to Europe’s technological sovereignty and economic security. The deployment of the Scaleup Europe Fund is without prejudice to the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The Scaleup Europe Fund will work in close cooperation with InvestEU and in complementarity with the European Tech Champions Initiative and other instruments of the EIB Group (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 9. Digital dimension: yes. ### 10. Action item 330010 The Commission, in coordination with the EIB Group, will work with large institutional investors to develop a voluntary European Innovation Investment Pact for those who commit to invest part of their assets under management into EU funds- of-funds, venture capital funds and unlisted scaleups (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 10. Digital dimension: yes. ### 11. Action item 330011 The Commission will leverage and reinforce existing instruments and develop new instruments to invest in European security and defence startups and scaleups, in line with the White Paper on Defence29 and based on the upcoming Omnibus Defence Simplification Package. These instruments could include more flexible and adaptive funding approaches for emerging defence innovators, including also from Ukraine, such as targeted support to single entities; as well as reinforcing and broadening the scope of available EU funding options, including equity and debt instruments (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 11. Digital dimension: yes. ### 12. Action item 330012 The Commission will develop a framework for IP valuation for IP-backed financing in cooperation with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. It will also expand the evidence base to develop concrete IP finance instruments. (Q2 2027). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 12. Digital dimension: yes. ### 13. Action item 330013 The Commission will support European business angels and their networks in order to create more possibilities for young startups to grow (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 13. Digital dimension: yes. ### 14. Action item 330014 The Commission will, in the context of the upcoming review of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines, review the definition of ‘undertaking in difficulty’ taking into account the possible obstacles for certain startups and scaleups, which are not at risk of going out of business, to benefit from other types of State aid (as of Q2 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 14. Digital dimension: yes. ### 15. Action item 330015 The Commission will review the Horizontal and Non-Horizontal merger Guidelines bearing in mind dynamic criteria such as innovation competition (2027). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 15. Digital dimension: yes. ### 16. Action item 330016 The Commission will create a European Corporate Network to better integrate large companies, corporate venture investors and corporate procurers into the EU’s innovation ecosystem and benefit from innovative solutions developed by startups. The Network members would advise on related policy, engage in matchmaking with startups and make a voluntary commitment to privilege European startups when they engage, invest and procure innovative solutions, especially when they use public funding or when they operate critical research or technology infrastructures (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 16. Digital dimension: yes. ### 17. Action item 330017 The Commission will launch a Lab to Unicorn Initiative to accelerate the commercialisation of research results. Under this initiative, the Commission will: Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 17. Digital dimension: yes. ### 18. Action item 330018 support leading European Startup & Scaleup Hubs, rooted in strong university ecosystems, to network and collaborate across borders to provide access to startups and scaleups to each other’s respective services, infrastructures and corporates. Synergies with existing networks will be harnessed where relevant (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 18. Digital dimension: yes. ### 19. Action item 330019 develop a blueprint for licensing, royalty- and revenue-sharing and equity participation for academic institutions and their inventors when commercialising IP and creating spinoffs, following best commercial practice. The Commission will support capacity-building of Technology Transfer Offices and the creation of ‘venture builders’ roles in research performing organisations, including Research and Technology Organisations, research infrastructures and universities (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 19. Digital dimension: yes. ### 20. Action item 330020 provide legal and implementation guidance on the applicable State aid rules to support startups by clarifying the conditions under which universities and public research organisations can grant IP rights in compliance with State aid rules (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 20. Digital dimension: yes. ### 21. Action item 330021 The Commission will propose a set of measures for pro-innovation procurement. In particular: Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 21. Digital dimension: yes. ### 22. Action item 330022 In the context of the revision of the EU public procurement directives, the Commission will seek ways to improve and simplify the access to public procurement, taking into account the needs of startups and scaleups. The public consultation would also look into issues particularly relevant for startups and scaleups, such as limiting overspecification and excessive financial requirements in tender documents and introducing more innovation-friendly IPR provisions and value engineering. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 22. Digital dimension: yes. ### 23. Action item 330023 In the context of the revision of the EU public procurement directive in the field of defence and security, the Commission will seek ways foster the inclusion of startups and scaleups in procurements and take into account a possible EU preference in procurements to reinforce EU competitiveness and technological sovereignty. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 23. Digital dimension: yes. ### 24. Action item 330024 In the context of the European Innovation Act, complementing the above, the Commission will seek ways to increase total investments in public and private innovation procurement across Europe i) provide a fast-track procedure for public procurement of R&D services that fall outside of the EU public procurement directives, including pre-commercial procurements; ii) incentivise innovation-minded sourcing strategies for private procurers. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 24. Digital dimension: yes. ### 25. Action item 330025 The Commission will launch a Blue Carpet initiative to support the attraction and retention of highly skilled and diverse talent from within the EU and from non-EU countries. As part of this initiative, the Commission will (2025-2026): Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 25. Digital dimension: yes. ### 26. Action item 330026 Actively promote and further strengthen entrepreneurial education and upskilling, including through the EIT, promoting gender balanced and diverse participation. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 26. Digital dimension: yes. ### 27. Action item 330027 develop a blueprint for an academic career development framework that rewards research commercialisation activities, including transitioning from university to industry and back, such as in the academic staff evaluation and promotion criteria, as part of the Competence framework of academic staff announced in the Union of Skills. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 27. Digital dimension: yes. ### 28. Action item 330028 explore best practices concerning the treatment of employee stock options for startups, including considering legislative measures to harmonise certain aspects of their treatment. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 28. Digital dimension: yes. ### 29. Action item 330029 propose a recommendation to eliminate tax obstacles for remote cross-border employees for startups and scaleups. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 29. Digital dimension: yes. ### 30. Action item 330030 present a Fair Labour Mobility Package, including clarification of social security coordination rules in case of cross-border remote work and a Skills Portability Initiative to further facilitate and simplify the recognition of qualifications, including for third country nationals (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 30. Digital dimension: yes. ### 31. Action item 330031 adopt an EU Visa Strategy which will include measures to better attract highly skilled students, researchers, entrepreneurs and trained workers from third countries to come to the EU, for example by making the most of the Students and Researchers Directive and the Blue Card Directive in particular for startup founders (Q4 2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 31. Digital dimension: yes. ### 32. Action item 330032 pilot the Multipurpose Legal Gateway Offices initiative with a specific focus on ICT skills (Q4 2025). The pilot will serve as a one-stop-shop for information and assistance to highly skilled professionals, students and researchers in the ICT sector, who are interested to work in the EU. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 32. Digital dimension: yes. ### 33. Action item 330033 roll-out targeted information activities to promote the EU Blue Card Directive, among highly skilled non-EU workers and employers about the benefits of the EU Blue Card, including the possibility for the EU Blue Card holder and its family members to get easier access to the EU long-term residence status. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 33. Digital dimension: yes. ### 34. Action item 330034 encourage Member States to put in place fast-track schemes allowing eligible startup founders to obtain a residence and work permit under simplified and expedited procedures. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 34. Digital dimension: yes. ### 35. Action item 330035 simplify and reinforce existing EURAXESS services for innovators, including by offering bespoke support to non-EU talent, with essential information on the respective procedures across the different EU Member States. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 35. Digital dimension: yes. ### 36. Action item 330036 The Commission will develop a Charter of Access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures, including for startups and scaleups, and, where necessary, simplify and harmonise diverging access and contractual conditions. The Commission will financially support access to AI computing facilities for startups (2025). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 36. Digital dimension: yes. ### 37. Action item 330037 Building on the Charter, the European Innovation Act will further promote the access of innovative companies to European research and technology infrastructures through legislative measures (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 37. Digital dimension: yes. ### 38. Action item 330038 The Commission will provide legal and implementation guidance on the applicable State Aid rules to clarify the conditions under which universities and public research organisations can grant access to infrastructure in compliance with State Aid rules (2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 38. Digital dimension: yes. ### 39. Action item 330039 The Commission will propose a definition of startups, scaleups and innovative companies, taking into account existing definitions of SMEs and small mid-caps (Q1 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 39. Digital dimension: yes. ### 40. Action item 330040 The Commission will set up a European Startup and Scaleup Scoreboard that will measure, based on a set of indicators the performance of the European and national startup and scaleup ecosystems. Indicators will include, among others, the number of startups, scaleups, centaurs and unicorns. It will also be used to measure the impact of the Strategy by using three Key Performance Indicators: 1) the increase in the number of startups in the EU, 2) the increase in the number of centaurs in the EU and 3) the increase in the number of unicorns in the EU (as of 2026), and how these compare with global competitors. Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 40. Digital dimension: yes. ### 41. Action item 330041 The Commission will carry out an annual startup and scaleup survey to assess the perception of innovative company founders of the improvement in the EU’s regulatory environment over time (as of 2026). Provenance: source document doc-035, paragraph 41. Digital dimension: yes. ## Referenced entries - [Quality Jobs Roadmap]() — status: not recorded. Source document doc-035, action item 330007: > The Commission will launch a study to assess the extent to which corporate restructuring is organised and regulated at EU and Member State levels creates obstacles for startups, scaleups and innovative companies for business adaptation and innovation in different sectors of the economy, based on firm-level data (2026). This study will support the implementation of the Quality Jobs Roadmap and the Fair Labour Mobility package. - [Advanced Materials Act]() — status: forthcoming. Europe’s competitiveness in the green and digital transitions will depend on its ability to develop, produce and deploy next-generation materials at scale. To achieve this, the Commission will propose an Advanced Materials Act establishing clear framework conditions for the entire value chain; from fundamental research and prototyping to manufacturing and market uptake. The Act will focus on accelerating industrialisation, de-risking private investment and securing resilient supply chains for materials critical to clean technologies, energy, defence and space. By providing a coherent strategic framework, it aims to reduce dependencies, boost technological sovereignty and position Europe as a global leader in advanced materials innovation. Source document doc-035, action item 330005: > The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). - [Charter of Access for Industrial Users to Research and Technology Infrastructures]() — status: forthcoming. This initiative will standardise and simplify industrial access to Europe’s research and technology infrastructures so innovators can prototype, test and scale faster. It will set common, transparent access and contractual terms (e.g. IP use, pricing, liability, data handling) across borders and introduce a streamlined entry point for companies, including startups and scaleups. Linked to the AI Factories ecosystem, the Charter will be backed by dedicated EU support to make AI computing facilities affordable for SMEs. Complementary guidance will clarify how universities and public research organisations can grant access under State aid rules. Together, these measures cut fragmentation, lower transaction costs and speed time-to-market. Source document doc-035, action item 330036: > The Commission will develop a Charter of Access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures, including for startups and scaleups, and, where necessary, simplify and harmonise diverging access and contractual conditions. The Commission will financially support access to AI computing facilities for startups (2025). - [EU Bioeconomy Strategy]() — status: delivered. The EU Bioeconomy Strategy combines regulatory, investment and market actions to support sustainable and circular bio-based activity. The Commission plans work on biotechnology, construction-product standards, biomass monitoring, bio-based plastics, public procurement, biogas and biomethane, and industrial symbiosis. It will also establish forums and investment arrangements, support blue-bioeconomy innovation, provide practical guidance for land managers, and pursue international cooperation, stakeholder dialogue and EU-wide monitoring. Source document doc-035, action item 330005: > The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). - [European Innovation Act]() — status: forthcoming. It will create horizontal, Single-Market-wide conditions to accelerate deployment and diffusion of innovation. The law will (i) simplify and make rules more innovation-friendly (incl. regulatory sandboxes), (ii) unlock IP-backed finance and improve access to EU/national funding, (iii) open research & technology infrastructures to companies, (iv) make public/private procurement more supportive of novel solutions, (v) improve commercialisation of publicly funded R&I (i.e. IP, standardisation, certification), (vi) enable talent attraction/retention (e.g. employee ownership schemes), and (vii) establish EU–Member State coordination of innovation policy, helping to close the EU’s innovation gap. Source document doc-035, action item 330003: > The Commission will propose a European Innovation Act which will also promote regulatory sandboxes, to allow innovators to develop and test new ideas. It will contain a common legal definition and basic principles regarding the establishment of regulatory sandboxes, including cross-border or place-based regulatory sandboxes, while ensuring sector specific needs (Q1 2026). Source document doc-035, action item 330024: > In the context of the European Innovation Act, complementing the above, the Commission will seek ways to increase total investments in public and private innovation procurement across Europe i) provide a fast-track procedure for public procurement of R&D services that fall outside of the EU public procurement directives, including pre-commercial procurements; ii) incentivise innovation-minded sourcing strategies for private procurers. Source document doc-035, action item 330037: > Building on the Charter, the European Innovation Act will further promote the access of innovative companies to European research and technology infrastructures through legislative measures (Q1 2026). - [Life Sciences Strategy]() — status: delivered. The Life Sciences Strategy addresses fragmented funding and innovation systems, regulatory complexity and slow market uptake. Its actions include the Biotech Act, coordinated work on new biomedical research methods, a research and innovation agenda for food systems, and a data assembly for cross-regulatory cooperation. The Commission presents these measures as support for innovation, economic growth and job creation in European life sciences. Source document doc-035, action item 330005: > The Commission will put forward proposals to reduce regulatory burdens in strategic sectors through forthcoming sectoral legislative and non-legislative proposals, such as the EU Biotech Act, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, the Advanced Materials Act the Medical Devices Regulation and the Omnibus Defence Simplification Package (as of 2025). - [European Innovation Investment Pact]() — status: forthcoming. The Pact will mobilise long-term institutional capital for Europe’s most innovative companies and funds. In coordination with the EIB Group, the Commission will convene pension funds, insurers and other asset owners to make voluntary allocations to EU funds-of-funds, venture capital vehicles and direct investments in unlisted scaleups. Commitments will be benchmarked, transparent and aligned with strategic technologies, complementing InvestEU, the EIC and the Scale-Up Europe Fund. The Pact will drive pan-European deployment, crowd-in private capital through de-risking structures, and deepen capital markets by expanding late-stage equity supply and patient growth finance. Source document doc-035, action item 330010: > The Commission, in coordination with the EIB Group, will work with large institutional investors to develop a voluntary European Innovation Investment Pact for those who commit to invest part of their assets under management into EU funds- of-funds, venture capital funds and unlisted scaleups (2026). - [Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines]() — status: not recorded. The Commission will recalibrate state-aid rules so viable startups and scaleups can access temporary support without being misclassified as “undertakings in difficulty.” The review will update static financial tests that penalise high-growth, R&D-intensive firms, clarify eligibility, and enable bridge financing, liquidity support or restructuring aid where appropriate. Safeguards against propping up non-viable firms will remain, with stronger proportionality, time-limits and burden-sharing. Clearer guidance for universities and research organisations complements the effort, reducing uncertainty when IP or infrastructure is involved. The reform removes unintended barriers to growth while preserving a level playing field. Source document doc-035, action item 330014: > The Commission will, in the context of the upcoming review of the Rescue and Restructuring Guidelines, review the definition of ‘undertaking in difficulty’ taking into account the possible obstacles for certain startups and scaleups, which are not at risk of going out of business, to benefit from other types of State aid (as of Q2 2025). - [Scaleup Europe Fund]() — status: not recorded. A market-based, privately managed vehicle deployed via the EIC Fund to bridge Europe’s late-stage equity gap for deep-tech scaleups. It will mobilise substantial private capital and make direct equity investments in strategic sectors (i.e. AI, quantum, advanced semiconductors, biotech, clean tech, defence and space) reinforcing technological sovereignty and economic security. Operating without prejudice to the next MFF, the Fund will coordinate closely with InvestEU and complement the European Tech Champions Initiative (including ETCI 2.0), alongside EIB Group instruments. By tackling fragmented capital markets and financing needs with ticket sizes above €100 million, it will help Europe retain and scale its most promising companies. Source document doc-035, action item 330009: > The Commission will work with private investors to deploy, as part of the EIC Fund, a market-based, privately managed and privately co-financed Scaleup Europe Fund, with a focused investment strategy aimed at bridging the financing gap of deep tech scaleup companies. The Scaleup Europe Fund will mobilise significant private funds and make direct equity investments in strategic sectors, to contribute to Europe’s technological sovereignty and economic security. The deployment of the Scaleup Europe Fund is without prejudice to the next Multiannual Financial Framework. The Scaleup Europe Fund will work in close cooperation with InvestEU and in complementarity with the European Tech Champions Initiative and other instruments of the EIB Group (2026). - [Fair Labour Mobility Package]() — status: forthcoming. The Package will remove frictions to cross-border work while safeguarding rights, making Europe’s labour market more efficient. It will propose a European Social Security Pass for digital verification of entitlements, streamline posting procedures, and clarify social-security coordination for cross-border remote work. The package will strengthen the European Labour Authority’s mandate and data capabilities to improve enforcement and joint inspections. A Skills Portability Initiative will simplify recognition of qualifications and interoperable digital credentials, including for third-country nationals. Together, these measures cut administrative burden for employers and workers, enable service provision, and support talent circulation across the Single Market. Source document doc-035, action item 330007: > The Commission will launch a study to assess the extent to which corporate restructuring is organised and regulated at EU and Member State levels creates obstacles for startups, scaleups and innovative companies for business adaptation and innovation in different sectors of the economy, based on firm-level data (2026). This study will support the implementation of the Quality Jobs Roadmap and the Fair Labour Mobility package. Source document doc-035, action item 330030: > present a Fair Labour Mobility Package, including clarification of social security coordination rules in case of cross-border remote work and a Skills Portability Initiative to further facilitate and simplify the recognition of qualifications, including for third country nationals (2026). - [Skills Portability Initiative (SPI)]() — status: forthcoming. The initiative will remove barriers to cross-border work by making skills and qualifications usable across the Single Market. It will consider a legislative proposal to ease mobility and promote common EU formats for interoperable digital credentials, building on EQF, Europass and ESCO. Recognition in regulated professions will be expanded and modernised using digital tools, while simpler common rules will be explored to recognise third-country nationals’ skills. In parallel, the EU will develop a framework for automatic recognition of qualifications and learning periods in school, VET and higher education, and examine accession to the Lisbon Recognition Convention. Source document doc-035, action item 330030: > present a Fair Labour Mobility Package, including clarification of social security coordination rules in case of cross-border remote work and a Skills Portability Initiative to further facilitate and simplify the recognition of qualifications, including for third country nationals (2026). - [Union of Skills]() — status: delivered. Union of Skills measures span basic education, digital learning, science and technology education, vocational training, higher education and labour-market mobility. The programme lists action on basic skills, a Skills Guarantee, skills academies, university-business partnerships, portability and recognition of qualifications, a European degree or label, and talent attraction. Its timetable includes pilots, strategies, frameworks and legal arrangements. Source document doc-035, action item 330027: > develop a blueprint for an academic career development framework that rewards research commercialisation activities, including transitioning from university to industry and back, such as in the academic staff evaluation and promotion criteria, as part of the Competence framework of academic staff announced in the Union of Skills. - [EU Inc. – 28th Regime]() — status: in progress. It will create an optional, EU-wide corporate framework—digital by default—to let innovative firms set up, operate, and raise capital seamlessly across borders. The proposal may rely on TFEU Article 352 or a harmonised national form via Articles 50/114, with a progressive, modular design. It targets 48-hour incorporation and “once-only” data sharing via BRIS, EUID, and an EU Company Certificate, leveraging the European Business Wallet. Investment-friendly options under consideration include simpler capital increases, flexible share classes, and standard private-equity terms. Complementing the European Innovation Act, it cuts failure costs, fragmentation, and compliance burdens. Source document doc-035, action item 330001: > The Commission will propose a European 28th regime which will provide a single set of rules for companies. It would include an EU corporate legal framework, based on digital-by-default solutions, and will help companies overcome barriers in setting up, scaling up and operating companies across the Single Market. To do so, it will simplify applicable rules and reduce the cost of failure, by addressing specific aspects within relevant areas of law, including insolvency, labour and tax law. It will explore the possibility of enabling companies to establish in Europe more rapidly, ideally within 48 hours (Q1 2026). - [European Business Wallet]() — status: in progress. It will provide a legally recognised digital identity for economic operators, enabling companies to share verified data and credentials across borders and receive notifications in a secure channel. Built on BRIS and the European Unique Identifier, and aligned with the EU Digital Identity Wallet rollout and the Once-Only Technical System, it replaces document-heavy compliance with interoperable, data-based exchanges. The Wallet is a cornerstone of the Single Market simplification agenda and the EU Startup & Scaleup Strategy, lowering costs for SMEs, easing licensing and reporting, and making cross-border operations seamless, turning digital-by-default rules into practice across the EU business lifecycle. Source document doc-035, action item 330002: > The Commission will propose the European Business Wallet as the cornerstone of doing business simply and digitally in the EU, establishing a digital identity for all economic operators and providing a framework for sharing verified data and credentials to enable seamless digital interactions between economic operators and public administrations across the Union (Q4 2025). ## Citing documents - [Commission work programme 2025 + Annex]() — status: not recorded. The 2025 work programme brings together planned legislation and policy strategies covering competitiveness, the Single Market and industrial transition. Its programme includes measures on affordable energy, startups and scaleups, savings and investment, and business simplification. Digital priorities span AI, quantum technology, electronic communications, business wallets and the space sector. The programme also identifies work on defence, preparedness, internal security and hospital cybersecurity. Skills, quality jobs, consumer protection and democratic resilience sit alongside these economic and technological measures. Each listed initiative carries an indicative timetable, and the programme distinguishes legislative proposals from non-legislative plans. Source document doc-005, action item 60009: > EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy (non-legislative, Q2 2025) - [Competitiveness Compass]() — status: not recorded. The Competitiveness Compass brings together work on innovation, industrial transition and the conditions for businesses to grow in Europe. Its agenda spans startups, strategic technologies, research and investment, alongside affordable energy, cleaner industry and circular production. Measures on the Single Market, simpler rules, procurement and standardisation accompany this sectoral work. The programme also includes trade partnerships, raw-material supplies, security and preparedness. Skills, labour mobility and quality jobs connect the economic agenda with workforce needs. The programme combines strategies, legislative proposals, investment initiatives and coordination measures across these policy areas. Source document doc-019, action item 180001: > Start-up and Scale-up Strategy [Q2 2025] - [AI Continent Action Plan]() — status: not recorded. The AI Continent Action Plan combines computing infrastructure, access to data, wider AI use and skills development. It proposes AI Factories and Gigafactories, linked data labs and support for European data spaces, alongside work on cloud infrastructure. Industrial and scientific adoption would be supported through the Apply AI and AI in Science strategies, research funding and innovation hubs. The plan also addresses startup financing, access to markets and the attraction and training of AI talent. An AI Act Service Desk and consultation on regulatory challenges are intended to help organisations understand and meet their obligations. Source document doc-032, action item 310009: > Address the financing gap of startups and scaleups and facilitate their access to markets, public procurement, services and talent in the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy (Q2 2025). - [Strengthening EU Economy Security]() — status: delivered. Source document doc-069, action item 550021: > Explore putting in place on a pilot basis an EU-level start-up monitoring mechanismaimed at identifying startups in critical technology areas that are vulnerable to therisk of hostile foreign acquisitions, redirecting them to EU investment alternatives and other forms of support (e.g., advisory, capacity-building, matchmaking with investors). The mechanism would work in lockstep with existing initiatives, such as the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. - [Clean Energy Investment Strategy]() — status: not recorded. Source document doc-093, action item 660020: > c)Support scale up of new clean energy technologies through the Scale Up Europe Fund: As part of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy published in May 2025, the Commission launched a privately managed and co-financed Scaleup Europe Fund to bridge the financing gap for deep-tech and disruptive scale-up companies. Energy corporate venture funds and other potential interested investors in innovative clean energy can already join the existing Trusted Investors Network in view of becoming investment partners in the European Innovation Council, which the Scale Up Europe Fund will complement. ## Current developments Latest updates from Digital Policy Alert and Global Trade Alert. No reviewed developments available; this does not establish that no developments exist. ## Associated policy priorities - [Research, Technology & Industrial Capacity]() - [Competitiveness, Innovation & Strategic Investment]() - [Human Capital, Skills & Talent Mobility]() - [Single Market Deepening & Harmonisation]() - [External Strategy, Security & Democratic Resilience]() - [Implementation, Simplification & Better Regulation]() ## Broader policy context (shared priority; not a direct citation) - [European Biotech Act 1]() — status: in progress. As a cornerstone of the EU’s Life Sciences Strategy, the law will make Europe the most attractive place for biotech by 2030 by speeding approvals and risk assessments without compromising safety, unlocking risk-tolerant finance and biomanufacturing scale, building EU-wide clusters/infrastructure, closing skills gaps, and enabling trusted AI/data use (incl. supercomputing and EHDS links). It tackles single-market fragmentation across health, agri-food, industrial and marine biotech, strengthening competitiveness and economic security. Expected impacts of the law includes faster time-to-market, deeper investment pipelines, resilient supply chains and environmental benefits, supported by strong EU governance. - [European Biotech Act 2]() — status: forthcoming. The proposed European Biotech Act aims to make Europe's health-biotechnology sector more competitive through easier funding, quicker regulatory processes and stronger safeguards. It would support industry, manufacturing and research, especially start-ups and SMEs; facilitate AI, data and digital solutions; simplify rules on clinical trials and cell and gene therapies; and introduce biosecurity measures. The Commission says the Act should help patients gain timelier, broader access to treatments and products. In 2026 it will address the wider biotechnology sector. - [European Centre of Expertise on Research Security]() — status: forthcoming. EU work is underway to establish a Centre of Expertise on Research Security, investing in the evidence base for policymaking and creating a community of practice. It sits alongside a due-diligence platform in development to help universities choose international partners. The Commission presents these measures as support for open but secure research cooperation, responding to risks including foreign interference, malign influence and misuse. - [European Research Area Act & ERIC Reform]() — status: forthcoming. The Act Act will realise a “fifth freedom” by enabling the free movement of researchers, knowledge and technology across a single EU R&I market, anchored in TFEU Articles 179 and 182(5). It will (1) secure national commitments and new mechanisms to reach the 3% of GDP R&D target; (2) align EU–national investments and priorities around strategic technologies; and (3) upgrade framework conditions—attractive careers and mobility, open science and data access, a stronger legal basis for research infrastructures, and better knowledge valorisation. The Act will safeguard fundamental values, bolster research security, and clarify cooperation with third countries. - [European Strategy for AI in Science]() — status: delivered. Adopted alongside the Apply AI Strategy, this initiative fast-tracks responsible AI uptake across disciplines and builds the foundations of RAISE (i.e. a virtual European institute that pools talent, compute, data and funding for “science for AI” and “AI in science”). It launches Thematic Networks of Excellence and RAISE Doctoral Networks; secures priority access to EuroHPC AI Factories and future AI Gigafactories; and links Data Labs with EOSC and other data spaces. Ethics-by-design guidance and “living” rules govern use, while ERA-based coordination, indicators and summits align Member States and industry. Horizon Europe anchors early actions and an investment agenda for 2026-27. - [European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures]() — status: delivered. The strategy aims to improve Europe's research and technology infrastructure capacity, investment and access. It covers criteria and roadmaps for infrastructures of European interest, funding coordination, upgrades, transnational collaboration and services for startups and scaleups. It also addresses FAIR and AI-ready research data, an enhanced EOSC Federation, coordinated governance, skills, international partnerships, resilience, and trusted storage, processing and sharing of critical data. - [Horizon Europe 2026-2027]() — status: not recorded. The next work programme will channel major investments into Europe’s industrial and scientific transformation. A €600 million flagship call under the Clean Industrial Deal will bridge R&I and deployment, fostering synergies with the Innovation Fund and supporting fusion through new PPPs. In life sciences, the Commission will establish a network of ATMP Centres of Excellence (€4 million), pilot stepwise collaborative health research funding, and invest €50 million in multi-modal genAI for biomedical research. €170 million will support a new health–climate agenda, complemented by global research collaboration and foresight on life sciences skills. - [Quantum Act]() — status: forthcoming. The Act will make the Quantum Europe Strategy operational, fixing fragmentation by aligning EU and national programmes around a shared RTI agenda and targets. It sets EU-level governance and extends the Chips Joint Undertaking’s remit to quantum technologies, coordinating investments across EU programmes. It anchors a three-stage pipeline—Discover; Lab-to-fab via pilot lines, design tools and standards; Apply & use in lead sectors, while scaling pan-European infrastructures in quantum computing, secure communication (EuroQCI) and sensing. The Act backs skills and industrialisation, strengthens supply chains. It also drives standardisation and interoperability and fosters talent attraction. - [Quantum Europe Strategy]() — status: delivered. **Skills.** The Strategy will launch a European Quantum Skills Academy - initially virtual, then networked - linked to Quantum Competence Clusters and Semiconductors Competence Centres. It will host a Quantum Talent Portal, fellowship schemes and “teach-the-teacher” modules to broaden participation and close the gender gap. Complementary actions include a Digital Europe–funded Quantum Apprenticeship pilot and returnships; Advanced Digital Skills Competitions from 2026; an EIC Researchers-in-Residence scheme placing scientists in quantum startups; and a European Quantum Talent Mobility Programme with fellowships for non-EU PhDs and professionals. Skills intelligence will track needs via the European Skills Intelligence Observatory, ensuring training aligns with fast-evolving industrial demand. **Research.** It contains coordinated roadmaps to speed research-to-industry. The Commission will publish an EU Quantum Computing and Simulation Roadmap, a Quantum Chips Industrialisation Roadmap, and a European Quantum Standards Roadmap, while expanding Quantum Competence Clusters to link labs, pilot lines and design facilities. It adds a coordinated European Quantum Sensing, Measurement and Testing Roadmap. To catalyse uptake, the EU will pilot two Grand Challenges (fault-tolerant computing; quantum PNT) and launch a Pilot Programme for Researchers-in-Residence in quantum startups. For dual-use and space, it will deliver a Quantum Technology Roadmap in space with ESA and a Quantum Sensing Space & Defence Technology Roadmap aligning civil-security priorities. **Infrastructure.** The strategy’s infrastructure track will strengthen secure networks, prove platforms, and link civil–defence use. EuroQCI expands 2025–2035 with cross-border terrestrial links, satellite ground stations and EU certification, converging with IRIS² for end-to-end QKD services. In 2026, a pilot European Quantum Internet will test quantum-safe components and early use cases alongside the EU’s post-quantum cryptography roadmap. Europe will deploy ground/airborne gravimeters and prepare a space-gravimetry pathfinder after 2030. A centralised network of open-access quantum testbeds will serve developers, startups and SMEs. An EU-wide Quantum Technology Risk Assessment concludes in 2026. Spin-in initiatives from 2026 accelerate defence uptake. - [RAISE – European AI Research Council]() — status: not recorded. RAISE has entered a pilot phase as the Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe. The European Commission and the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU organised the European AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen, where Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva announced its launch. - [Competitiveness Coordination Tool (CCT)]() — status: not recorded. The Competitiveness Coordination Tool joins the EU, Member States and industry to deploy major investment projects and pursue reforms supporting strategic value chains. Current projects range from AI Gigafactories and clean-transport corridors to batteries, energy connections, chemicals, med-biotech, bio-based materials, offsite construction, circularity hubs and advanced chips. Examples include €20 billion being mobilised for AI Gigafactories and €10 million of initial EU funding for the European Med-Biotech Accelerator. The Tool is testing a new way to coordinate investment across Member States. - [EU Antitrust Procedural Rules Reform]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will revise Regulation (EU) 1/2003 and its implementing act to make antitrust enforcement faster, digital-ready, coherent. Options include stand-alone data-preservation orders; inspection powers covering all business records regardless of storage; the ability to summon individuals; streamlined interim measures and time-bound commitment proceedings; and a modernised access-to-file regime via confidentiality-bound external advisors. The review may harmonise complainant and third-party participation and strengthen coordination where Member States use stricter unilateral-conduct laws, safeguarding single-market consistency. The initiative seeks effective application of Articles 101/102 while reducing administrative burden, incorporating case law, and clarifying rules. - [European Competitiveness Fund (ECF)]() — status: in progress. The EU’s investment engine for 2028–2034 will consolidate 14 programmes under a single rulebook and access point to back projects from research to scale-up, deployment and manufacturing. It will operate through four policy windows—clean transition, digital leadership, health/biotech/bioeconomy, and resilience/security/defence/space—and mobilise the full EU financial toolbox, including an ECF InvestEU instrument, alongside project advisory and SME services. The Fund’s indicative envelope is €234.3 billion, with Horizon Europe tightly connected for a seamless journey from idea to market. Overall, the ECF de-risks private capital, cuts fragmentation, and accelerates high-impact investments with EU value added. - [European VC Funds Regulation Reform]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission is preparing a review of the European Venture Capital Funds (EuVECA) Regulation as part of its savings and investments union strategy, with adoption envisaged later in 2026. In January 2026 it opened two consultations, a targeted one for fund managers, businesses, investors and public authorities and a public one, seeking feedback on the obstacles faced by EU venture and growth capital funds and on possible measures to address them. Both consultations remained open until 12 March 2026. The Commission says it is also considering a possible broader policy initiative beyond the EuVECA framework, which would cover a wider range of venture and growth capital fund managers. It says the feedback will inform its policy work on venture and growth capital funds, which it links to the savings and investments union and to the EU startup and scaleup strategy. - [General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) Review]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will overhaul the GBER to cut red tape and streamline compatibility conditions while preserving a level playing field. The review fixes textual inconsistencies, updates definitions, and reflects new priorities (i.e. social-economy finance, training/employment aid, and SGEI/affordable housing) to ease use by SMEs, start-ups and granting authorities. It will reduce notifications, improve readability, and give Member States more design flexibility, with transparency and monitoring maintained. As the current GBER expires end-2026, the revision will also prolong its application. - [Industrial Accelerator Act]() — status: in progress. This Act will accelerate industrial decarbonisation by clearing permitting bottlenecks, strengthening clean-product demand and de-risking investment. It streamlines access to energy and infrastructure (i.e. building on NZIA, TEN-E and the emergency permitting toolbox) through acceleration areas, one-stop shops and, where allowed, tacit approvals, while maintaining environmental safeguards. It introduces resilience and sustainability criteria (clean, circular, cybersecure) across EU/national programmes and procurement, and pilots a simple carbon-intensity label—starting with steel in 2025, followed by cement—to unlock targeted incentives and enable international alignment. Coupled with the Clean Industrial Deal and related affordability measures, it aims to lower costs, shorten lead times and scale EU clean manufacturing, with a legislative proposal. - [InvestEU Amendment (Omnibus II)]() — status: not recorded. Lifts the EU guarantee by EUR 2.5 billion, provisioned from EFSI surpluses and reflows, to mobilise EUR 25 billion. It is paired with extended combinations of legacy instruments and targets EUR 50 billion additional investment in this MFF. It adds an InvestEU financial instrument under the Member State compartment, enabling funded equity and deployment in non-euro currencies, and encourages swift national transfers. Simplifications reduce reporting and adjust SME rules, delivering EUR 350 million in cost savings. The extra capacity will back higher-risk equity, debt and guarantees for Clean Industrial Deal priorities (i.e. clean-tech manufacturing, grids and energy infrastructure, clean mobility, and recycling) including a Clean Tech Guarantee Facility via the EIB Group. - [New Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)]() — status: ongoing. Important Projects of Common European Interest enable Member States to fund cross-border innovation and infrastructure projects with benefits for the Union, the internal market and society. They bring public and private sectors together on large-scale projects that address market or systemic failures and societal challenges. Member States define the scope, select participating companies and projects, and fund them from national budgets. The Commission provides guidance and assesses proposals, while the Joint European Forum supports discussion of possible future IPCEIs. - [Savings and Investment Account (SIA)]() — status: not recorded. Savings and Investment Accounts are presented as a voluntary route for individuals to invest alongside everyday bank or savings accounts. They may hold shares, bonds or funds, use simple tax rules and offer tax benefits. The Commission encourages Member States to establish or improve these accounts, while regulated providers must operate within EU investor-protection rules and give clear, comprehensible product information. - [Savings and Investments Union (SIU)]() — status: in progress. The Savings and Investments Union programme seeks to increase retail participation, channel savings into productive investment and strengthen EU capital markets. It includes a blueprint and tax recommendation for savings and investment accounts, a financial-literacy strategy, pension measures and measures on institutional equity investment. Further work covers venture and growth capital, cross-border investment barriers, trading and post-trading rules, supervision, banking integration and a mid-term review. - [TechEU Investment Programme 2026]() — status: not recorded. The Commission, together with the EIB Group and private investors, will deploy TechEU to close Europe’s late-stage financing gap for disruptive innovators, using debt, equity and quasi-equity delivered directly and via financial intermediaries. It targets scale-ups in AI, clean tech, critical raw materials, energy storage, quantum, semiconductors, life sciences and neurotechnology, complementing InvestEU and the Clean Industrial Deal. TechEU will also support exit pathways and late-growth rounds, and anchor a deeper pan-European market through ETCI 2.0 to crowd-in institutional capital. The programme aims to build industrial capacity, de-risk strategic projects and mobilise significant private investment at scale. - [Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER)]() — status: not recorded. The Commission is revising the TTBER and accompanying Guidelines to modernise EU rules for IP licensing and speed the diffusion of innovation. The draft updates clarify market-share safe harbours (including a longer grace period), address data licensing, strengthen soft safe-harbours for technology pools, and introduce guidance for licensing negotiation groups, alongside updated case-law on settlements and no-challenge clauses. The aim is greater legal certainty for pro-competitive collaboration (especially in data- and AI-intensive sectors) while safeguarding competition. - [2030 Roadmap on the Future of Digital Education and Skills]() — status: forthcoming. The roadmap will steer Europe’s digital education transformation, building on the review of the Digital Education Action Plan. It will promote equal access, build a digital education ecosystem, and forge partnerships with EU-based EdTech. An accompanying AI in Education initiative will set an AI literacy framework, support safe, ethical AI uptake in classrooms, and address online safety, wellbeing and misinformation. The Roadmap complements the Union of Skills and the STEM Plan, enlarging Europe’s AI-capable talent pool. The Digital Competence Framework will be updated by end-2025 to reflect emerging technologies. It will strengthen teacher capacity through targeted support and guidance. - [Action Plan on Basic Skills]() — status: delivered. The plan will lift literacy, numeracy, science, digital and citizenship skills, tackling underachievement. A Basic Skills Support Scheme will pilot interventions with EU funding, from early identification and tutoring to school-level improvement plans. A European Innovative School Award will recognise innovation and partnerships with businesses and local authorities. The Commission will pilot university–business partnerships via Erasmus+, Digital Europe and EIT to train for shortage sectors and co-develop micro-credentials. The plan will expand the European Alliance for Apprenticeships to 700 pledges and streamline the Pact for Skills (linking EU Skills Academies, CoVEs and European Universities) to double 25-million upskilling commitments. - [Digital Competence Framework (DigComp 3.0)]() — status: not recorded. DigComp 3.0 provides a common framework for identifying and describing the key areas of digital competence. Its use spans employment, education and digital-skills training across the EU, with adoption in at least 22 Member States and use as a basis or guide for 27 digital-skills certification schemes in 25 countries. The Joint Research Centre presented the new version in an online event for policymakers, employers, educators and researchers working on digital competence development. - [Digital Skills Academies]() — status: not recorded. The EU will deploy a targeted network of Skills Academies anchored by a flagship AI Skills Academy and complemented by a Quantum Skills Academy, a Cybersecurity Skills Academy (with an Industry–Academia network and cyber-campuses), and Net-Zero Industry Academies. Academies will offer one-stop training, apprenticeships and fellowships, returnships for women, and competitions. Building on Large-Scale Partnerships, a rollout will serve strategic sectors: defence, automotive, grids, wind, food, AI, quantum, virtual worlds and semiconductors. Coordinated under the Union of Skills and linked to the Clean Industrial Deal, the EIT will equip 1 million learners by 2028, with gender and mobility targets across Europe. - [EU Literacy Coalition]() — status: forthcoming. The EU Literacy Coalition is an initiative announced under the Union of Skills and the Action Plan on Basic Skills. The Commission says the Coalition will be established in autumn 2026. In preparation, the Commission held a conference on reading and literacy in Warsaw from 5 to 7 May, followed by a two half-day stakeholder workshop to lay the ground for the Coalition. The Commission presents the initiative as a joint approach across education and culture that brings together the cultural, creative, education and book sectors in response to declining literacy competences and reading habits. - [EU Teachers and Trainers Agenda]() — status: forthcoming. The Teachers and Trainers Agenda is an initiative within the Union of Skills aimed at tackling shortages, improving conditions and strengthening careers for educators. The wider strategy seeks to help people access quality jobs, help companies find talent and make skills portable across the EU. It includes action on basic skills, STEM, vocational education and training, upskilling, reskilling, skills intelligence and talent attraction. - [European School Alliances]() — status: forthcoming. The programme will knit Europe’s education and innovation fabric into a single, high-performing network. Universities alliances will launch joint programmes (especially in AI, quantum, semiconductors, data and cybersecurity) under a European degree/label, backed by an EU legal status and an investment pathway that secures long-term cooperation, shared infrastructures, and partnerships with business and research. In schools, a 2026 pilot will create European School Alliances to boost pupil and teacher mobility, enable cross-border cooperation between schools and authorities, and serve as testbeds for pedagogy, curricula and competence frameworks. Alliances will help schools become learning organisations focused on mastering basic skills. - [European Skills High Level Board]() — status: not recorded. The Board will be the steering hub of the Union of Skills, chaired by the Commission and uniting business leaders, education and training providers, and social partners. It delivers cross-sector insight and guidance on skills issues, drawing on evidence from the European Skills Intelligence Observatory and aligning action with the competitiveness steering mechanism. It will support a new EU-27 Recommendation on human capital and inform country-specific recommendations, while taking into account the Digital Decade Board’s advice on digital basic skills. With a dynamic, agile set-up, the Board can convene stakeholders quickly and accelerate implementation across sectors. - [European Strategy for VET]() — status: forthcoming. The Strategy upgrades VET into a first-choice pathway for competitiveness, cohesion and generational renewal. It tackles skills shortages by modernising curricula with employers, expanding work-based learning, and boosting mobility and internationalisation (via Erasmus+ and a pilot European VET diploma/label in 2025–26). It raises excellence and inclusiveness, combats gender stereotypes, and sets a 2030 STEM target: at least 45% of initial medium-level VET enrolment, with one in four women. Centres of Vocational Excellence will scale transnational partnerships and drive national reforms, while recognition frameworks ease cross-border learning and careers, making VET as valued as higher education across the Union. - [Intergenerational Fairness Strategy]() — status: delivered. The Commission will present the first EU-wide strategy to embed long-term, intergenerational perspectives across policymaking. It will: (1) strengthen intergenerational democratic participation and scrutiny; (2) tackle cross-cutting challenges (i.e. climate, housing, fiscal sustainability, skills and lifelong learning) through an intergenerational lens; and (3) empower all ages, combating ageism and protecting children’s rights. The strategy is being co-created via a 2025 four-phase process and may include a monitoring tool for intergenerational fairness. It will align with the Union of Skills agenda and related education actions, ensuring no generation is left behind. It will propose metrics and mainstream youth participation. - [MSCA Choose Europe for Science]() — status: not recorded. Choose Europe will co-fund recruitment programmes that link MSCA grants to long-term positions, tackling precarity and drawing top researchers to Europe, including in AI. It sits within a wider talent-magnet approach: a new Visa Strategy to better use the Students & Researchers and Blue Card Directive, pilots of Multipurpose Legal Gateway Offices, and an EU Talent Pool plus a 2030 target to host at least 350,000 non-EU tertiary graduates annually. Complementary quantum actions include a European Quantum Talent Mobility Programme and a Pilot for Researchers-in-Residence in quantum startups. Together, this integrates R&I careers, mobility and immigration tools into one offer. - [Quality Jobs Act]() — status: forthcoming. Developed with EU social partners in 2025, the Quality Jobs Roadmap will set a coherent EU strategy to raise job quality alongside competitiveness. It will back fair wages, high health-and-safety standards, decent working conditions, work-life balance, gender equality and wider collective bargaining; strengthen enforcement of work-related rights; and support access to training and fair job-to-job transitions, drawing on the European Pillar of Social Rights. It will align with the Competitiveness Compass, Union of Skills and the Clean Industrial Deal so decarbonisation creates attractive jobs and regional cohesion, and may announce targeted legislative and non-legislative actions with robust monitoring and evaluation. - [Recommendation on Human Capital]() — status: delivered. The Commission will introduce a recommendation on education and skills within the European Semester to anchor the Union of Skills in the competitiveness steering mechanism. It will be underpinned by the European Skills Intelligence Observatory and advised by a European Skills High-Level Board, ensuring timely, granular evidence and guidance. The recommendation will target structural reforms across the skills pipeline (i.e. basic education, VET, higher education and lifelong learning) linking them to labour-market needs. It will inform Council debates, the Joint Employment Report and country reports/CSRs, and promote whole-of-government coordination across education, employment and economic portfolios, nationally. - [STEM Education Strategic Plan]() — status: delivered. The EU will reverse declining STEM performance and close talent gaps by 2030 through enrolment targets (45% of initial VET in STEM, 32% tertiary, and 5% ICT PhDs) with gender goals (≥25% women in VET, 40% tertiary, 33% ICT PhDs). It will modernise curricula via a STEM competence framework, pilot STEM education centres, and launch Advanced Digital Skills Competitions. Universities and Centres of Vocational Excellence will offer joint programmes and micro-credentials aligned with industry, moving toward a European degree for engineers. A Teachers & Trainers Agenda and actions under the Union of Skills will boost capacity and attractiveness. - [Action Plan against Cyberbullying]() — status: delivered. The Commission will present a comprehensive EU approach to prevent, detect and respond to cyberbullying, with a primary focus on minors and youth. It will set a common EU definition, promote national strategies and focal points (e.g. trusted flaggers), and prioritise vulnerable groups including girls and women, LGBTIQ youth, migrants and persons with disabilities. Actions span prevention and digital well-being, safer product design, streamlined reporting and takedown (scaling good practices like France’s App 3018), victim support, and proportionate responses to perpetrators. Delivery will leverage and enforce the DSA, BIK+ and victims/VAW directives, with progress monitored through Safer Internet Centres, BIK policy reports and DSA enforcement. - [AVMSD Revision]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will run the AVMSD ex-post evaluation under Article 33 by 19 December 2026, followed, where appropriate, by proposals to review the Directive. Council conclusions (May 2025) suggested key reform priorities: clarify scope (incl. influencers/professional creators), ensure coherent interplay with DSA/EMFA, strengthen protection of minors and rules for VSPs, safeguard prominence/access to general-interest content and major events, and improve cross-border enforcement through the new European Board for Media Services. The exercise should keep the Single Market as the anchor (country-of-origin), avoid overlapping obligations, and de-risk regulatory fragmentation via clear definitions and digital-by-default, once-only procedures. - [Circular Economy Act (CEA)]() — status: forthcoming. The Act will create a true Single Market for waste and secondary raw materials, boosting supply and demand for quality recyclates at competitive prices. It will harmonise end-of-waste criteria, simplify and expand extended producer responsibility (including a one-stop producer registry), and revise e-waste rules to recover critical materials, while aligning with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products framework. Public procurement criteria, incentives for scrap use, and digitalised demolition permits will accelerate circular design and recycling. Strong enforcement—including for e-commerce channels—will ensure compliance. - [Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation (CPCR) Reform]() — status: forthcoming. The Consumer Protection Cooperation Regulation provides a framework for national authorities to work together on cross-border breaches of consumer rules. The authorities can seek information from domain registrars and banks, use mystery shopping, and order the immediate removal of websites hosting scams. The Commission coordinates cooperation and can coordinate EU-wide action, while authorities may accept business commitments to correct practices and provide remedies and compensation. - [Cybersecurity Act 2 & Simplification Package]() — status: in progress. Cybersecurity Act 2 would repeal the current Cybersecurity Act and reform ENISA, the European cybersecurity certification framework and ICT supply-chain security rules. The proposal aims to strengthen EU cyber capabilities and resilience, improve coordinated governance, speed certification schemes and reduce fragmented compliance requirements. It would provide a harmonised framework for non-technical ICT supply-chain risks, including measures addressing high-risk suppliers, while a related directive would simplify scope, definitions, ransomware reporting and supervision of cross-border service providers. - [Digital Fairness Act (DFA)]() — status: forthcoming. Based on a fitness check of EU consumer law in 2024, the Commission plans to propose a Digital Fairness Act that curbs manipulative design (“dark patterns”), addictive features and subscription traps; clarifies rules for influencer and AI-driven marketing; strengthens protections for minors; and streamlines information duties so consumers face less overload and can cancel easily. Options include amending the Unfair Commercial Practices and Consumer Rights directives or proposing a new regulation, ensuring coherence with the DSA, DMA and the AI Act. It will drive harmonised, high-impact enforcement with clear duties for platforms and advertisers, easy redress for consumers, and deterrent penalties. - [e-Declaration for the Posting of Workers]() — status: in progress. The proposed e-Declaration would create a voluntary multilingual public interface linked to the Internal Market Information System for posting-worker declarations. Participating host Member States could require service providers from other Member States to use a standard electronic form, with data transferred automatically to national authorities. The proposal aims to reduce administrative burden, improve administrative cooperation and inspections, and support protection of posted workers' rights without changing the underlying posting framework. - [E-commerce Toolbox]() — status: delivered. The E-commerce Toolbox combines customs, product-safety, consumer, digital and market-surveillance measures for online retail. It calls for progress on customs reform and proposes controls on imports shipped directly to consumers, coordinated enforcement and safety actions. The Commission also plans action on product passports, interoperable enforcement databases, web crawlers, marketplace cooperation, consumer awareness, professional training, cooperation with countries of origin and investigation of possible dumping or illegal subsidisation. - [Energy Labelling Omnibus]() — status: in progress. On 24 June 2026 the Commission proposed a regulation simplifying the EU rules on energy labelling and tyre labelling, one of its omnibus simplification packages. The Commission says the simplified rules will make requirements easier for suppliers and retailers of home appliances, electronic devices and tyres, while ensuring that consumers still receive the information they need when buying a product. The proposal keeps the energy labelling framework, which the Commission says has proven effective in reducing energy use, and streamlines the rules to make them easier to apply, cut costs and facilitate enforcement. It widens digital options, such as electronic shelf displays, a QR code in related documentation or on the product, and displaying the label as part of the contractual offer. The Commission estimates administrative savings of up to €125 million annually over the next 10 years. Some newer labels, including those for smartphones, will also give information on durability and repairability. - [EU Action Plan on Online Fraud]() — status: forthcoming. The EU Action Plan on Online Fraud is a forthcoming Commission initiative announced in the 2030 Consumer Agenda and action plan for consumers in the single market, adopted on 19 November 2025. The Commission says online fraud schemes are among the fastest growing crimes online and are causing significant harm to consumers. To strengthen the ability to combat online fraud in the EU, it will publish an action plan on online fraud. Its goals will include boosting prevention measures, making law enforcement action more effective and strengthening support for fraud victims in recovering their funds. The Consumer Agenda does not give a date for the action plan's publication. - [EU Digital Travel Application]() — status: in progress. The EU Digital Travel application would let travellers create a digital travel credential and submit travel data for checks before reaching an external border. The proposal aims to reduce bottlenecks while helping border authorities verify documents, identity and security risks in advance. It provides for single or repeated use, secure validation against the travel document's chip and possible storage in the European Digital Identity Wallet. - [European Product Act (EPA)]() — status: forthcoming. The European Product Act would update three parts of EU product law: the new legislative framework of product rules, market surveillance and compliance, and standardisation. The Commission work programme 2026 schedules the legislative measures for Q3 2026. It cites Article 114 TFEU for the framework and standardisation updates, and Articles 33 and 114 TFEU for market surveillance and compliance. - [MDR/IVDR Reform]() — status: in progress. The MDR/IVDR reform proposal seeks a leaner, less costly framework for medical devices and in vitro diagnostic devices while retaining a high level of patient health protection. It would improve oversight and coordination of notified bodies, widen the expertise and advisory role of expert panels, and provide further support through the European Medicines Agency. The proposal also aims to improve the single market and reduce risks of device shortages. - [Multimodal Digital Mobility Services]() — status: in progress. The proposed Regulation on multimodal booking aims to make it easier for travellers to search for, compare, combine and book travel options across transport modes. It would set common requirements for multimodal digital mobility services, including neutral display and ranking, marketing-information data, emissions information and certain data sharing. The proposal excludes SMEs from its scope, repeals the computerised-reservation-systems code of conduct, and provides for national enforcement, complaints, penalties, monitoring and reporting. - [Omnibus IV (mid-caps)]() — status: in progress. The Commission will fast-track simplification by empowering common technical specifications when harmonised standards lag, and by digitalising compliance so firms can demonstrate conformity faster and paper-free. The package also extends existing SME mitigating measures to small mid-caps and removes redundant paper requirements in product laws, easing conformity assessment and cutting reporting overlaps. Together with the Single Market Strategy, it targets quicker time-to-market, legal certainty and lower costs while maintaining high safety and consumer protection. Delivery will be tied to measurable burden-reduction targets and periodic scorecards so businesses see real, near-term gains in every Member State. - [One Europe, One Market Roadmap]() — status: delivered. The Commission will set milestones to finish the Single Market where it matters most (i.e. capital, services, energy and telecoms) while advancing a 28th regime and a ‘fifth freedom’ for knowledge and innovation. The roadmap will tackle the “Terrible Ten” barriers, codify digital-by-default procedures, and use the Competitiveness Coordination Tool to align national reforms and EU investment. A delivery scoreboard will track progress, backed by faster infringement action and “once-only” data sharing for firms. Measures include deepening the Capital Markets/Savings & Investment Union, grid and interconnector build-out, the Digital Networks Act, and service-sector opening, turning commitments into measurable outcomes. - [Single Digital Booking and Ticketing]() — status: in progress. The Commission will propose an EU framework enabling passengers to buy a single ticket for cross-border rail journeys across multiple operators, with passengers’ rights applying across the whole trip. It will mandate interoperable data and open, non-discriminatory APIs for schedules, fares and reservation systems; ensure through-ticketing, real-time disruption information and seamless refunds/re-routing; and set governance for liability, revenue settlement and dispute resolution. The initiative complements paperless mobility actions and aims to make rail a convenient, default choice for long-distance travel while boosting tourism and Single Market integration. - [Single Market Barriers Prevention Act]() — status: forthcoming. The EU will move from reacting to fragmentation to preventing it at source. Building on the Single Market Strategy, the Act would systematise ex-ante screening of draft national measures, reinforce notification/transparency obligations, and require Member States to self-assess EU-law compliance before adoption, curbing “gold-plating.” It would hard-wire a competitiveness/SME check for significant amendments, introduce rapid-reaction deadlines to fix non-compliant rules, and align agencies and regulators to ensure uniform application. Annual progress reporting and more decisive infringement where needed will anchor accountability, complemented by a shift to digital-by-default administration and a “1-in, 27-out” simplification ethos to keep new barriers from emerging. - [Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security]() — status: delivered. Action Plan on Drone and Counter-Drone Security prioritises a Drone Security Package, coordinated risk assessment and industrial coordination to address drone threats. Proposed actions include registration and direct remote identification for drones above 100g, D-TECT Forum launch in Q2 2026, a Drone Security Toolbox and an EU Trusted Drone Label. The plan also covers resilience testing for critical infrastructure, training, cellular detection, voluntary deployment and procurement, annual exercises, a centre of excellence and cooperation with Ukraine. - [Action Plan on the Cybersecurity of Hospitals and Healthcare Providers]() — status: delivered. Healthcare cybersecurity action is centred on a European Cybersecurity Support Centre, sector-specific guidance, maturity assessment and incident-response support. Planned measures include a rapid-response service in the EU Cybersecurity Reserve, a Health Cybersecurity Advisory Board, a network of health CISOs, cyber exercises and a ransomware recovery subscription service. The plan also covers cyber hygiene, threat intelligence, procurement guidance, training, regulatory mapping and international cooperation. - [Digitalisation of Return Case Management]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will table a dedicated initiative to digitalise Member States’ return case management, as part of a new common approach on returns. COM(2025) 101 sets a common return system and, in Art. 42(1)(d), makes national digital systems for return/readmission/reintegration a core component; a separate act will specify interoperability, once-only data flows and statistics. The Commission’s Political Guidelines commit to digitalising case management; von der Leyen’s 17 March letter signalled presentation by end-2025. A 2026 consultation under the Work Programme will prepare governance and implementation, aligning with SIS/Eurodac and digital-by-default delivery while ensuring uniform practice across the Union. - [DigitalJustice@2030]() — status: delivered. The Commission's justice digitalisation programme will expand shared tools, data availability and cross-border digital cooperation. It plans a repository of digital justice tools, an IT toolbox, exchanges among Member States and guidance on high-risk AI. Other actions cover legal and judicial-data reuse, common videoconferencing requirements, remote participation in criminal hearings, support for national digitalisation and further development of the European Electronic Access Point. - [EU Action Plan on Cable Security]() — status: delivered. EU Action Plan on Cable Security aims to prevent, detect and respond to risks affecting submarine cables. By Q4 2025, the Commission, Member States and ENISA are to complete cable mapping, a coordinated risk assessment, a Cable Security Toolbox and a priority list of Cable Projects of European Interest. Further measures address investment, integrated surveillance, regional hubs, sensors, surveillance drones, incident reporting, repair vessels and spare parts, alongside crisis response, NATO cooperation, diplomacy, sanctions and attribution. - [European Centre for Democratic Resilience]() — status: not recorded. The Centre will be the operational backbone of the European Democracy Shield, uniting national capabilities to detect, analyse and attribute foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI). It will pool open-source intelligence, media forensics and platform signals, provide rapid alerts and incident-response templates, and coordinate joint attribution with partners. The Centre will convene Member States and neighbouring countries, standardise methodologies, and channel support to independent media and media-literacy initiatives. By closing gaps between monitoring, policy action and sanctions, it will strengthen deterrence, help protect elections and debate, and build a European capacity against hybrid threats. - [European Democracy Shield]() — status: delivered. It will harden democratic resilience by combining early detection of foreign information manipulation, coordinated analysis and rapid response across the Union. A new European Centre for Democratic Resilience will pool national expertise and capacities as the hub for monitoring, attribution and joint action with partners. The Shield will leverage the EU’s FIMI toolbox and the Digital Services Act, expand media- and digital-literacy efforts, and strengthen crisis communication to counter disinformation systematically. It complements a forthcoming Media Resilience Programme supporting independent journalism, and is anchored in upgrades to EU internal-security governance. Work will also address harmful social-media design and youth well-being through expert advice on safeguards and enforcement. - [European Preparedness Union Strategy]() — status: delivered. The Preparedness Union Strategy would improve EU anticipation, coordination and response across crises through an EU risk and threat assessment, crisis dashboard and an upgraded Emergency Response Coordination Centre. It also proposes stockpiling, minimum preparedness requirements, revised civil-protection arrangements, early-warning guidance and preparedness training. The strategy includes measures for public-private continuity planning, population self-sufficiency during extreme disruptions, EU-wide exercises, civil-military coordination and cooperation with partner countries. - [European Space Shield]() — status: forthcoming. The European Space Shield is a proposed flagship within the Readiness Roadmap for defence readiness. It would establish and protect a European system of space capabilities for defence purposes, building on EU space systems and national capacities. The roadmap envisages endorsement of the shield as a priority flagship, coordinated prioritisation through space and defence programmes, coordination with Member States' procurement plans, and the shield's launch. - [Europol & Eurojust Revision]() — status: in progress. Europol & Eurojust Revision seeks to modernise Eurojust's legal framework and strengthen cross-border criminal-justice cooperation. The proposal addresses structural and operational constraints identified by the 2025 evaluation, improving governance and operational performance, cooperation with EU partners and third countries, and analytical and proactive capacity. It would expand Eurojust's mandate to cybercrime, gender-based violence and violations of EU restrictive measures, while reinforcing coordination with Europol and supporting work on serious and organised cross-border crime. - [Frontex Revision & EU Visa Support Office]() — status: forthcoming. Frontex is slated for a stronger mandate and reinforced standing corps, allowing the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to expand its presence and operational support. The Commission also assigns Frontex a stronger role in supporting Member States with returns and places a visa strategy among measures aimed at attracting international talent and reducing administrative barriers. - [Harmonised EU Framework for Data Retention]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission is preparing an impact assessment on data retention by service providers for criminal proceedings. The work responds to divergent national rules and the absence of an EU-wide framework, which authorities identify as an obstacle to investigations and cross-border cooperation. Consultations will examine the obstacles, possible non-regulatory and regulatory responses, and impacts on citizens' security, electronic-communications services and the protection of fundamental rights. - [International Digital Strategy]() — status: delivered. International Digital Strategy would extend EU digital cooperation through partnerships, dialogues, trade agreements and infrastructure with trusted partners. The programme covers secure connectivity, Digital Public Infrastructure, AI, software, submarine cables, satellite connectivity, quantum research, semiconductors, high-performance computing, cybersecurity and digital identity. Measures include the Digital Partnership Network, additional bilateral and regional partnerships, EU Tech Business Offer, support for Arctic, MEDUSA and Blue-Raman cables, and integration work on the EU Digital Identity Wallet with Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans. - [New Strategic EU-India Agenda]() — status: delivered. Europe have tabled a Strategic EU–India Agenda that elevates the partnership across five pillars: prosperity, technology, security, connectivity and enablers. It prioritises concluding an FTA and an Investment Protection Agreement, alongside Global Gateway investments and supply-chain de-risking via the EU–India TTC (chips, solar, APIs). It deepens digital cooperation (e.g. trusted data flows, secure 5G/6G and interoperable digital public infrastructures) and expands joint R&I in AI, HPC/quantum and space. A Security and Defence Partnership with a Security of Information Agreement will underpin maritime, cyber and hybrid resilience. Delivery will be steered by an annual summit, upgraded TTC, and an EU–India Business Forum. - [ProtectEU: A European Internal Security Strategy]() — status: delivered. ProtectEU sets out EU internal-security action based on regular threat assessments and stronger operational capacity. It covers terrorism, organised crime, cyber-related and hybrid threats, with proposed changes involving Europol, Eurojust and Frontex. The strategy also calls for a European Critical Communication System, better protection of critical infrastructure and transport hubs, stronger cybersecurity, updated organised-crime and firearms rules, and closer operational cooperation with partner regions. - [Roadmap on Lawful and Effective Access to Data]() — status: delivered. The Roadmap for lawful and effective access to data for law enforcement sets out the conditions that should govern access to digital evidence. It says access must be necessary, proportionate, founded on clear, precise and accessible legal rules, subject to independent oversight and accompanied by effective remedies. The roadmap identifies deleted data, jurisdictional conflicts, difficult device forensics, encryption and limited analytical capacity as obstacles to obtaining criminal evidence. - [Team Europe]() — status: delivered. Aligns the EU, Member States, the EIB/EBRD, agencies and the private sector to act as one, pooling finance, expertise and diplomacy for maximum impact. Born during COVID-19, it is now the default delivery model for international partnerships and Global Gateway. It coordinates over 160 Team Europe Initiatives and mobilised €179 billion in 2021–2023, underpinned by instruments such as the €40 billion EFSD+ guarantee and regular Global Gateway business fora, with governance via a Board, Business Advisory Group, and a Civil Society & Local Authorities platform. By joining up investments, reforms and standards, Team Europe scales high-standard projects worldwide and strengthens EU strategic influence. - [The Pact for the Mediterranean]() — status: delivered. The EU will forge a new pact with Southern Neighbourhood partners, building on the 2021 Agenda, with a strong digital pillar to deepen political engagement and cooperation. Priorities include secure connectivity under Global Gateway (most visibly the MEDUSA submarine cable linking the northern and southern shores and boosting regional capacity) alongside resilient cable and satellite links. Cooperation will use Trade & Technology-style dialogues, Cyber Dialogues, and association to Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, embedded in tailor-made Comprehensive and Strategic Partnerships (e.g. Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan). Work will advance trusted 5G/cable security, skills and innovation, and gradual policy harmonisation supporting integration with EU digital rules where relevant. - [A Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook]() — status: delivered. The Commission's communication seeks to make EU law easier to design, implement and enforce, with a strategic focus on the single market. It introduces simplicity by design, more focused impact assessments, clearer access to legislation, realistic implementation deadlines and digital drafting and acquis-management tools. It also calls for enforcement to be considered in legal design and accompanies these measures with an Action Plan for Regulatory Deep Cleaning. - [Administrative Burden Reduction Targets of 25/35%]() — status: ongoing. The Commission will deliver quantified, mandate-wide cuts to red tape: at least 25% for all firms and 35% for SMEs, applied to all administrative costs, not only reporting. Using Eurostat’s €150 billion estimate of recurring administrative costs (2022), this implies €37.5 billion in annual savings by end-mandate. Progress will be tracked in yearly enforcement and implementation reports, with dedicated SME measures and avoidance of national “gold-plating”. The drive complements “one-in, one-out” and will be executed via prioritised simplification packages and Omnibus proposals, while co-legislators preserve savings in negotiations and Member States streamline transposition and application. - [Annual Enforcement and Implementation Progress Reports]() — status: ongoing. Annual Enforcement and Implementation Progress Reports provide the Council and European Parliament with updates on simplification, implementation and enforcement within each Commissioner's area of responsibility. The 2025 Annual Progress Reports cover 1st January to 31 July 2025. They address simplification and stress testing, implementation support, enforcement, progress made and concrete next steps across the Commission's portfolios. - [Better Regulation Guidelines Update]() — status: forthcoming. Just like the EU’s rules, its better regulation framework must be simplified to enable a simpler and faster Europe. The Commission will therefore apply a more rigorous and structured application of the proportionality principle in better regulation and put forward a communication to that effect in the first half of 2026. - [Digital Fitness Check]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will stress-test the EU’s digital rulebook to cut costs, remove overlaps and improve coherence, with results due in Q4 2025. It will assess cumulative burdens on businesses across data legislation, cookies and tracking, cybersecurity incident reporting, AI Act implementation, and the European Digital Identity framework, feeding simplification proposals. The exercise will complement the Digital Omnibus and examine cross-border fragmentation and costs, without lowering protections. Each Commissioner will review laws in remit under the steer of the Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification, drawing on “reality checks” with practitioners to ground changes in practice. - [EU Treaty Change]() — status: ongoing. To equip a larger, more contested Union, the Commission will pursue institutional reforms, up to targeted Treaty changes where they clearly improve capacity to act and democratic accountability. It couples faster, simpler law-making with rigorous implementation: stress-testing the acquis, reducing administrative burdens, and renewing an interinstitutional pact on better lawmaking. Each Commissioner will hold biannual implementation dialogues and publish annual progress reports, while enforcement against Single Market fragmentation is stepped up. The objective is a Union that legislates less and delivers more so Europe can decide and act at the speed today’s challenges demand. - [European Commissioner for Implementation and Simplification]() — status: not recorded. The Commissioner will lead a whole-of-Commission drive to make EU rules simpler, faster and better enforced. The agenda prioritises early implementation strategies with Member States, hands-on “reality checks” with practitioners, and twice-yearly implementation dialogues in every portfolio feeding annual progress reports and resolute enforcement against fragmentation and gold-plating. New quantified targets will cut recurring administrative costs by at least 25% (35% for SMEs), underpinned by omnibus simplification packages, streamlined permitting, and digital-by-default delivery. A rolling stress-test of the entire acquis will consolidate and clarify rules; reinforced SME/competitiveness checks, proportionate use of delegated/implementing acts, and digital tools (such as a European Business Wallet and once-only interoperability) will lower costs and speed compliance. - [Greater Focus on the Subsidiarity and Proportionality Principles]() — status: ongoing. 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. - [Implementation Strategies and Dialogues for all Laws]() — status: ongoing. For every major EU law, the Commission will prepare a structured implementation strategy that maps legal, administrative and practical challenges, sets timelines, and defines targeted support. These strategies will use explanatory templates and national transposition roadmaps, track progress, and flag “gold plating” that fragments the Single Market. Delivery will be backed by expert-group peer support and EU agencies, plus investments in administrative capacity, digital tools and data (e.g. TSI, ComPAct, IMI, Single Digital Gateway). The Commission will hold twice-yearly implementation dialogues with stakeholders and publish annual progress reports to surface hurdles and simplification opportunities. Hands-on “reality checks” with practitioners will verify costs and fix bottlenecks early; where dialogue fails, swift infringement action will follow. - [Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking Update]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will seek a renewed agreement with Parliament and Council to embed simplification and implementation across the full legislative cycle. It will align subsidiarity/proportionality checks, apply a shared methodology to estimate the costs of significant amendments, and integrate SME/competitiveness tests up front. Co-legislators will commit to fast-tracking simplification packages, limiting gold-plating and streamlining empowerments for delegated/implementing acts. Annual progress reporting will create accountability on enforcement and burden-reduction targets, while “digital-by-default/once-only” delivery and interoperability requirements are designed in from the start. Together, the institutions will stress-test the acquis to cut administrative costs without lowering standards. - [Methodology for the Co-Legislators’ Amendment Assessment]() — status: forthcoming. In its communication A Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook, adopted on 28 April 2026, the Commission proposes a common methodology so that the European Parliament and the Council each assess the substantial amendments they make to Commission proposals. The Commission says that in practice the institutions proposing such amendments do not assess their impact, despite their commitment to do so, and that this leaves the analysis of a law's expected impacts incomplete. It proposes three strands of joint work. First, the institutions should reach a shared understanding of what constitutes a substantial amendment, for example extending a proposal's scope to micro-companies or SMEs or adding compliance costs or reporting requirements. Second, the institution tabling such an amendment would assess its impacts and quantify costs or savings using a simple cost calculation method, with the standard cost model for administrative costs. Third, the impacts would be presented in a concise template covering expected costs and benefits, affected stakeholders, and effects on competitiveness and innovation. - [More strategic Enforcement against Non-Implementation and unlawful Gold-Plating]() — status: ongoing. This measure forms part of the Commission communication A Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook, adopted on 28 April 2026. The Commission defines gold-plating as a Member State introducing, when transposing or implementing EU law, a wider scope, stricter rules or obligations that go beyond the EU legal act. It says it will work with Member States on a toolkit of best practices and criteria to identify and avoid gold-plating, support them during transposition of directives, use implementation dialogues, reality checks and the European Semester to detect gold-plating, and take the risk into account when drafting proposals. On non-implementation, the Commission notes that in 2025 almost 70% of new infringement procedures stemmed from late transposition. Where a Member State notifies no transposition measure, it will as a rule issue a reasoned opinion within six months of the letter of formal notice, and it will be systematically more stringent in calculating the penalties it proposes to the Court. - [Reality Checks]() — status: ongoing. Reality Checks are hands-on diagnostics that bring Commission services to practitioners to test whether EU rules work in real life. Through targeted technical exchanges, teams identify hurdles in authorisations, permitting, control and compliance, capture good practices, and map where national transposition or “gold-plating” adds cost or fragmentation. Findings verify the assumptions behind legislation, quantify burdens and expected savings, and assess if planned simplifications are realistic. Results feed directly into evaluations and fitness checks, the gradual stress-test of the acquis, and the design of future simplification packages, ensuring evidence-based fixes and quicker, cheaper compliance without lowering standards. - [Regulatory Deep Cleaning Action Plan]() — status: not recorded. The Regulatory Deep Cleaning Action Plan aims to address inconsistencies, outdated, overlapping and redundant provisions, as well as overly complex rules that may hinder competitiveness and innovation. The Commission identifies priority areas including goods and services, financial services, customs, taxation, health and food safety, agriculture, transport, energy, climate, environment, digital matters, housing and permitting. It accompanies wider measures on simpler lawmaking and stronger implementation and enforcement. - [Reinforced SME and Competitiveness Checks]() — status: forthcoming. Will be mandatory for proposals with business impacts, combining a reinforced SME test with a sector-focused competitiveness lens. The check assesses four dimensions (i.e. cost/price effects, international competitiveness, innovation capacity, and specific SME impacts) and examines cumulative burdens across value chains. Findings will shape mitigation (e.g. lighter regimes, phased timing, digital-by-default delivery) and be transparently presented in impact assessments, with stronger analysis of indirect effects on SMEs. Fitness checks will also report on efficiency for SMEs. Results feed progress reports and a stress-test of the acquis, ensuring no new Single Market barriers and aligning rules with Europe’s overall growth agenda. - [Review of National and European Agencies]() — status: forthcoming. The Commission will audit mandates, governance and resources of Single Market authorities to eliminate overlap, gaps and conflicting procedures. The review will benchmark performance, map workflows, and propose consolidation, clarified competences, interoperable IT, joint inspections and mutual recognition of decisions. It will align agency tasks with the ‘Terrible Ten’ barrier agenda and forthcoming Omnibus simplifications, reducing compliance friction for SMEs and small mid-caps. Deliverables include a reform blueprint and actions to streamline supervision in priority sectors. Expected outcomes: accountability, faster enforcement, consistent interpretation of EU law, lower costs, and improved consumer protection. - [Simplification Platform (High-Level Expert Group)]() — status: not recorded. Simplification Platform will advise the Commission on reducing unnecessary burdens and modernising EU law across national, regional and local application. It will examine gold-plating that can fragment the single market, encourage coordination on simplification, consider digital solutions to reduce red tape, particularly for SMEs, and assess legislative complexity and density. The Platform comprises individual experts, Member States, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, supporting the Better Regulation agenda. - [Stronger Scrutiny of Delegated and Implementing acts]() — status: ongoing. Delegated and implementing acts allow the Commission, and exceptionally the Council for implementing acts, to update EU law or secure uniform implementation. Implementing acts normally involve a committee representing every EU country and public feedback on draft texts. Delegated acts cannot change essential elements of a law; Parliament and Council may revoke the delegation or object, after public feedback and expert consultation. - [Well-timed evaluation clauses and the use of sunset clauses]() — status: ongoing. This measure is part of the Commission communication A Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook, adopted on 28 April 2026, in the section on future-proof and adaptive regulation. The Commission says EU and national rules must leave room to adapt to rapid technological and geopolitical change, and that it will ensure rules are re-examined and updated where necessary. It says it will use sunset clauses where appropriate so that laws lapse on a specified future date. Used together with well-timed monitoring and evaluation clauses, the Commission says, sunset clauses can help prevent the unnecessary proliferation of rules and reporting requirements and ensure that laws that are no longer relevant do not linger on the statute books. It adds that the language used for sunset, monitoring and evaluation clauses will be standardised and harmonised. The communication gives no implementation date for this measure. --- [Reading guide and interpretation notes]() · [Methodology]()