Commission invites feedback on future simplification of environmental legislation

The European Commission has launched a public Call for Evidence to gather input on how to simplify EU environmental legislation. The goal is to reduce red tape while ensuring that the EU’s environmental and public health objectives remain fully protected and effectively achieved. This initiative will feed into the upcoming environmental omnibus proposal, which will cover areas such as the circular economy, industrial emissions, and waste management.

The consultation builds on extensive previous stakeholder engagement and aims to identify which parts of the legislation could be streamlined, especially to ease compliance for businesses. All interested stakeholders, including citizens, are invited to participate via the Have Your Say portal. The feedback window remains open until 10 September 2025.

Commissioner Jessika Roswall, leading the initiative, emphasized the importance of maintaining high environmental standards while reducing administrative burdens, particularly for SMEs. The initiative is aligned with the EU’s Competitiveness Compass and the 2025 Commission Work Programme, which sets goals to reduce administrative burdens by at least 25% for all companies and 35% for small and medium-sized enterprises. It also supports faster permitting processes for sectors transitioning to a clean and digital economy.