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Questions and answers on the 2026 Commission work programme
What is the Commission work programme?
The work programme outlines the main initiatives of the Commission for the coming year, in line with the Political Guidelines, mission letters and the ideas set out in the 2025 State of the union address and shaped by the evolving political context, to deliver tangible positive outcomes for citizens and businesses.
What is the key focus of the 2026 work programme?
This work programme called ‘Europe's independence moment', focuses on actions that will deepen Single Market integration, thus supporting the core priority of the current Commission mandate: competitiveness, growth, and economic resilience. It also aims to strengthen the EU's capacities and power to determine our own destiny in areas that matter most to our citizens: prosperity, affordability, security, defence, and democracy. By prioritising simplification, effective implementation, and enforcement, the programme ensures that EU policies are streamlined and impactful, supporting Member States in achieving shared goals.
Why are simplification, effective implementation and enforcement key elements of the 2026 Commission work programme?
To boost competitiveness and economic growth, the EU needs a legal environment that makes business easier and faster in our Single Market. EU companies, including SMEs, flag regulatory obstacles and administrative burdens as their greatest challenge. Both the Draghi and Letta reports highlight administrative burden and the complexity of laws as limiting the EU's economic potential and prosperity.
What is the Commission planning to do in 2026 to further deliver on the simplification agenda?
The Commission set targets to reduce administrative burdens by at least 25%, and by at least 35% for SMEs, without undermining policy objectives. The Commission has already put forward several omnibus and other simplification proposals aiming to deliver more than €8.6 billion in annual savings for European businesses and citizens.
Building on this momentum, more than half of the 2026 legislative initiatives will focus on reducing burdens. A new series of simplification initiatives and omnibus packages will simplify rules across key areas such as automotive, environment, taxation, food and feed safety, medical devices, simplifying energy product legislation and policies relevant for citizens. Other initiatives will streamline reporting, accelerate permitting, and align legislation to changing market conditions in areas such as public procurement. In addition, the Commission plans to update the rules for fair competition in media and audiovisual markets.
The Commission will continue screening EU laws and implementing rules to see if they are necessary to reach policy objectives and to understand where it can act to ease accumulated and undue burdens.
What can be done to further strengthen the implementation and enforcement of EU rules?
Strong implementation is as vital as good lawmaking. Through implementation dialogues, the Commission identifies simplification opportunities and addresses challenges. At the same time, enforcement of EU rules remains essential, and the Commission is ready to take resolute enforcement action in the interests of citizens and businesses across the Single Market.
Together with the adoption of the 2026 work programme, the Commission presents its first ever Annual Overview Report on Simplification, Implementation and Enforcement, detailing the actions that it has taken in these areas.
How can Europe achieve sustainable prosperity and competitiveness?
The Commission is committed to strengthening Europe's economic foundation by removing barriers to the Single Market across all sectors—capital, energy, services, telecoms, knowledge, and innovation—to foster innovative digital and clean tech products and improve the circular economy. This comprehensive approach is key to creating an environment where European companies can grow and flourish under supportive, forward-looking rules.
Key initiatives to strengthen the EU innovation ecosystem and address the innovation gap include the introduction of the 28th regime for innovative companies, the Cloud and AI Development Act and the Chips Act, the Quantum Act, and the European Innovation Act. Crucially, the completion of the Savings and Investment Union will ensure the necessary capital flows to support these ambitious projects. This suite of actions is designed to boost knowledge and innovation, driving the development of next-generation technologies.
To deliver an affordable and secure energy future, the Commission is actively enhancing energy governance and streamlining administrative processes. The launch of the Electrification Action Plan, including heating and cooling, will accelerate the deployment of clean technologies, while the energy efficiency framework will set ambitious targets. The future of clean tech must be made in Europe and this is why we will accelerate work on enabling European lead markets. Circular Economy Act will aim to foster demand and supply of circular products.
What are the initiatives to improve European defence and security?
On defence, our aim is to strengthen the EU's industry and capacity to respond to growing threats.
- In March 2025, the Commission proposed the White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 and its ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 as an ambitious defence package providing financial levers to EU Member States to drive an investment surge in defence capabilities.
- The activation of the national escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact for defence purposes together with the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) loan form the backbone of the ReArm Europe Plan / Readiness 2030, enabling Member States to substantially and rapidly scale up their investments in European defence.
- As requested by the European Council in June, we have presented in October a Roadmap for Defence Readiness 2030. This outlines clear objectives and milestones to close capability gaps, accelerate defence investments across Member States, and guide the EU's progress towards full defence readiness by 2030.
How can the Commission support people, strengthen societies and our social model?
The Commission aims to propose policies that deliver where it matters most for citizens, while at the same time contributing to sustainable growth and competitiveness:
- The Fair Mobility Package, including the skills mobility initiative will help workers use their qualifications and find new opportunities anywhere in the EU.
- The initiative on short term rentals will tackle the inefficient use of the current housing stock, while the European Affordable Housing Plan will mobilize public and private investment to boost affordable and sustainable housing.
- The Quality Jobs Act will build on the Quality Jobs Roadmap and address workers' demands.
- The Anti-Poverty Strategy will address social exclusion and strengthen social services.
- The Intergenerational Fairness Strategy will support solidarity across generations.
- The new Gender Equality Strategy and the enhancement of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with disabilities up to 2030 will reinforce equality, inclusion and participation across all areas of society.
- The Global Health Resilience Initiative will help respond faster to new health risks as they arise.
- The Strategy for Outermost Regions will address current challenges and opportunities.
How does the Commission protect nature, food, and water?
Food security and our agricultural sector must be supported. We need to ensure that farmers receive a fair price for their food and to protect them from unfair trading practices.
We will reinforce the competitiveness and fairness of the food chain, support rural communities and keep simplifying agricultural rules. The Livestock Strategy will ensure competitiveness, sustainability and resilience of the EU livestock sector, while the review of rules on unfair trading practices in the food chain will ensure that European farmers and small producers are better protected.
In addition, the Vision 2040 for fisheries and aquaculture will promote a sustainable blue economy and protect ocean biodiversity. We will present the Ocean Act.
What is the Commission doing to defend democracy and the rule of law?
Extremism, disinformation, cyberattacks and foreign interference threaten trust in democracy. The Commission will step up its efforts to protect people online, especially the youngest in our society. We will look closely at the issues around young people, particularly children and social media building on the recommendation of the Panel of experts.
The Digital Fairness Act and the Action Plan against Cyberbullying will ensure safer, fairer online spaces. We will also make proposals to strengthen accountability, transparency and public trust, while protecting independent justice systems from corruption and manipulation. Reforms to the EU's anti-fraud framework will boost cooperation against financial crime. The new Anti-Corruption Strategy and the revision of the Directive on the protection of the Union's financial interests will strengthen oversight and accountability.
How will the EU react to global developments?
The new EU–US trade framework will stabilise transatlantic trade and ensure EU exporters retain a highly competitive position in the crucial US market, while new agreements with Mercosur, Mexico, and Indonesia can open up new business opportunities and strengthen Europe's global reach. The EU will continue to stand with Ukraine, supporting its reconstruction, reforms and path to membership. In the Middle East, EU will continue to support and actively contribute to consolidating durable stability in the region. We will put forward a Middle East strategy, including supporting the transition of Syria and Lebanon At the same time, reforms to the global humanitarian aid system will ensure faster and more effective action in times of crisis.
What are other success factors for the delivery of the Commission work programme?
Current challenges and future ambitions demand bold cooperation, decisive action, and shared commitment across the EU. The delivery of the Commission's work programme hinges on strong ownership from all EU institutions, national and regional governments, businesses, civil society, and citizens. By uniting these efforts, the EU will drive impactful policies, foster innovation, and build a prosperous future for all.
Why did the Commission propose withdrawing some of its proposals?
The Commission has assessed all proposals currently pending with the European Parliament and Council. A number of these are either no longer in general interest in view of their adoption date, lack of progress in the legislative process, potential burden and non-alignment with the Union's priorities.
As a result, the Commission has put forward a list of 25 draft laws which are proposed to be withdrawn (available in Annex IV to the programme).
In line with the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making, both the European Parliament and the Council can now express their views on the draft laws the Commission intends to withdraw. The Commission will then carefully take their views into account before deciding on next steps.
Why are some initiatives mentioned in mission Political Guidelines and Mission Letters not in the work programme?
The Commission's work programme outlines our flagship priorities for the year. This does not preclude the ongoing work on all priorities outlined in the Political Guidelines and Mission Letters and the ideas set out in the 2025 State of the Union address.
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