From the beginning of this term, MEPs have repeatedly called for the Commission to focus on boosting the competitiveness of European companies and to simplify and facilitate the implementation of EU law, ease the administrative burden and unlock funding, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To this end several so-called “omnibus” simplification packages were tabled by the Commission from February 2025 covering EU provisions across policy areas to boost growth, defence readiness, agriculture, investments, the completion of the single market and the digital transition.
Parliament simplified and postponed the application of the deforestation regulation for one year and updated the rules governing sustainable reporting and due diligence, which will as a consequence apply to fewer companies. MEPs also agreed to offer Europe’s car industry more flexibility to reach the goal of lowering CO2 emissions of new cars and vans. They simplified the import rules for products covered by the EU’s carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and exempted small and medium-sized importers from these rules.
MEPs endorsed easing access to InvestEU funds and an overhaul of CAP funding rules to reduce paperwork and speed up specific payments for farmers.
An affordable and secure energy supply remains high on Parliament’s list of priorities. MEPs have adopted a phase out of Russian gas imports. They are now working on improving the robustness of the EU’s electricity grids and making them better able to absorb the increasing input from renewable energy sources.
MEPs stressed the need to combine climate action with industrial competitiveness in a resolution on the Clean Industrial Deal and urged the Commission to streamline permitting procedures and simplify funding to support companies’ transition and innovation efforts and boost take-up of clean technologies.
Competitiveness is also at the centre of Parliament’s annual reports on banking union and competition policy and in resolutions calling for the ambitious streamlining of single market rules, fairer taxation practices and new rules supporting innovative companies and SMEs. MEPs reached a deal with Council on a revised toolkit to address bank failures and protect taxpayers. Following deals with the Council, Parliament will later in 2026 adopt the first “Savings and Investment Union” file - concerning new rules to help retail clients invest in quality financial products as well as more open and competitive EU payment services sector, with strong defences against fraud and data breaches.
Confirmation Hearings of Commissioner-designates (2024)
Hearing of Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, with the committees on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on Industry, Research and Energy, and on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on 12 November 2024
Hearing of Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, with the committees on Industry, Research and Energy, Internal Market and Consumers, Economic and Monetary Affairs and Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, on 12 November 2024.
Hearing of Roxana Minzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, with the committees on Employment and Social Affairs and Culture and Education, on 12 November 2024.
Hearing of Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for the Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification with the committees on Economic and Monetary Affairs and on Legal Affairs, on 7 November 2024.
Hearing of Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, with the committee on Industry, Research and Energy, on 5 November 2024.
Hearing of Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, with the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs, on 6 November 2024.