Commission proposes targeted changes that will reduce administrative burden and ensure consistency across the revised Economic Governance Framework
Today, the European Commission has adopted proposals for targeted changes to some of the EU economic governance rules. The changes are aimed at ensuring their consistency with the outcome of the comprehensive reform undertaken in April 2024, while reducing reporting and administrative burdens, and streamlining funding arrangements for assisting non-euro area Member States facing balance of payments difficulties.
These proposals will simplify EU law, remove redundant administrative requirements, and make financial assistance more efficient. The simplification package will directly benefit national administrations by easing their administrative workload and making it easier to implement EU law, enabling them to refocus resources on other tasks.
Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification said: ‘This initiative reflects the Commission’s ongoing commitment to tackle red tape, increase efficiency, and eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements, while supporting competitiveness and economic growth across the European Union. By removing outdated requirements and reducing administrative complexity, the EU can support Member States in focusing resources where they are most needed: on delivering sound public finances, fostering growth and ensuring financial stability.’
More information is available in our press release.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Francisca Marçal Santos – Tel.: +32 2 299 72 36)
Commission’s assessment of Estonia and Slovakia National Energy and Climate Plans shows improvements on ambition closing in on 2030 targets, but more efforts needed
The Commission today published its assessment of the final updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of Estonia and Slovakia, which contains guidance to assist both countries in facilitating implementation and raising their ambitions in line with EU targets for 2030.
While Estonia and Slovakia have raised their ambition compared to their draft plans, the assessment finds that both countries must increase their efforts to implement the plans and close remaining gaps on renewable energy and energy efficiency. They also must make progress towards the national 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon removals – in accordance with the Effort Sharing Regulation and the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation, respectively.
This assessment is published today given the submissions of these two NECPs arrived late to be taken into account as part of the EU-wide assessment of the final updated NECPs and Staff Working Document published on 28 May 2025. The EU-wide assessment showed significant progress made by Member States towards closing in on the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets. Efforts should now also turn to implementation and delivery: using public funds to de-risk investments, unlock private finance and coordinate measures at regional and European level.
The Commission reiterates its call on the two Member States that have not yet submitted their final updated plans – Belgium and Poland – to do so without further delay. The Commission will then assess the plans.
More information is available in a news item online.
(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07)
Commission approves new geographical indications from Italy and Spain
The European Commission has approved the addition of ‘Olive taggiasche liguri’ and ‘Carne Salada del Trentino’ from Italy to the register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) and ‘Tharsys’ from Spain as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).
‘Olive taggiasche liguri’ are table olives and olive paste made from olives of the ‘taggiasca’ variety. The taggiasca olive is named after the town Taggia where Benedectine monks planted its first trees in the tenth century. The plant is characterised by great fertility and strong growth, though also by susceptibility to frost and extreme temperatures. It acclimatised itself to Liguria, a region shaped like an arc, a narrow strip of land between the sea and a mountain ridge that shelters it from winds and cold.
‘Carne Salada del Trentino’ denotes a cured meat product made from beef cattle characterised by leanness, the taste of mature meat and a slightly spice aroma. The meat is produced and packaged in the entire administrative territory of the Autonomous Province of Trento, with the exception of some municipalities. The traditional processing and conservation practice used for Carne Salada del Trentino has survived in Trentino since ancient Rome, while having been almost completely abandoned elsewhere.
Thirdly, ‘Tharsys’ is a red, white and rosé wine from the urban area of Requena in Spain, a region that has been adorned with vineyards and an underground winery since the 16th and 19th century respectively. The wines each have different aromas depending on their age and colour – ranging from intense blue-flower notes for young reds, to the toasted-spices and smoky aromas of barrel-aged rosés.
This new designation joins the more than 3,680 protected names already listed in the eAmbrosia database. For more information, see the Quality Policy pages.
(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Emma Marechal – Tel.: +32 2 299 48 18)
Commission approves pound 24.5 million Italian State aid measure to support the expansion of a freight terminal
The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a pound 24.5 million Italian State aid measure to expand a multimodal freight terminal near Bologna. The measure will promote the shift in freight transport from road to rail.
Domestic freight transport by rail is considerably below EU average in the Emilia-Romagna region. The opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel will significantly increase freight traffic by rail in the area after 2030. The project will expand the existing multimodal platform at Interporto Bologna by adding five new, 750m long railway tracks, as well as expanding the platform by about 80,000m², by the end of 2026. The beneficiary of the measure is Interporto Bologna, which operates the existing infrastructure. The terminal is situated at the intersection of three TEN-T corridors and is considered a strategically important railway infrastructure at national level.
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) on transport coordination. The Commission found that the measure is necessary to promote the use of rail transport, which is less polluting than road transport and contributes to reducing road congestion, in line with the objectives of the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the European Green Deal. Furthermore, the Commission found that the aid will have an ‘incentive effect’ as the beneficiary would not carry out the investment to the same extent in the absence of the public support. Finally, the Commission concluded that the measure is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary and has a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Italian measure under EU State aid rules.
The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.118718 in the State aid register on the Commission’s Competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.
(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)
Commissioner Albuquerque visits Ireland for high-level talks on the Savings and Investments Union
Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, is visiting Ireland from today to tomorrow. The Commissioner will engage with Ireland’s top-level policymakers, key stakeholders and students.
During the visit, the Commissioner will meet with Minister for Finance and President of the Eurogroup Pascal Donohoe, Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance Robert Troye, as well as representatives of the Central Bank of Ireland. She will also meet various representatives of the finance industry and trade unions. In addition, the Commissioner will deliver a keynote speech at the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, and will participate in the ‘Talking with The Future’ event with students of Trinity College Dublin.
A key topic during the visit will be the Savings and Investments Union, which aims to enhance the capability of the EU financial system to connect savings with productive investments. In this context, the Commissioner will encourage Irish authorities to adopt the recent recommendation Saving and Investment Accounts frameworks quickly. Other important topics will include the simplification agenda, banking regulation and payments.
(For more information: Olof Gill- Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Mara Perez-Cejuela Romero – Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)
Commissioner Roswall hosted high-level roundtable on simplifying environmental laws
This morning, Commissioner Roswall met with business representatives, civil society and think thanks in Brussels to discuss the results of the call for evidence on an environmental simplification package. The call closed on 10 September 2025 and gathered more than 190,000 responses.
The exchanges of the roundtable focused on key actions to simplify reporting, permitting and reduce administrative burden in the areas of circular economy, industrial emissions, waste management and environmental permitting. Simplifying and improving EU laws will make rules clearer and easier to understand and faster and cheaper to implement.
The simplification of environmental rules follows on from the Competitiveness Compass, which sets a clear framework for Europe to become the place where future technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactured, and put on the market, while being the first continent to become climate neutral. One way to achieve this will be the simplification of the regulatory environment.
Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: ‘This Commission is committed to simplification. Today’s roundtable enabled an open discussion with stakeholders to identify key actions to reduce administrative burden. What we want to achieve is a leaner legal framework that is easier to implement for businesses and public administration, while staying the course on our environmental objectives. This is crucial for our common goal: fostering Europe’s competitiveness while preserving the environment and safeguarding public health.’
You can find more information on the roundtable on simplifying environmental laws online.
(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 299 63 02; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)