Meer documentenQuestions and answers on the 2027 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 2026 State of the Union address and Letter of Intent. The work programme is a tool to address the evolving political context, and to deliver real benefits for people and businesses.
Why is the 2027 work programme focusing on delivery?
The European Commission is making an unprecedented effort to secure Europe's continued prosperity. The Commission has already put forward simplification measures with the potential to generate over €22 billion in annual savings, and adopted the One Europe, One Market roadmap together with Member States and the European Parliament, to unleash the potential of the Single Market. However, proposals alone do not bring relief to the economy. They need to be adopted, and implemented. The priority now is to ensure that European businesses and citizens feel this impact. This is why we must build on our past achievements and deliver, implement, and enforce further lean, targeted, and ambitious policies.
What does the work programme say about simplification and implementation?
Simplification and better regulation are central to strengthening Europe's competitiveness and prosperity. This includes putting forward individual initiatives to reduce bureaucracy, while improving how the Commission designs new legislation, reviews existing rules and supports their implementation. The work programme takes this commitment forward by applying the principle of regulatory discipline to new proposals, and by announcing new simplification initiatives in banking, transport, housing and digital policy.
Simpler EU rules must also translate into simpler rules at national level. As President von der Leyen stressed in her State of the Union address, Member States must step up their efforts to ensure that unnecessary national requirements do not reintroduce the burdens removed at EU level. To address this, the Commission will work towards a Pact against gold-plating, promoting greater transparency on additional national requirements and their impact. It will also introduce a ‘review and remove' mechanism within the European Semester to help Member States identify and address instances of gold-plating, while safeguarding rights and obligations and fully respecting the Treaties.
The Commission also calls on the co-legislators to make swift progress on pending priority proposals, including simplification initiatives under the ‘One Europe, One Market' roadmap. It also proposes to withdraw 18 initiatives that have failed to secure sufficient support and announces the repeal of 14 pieces of legislation that are no longer fit for purpose. Alongside the work programme, the Commission presents its second annual overview report on simplification, implementation and enforcement.
Why did the Commission propose withdrawing some of its proposals?
The Commission has reviewed all draft laws that are still being discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. It found that some of them have made little progress, could create unnecessary costs or paperwork or no longer reflect the EU's key strategic priorities.
On this basis, the Commission has therefore suggested withdrawing 18 draft laws. The full list can be found in Annex III of the programme.
In line with the interinstitutional agreement on better law-making, the European Parliament and the Council can now give their views on the draft laws the Commission intends to withdraw. The Commission will consider those views carefully before deciding on the next steps.
What will the Commission do to address the cost of living crisis and strengthen economic security?
Tackling the housing crisis is imperative, both as an economic necessity and to ensure that people can meet one of their most basic needs. The Commission will therefore propose a housing simplification package to make it easier to build and renovate homes and reduce costs. A resilient EU energy system is also crucial to the EU's economy, citizens' well-being and the EU's climate goals. The Commission will take coordinated action to address high energy prices. To support the deployment of heat pumps, reduce up-front costs for households and lower exposure to high fossil fuel prices, the Commission will also explore the possibility to introduce a clean heat market mechanism.
The Commission will continue to economically empower its citizens with the Skills Guarantee, and consider improvement to the existing schemes, which will help people move into new roles, sectors or companies, supporting young people in the face of the challenges raised by the impact of AI on the labour market. The Commission will also present a diversification package to help European companies diversify their supply chains, reducing strategic dependencies that create risks for the EU's economic security.
How will the Commission support people and Europe's social model?
Competitiveness is about securing jobs, supporting people and livelihoods. Yet, work and education are changing fast, with artificial intelligence transforming our economy and society. A careful balance must therefore be struck between its vast potential and the risks it poses. In 2027, the EU will mark the 10th anniversary of the European Pillar of Social Rights. Its principles continue to safeguard Europe's social market economy. As President von der Leyen mentioned during her State of the Union, the Commission together with the Council will organise a Social Summit to restate these principles. We will also help workers learn new skills or update existing ones, especially in sectors undergoing transformation or where jobs are at risk. To keep people at the centre of digital progress, we will review the Digital Decade targets, and propose a broader digital transformation package.
Care services are an essential part of our social infrastructure. The European Care Deal will increase the resilience of care services, which is essential to the more than 50 million Europeans who care for relatives or friends. It will also promote affordable, quality care, and improve careers for care workers. The Commission will also propose a Strategy on the right to stay in European regions and territories, to identify the measures that might be needed for regions and citizens to thrive and succeed. The Commission will also develop a coherent strategic approach to prepare for changing demographic realities, in particular looking at the needs of rural communities.
How will Europe ensure its security?
The Commission will continue to increase the security of the EU's external borders. With the Pact on Migration and Asylum, the EU has more secure external borders, with new mandatory registration and thorough security checks of all irregular migrants crossing the EU's borders illegally. Our new rules have already shown results, yet this summer we were tested again at our borders with the crisis in Ceuta. This is why the Commission is seeking swift agreement on a strengthened Frontex mandate, reinforcing its capacity to protect the external borders and turning it into the EU's central actor for returns.
The Commission will improve cooperation between law enforcement authorities by facilitating data exchanges for police cooperation. We will also explore the possibility of establishing a European Security Council with our closest partners. Lastly, we will set up a new European Instrument for Strategic Enablers. It will cover key defence capabilities including critical support assets and force multipliers ranging from strategic transport and air-to-air refuelling, to space and cyber defence. The Commission will also strengthen Europe's collective cyber preparedness and resilience in a streamlined manner.
How will Europe project its influence abroad?
Peace is at the heart of the European project. To protect peace, Europe must project power, deter threats and counter challenges. Europe will keep up the pressure on Russia, deepen defence cooperation with Ukraine and assist it in making steady progress on its European path. The European Union will notably continue working with Ukraine to develop an affordable and adaptable air defence system. The EU will help strengthen Ukraine's critical infrastructure and humanitarian supplies to face another very tough winter.
Security in the Middle East impacts European security. The EU will create new partnerships and deepen existing ones to deliver humanitarian support and help de-escalate and prevent further conflict. This includes continuing to deliver assistance to the vulnerable people in Gaza and promoting freedom of navigation and maritime security. Finally, the EU will promote and defend international law, with its unwavering commitment to the rules-based international order, of which the International Criminal Court is a fundamental part, as well as working with partners to drive forward United Nations reform to deliver efficiently on peace and security, human rights and sustainable development.
What will the Commission do to strengthen democratic resilience?
Democracy is the cornerstone of the European Union. But in an age of growing political confrontation, regional and international conflicts and rapid technological disruption, our democracies face internal and external pressures. The Commission will continue to roll out measures in the context of the European Democracy Shield, which will further boost our collective capacity to counter information manipulation and disinformation and strengthen our resilience through a whole-of-society approach. On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the Commission will also launch the Congress of Europe, which will help shape a new vision for Europe's future.
For more information
2027 Commission work programme
Press release on the 2027 Commission work programme and the 2026 Overview Report
Questions and answers on the 2026 Overview Report
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