By simplifying legislation, the EU Commission wants to increase the EU's competitiveness and ease the burden on companies. In this spirit, the so-called Omnibus Packages I and II were presented on 26 February 2025. While these proposals are presented as measures to reduce bureaucracy they actually undermine important achievements for workers, the environment and climate. Recently adopted laws for more sustainability run the risk of losing their effect.

Public procurement law regulates the procurement of services by public authorities. The EU Commission aims at revising the currently applicable EU public procurement directives from 2014; as a result, a public consultation was undertaken from 13 December 2024 to 7 March 2025. AK participated and put forward several proposals and demands. Overall, greater consideration must be given to social and environmental aspects when awarding public contracts.

Trump's economic policy, often referred to as ”Trumponomics”, is currently dominating the debate in Brussels. The US president aims to reshape the US through massive fiscal and trade measures. This also poses significant challenges for Europe. A few weeks after Donald Trump was sworn into office for a second time, it is worth giving an initial overview of his plans and their impact.

The green and digital transformation, the pursuit of competitiveness and the plans to expand defence in Europe are creating a massive need for investment and financing. In view of this, the completion of the Capital Market Union is to be driven forward again under the title ‘Savings and Investment Union’. However, this contains several elements that need to be viewed critically.

The EU Commission is planning to revise the EU public procurement directives. A public consultation was carried out from 13 December 2024 to 7 March 2025. AK participated in the consultation, taking this as an opportunity to make some suggestions regarding the reform.

Investment screenings are on the rise worldwide: from health and energy supply to green technology, public authorities show more vigilance for the protection of strategically important economic sectors and social infrastructures. In 2024, the European Commission proposed a new regulation for screening foreign investments in the EU.
 

The worsening of the geopolitical situation is leading to a global arms race. EU member states are also committed to increasing their overall military preparedness. In this context, the EU Commission is now presenting the ReArm Europe Plan, which is aiming at strengthening European security.

Back in February 2023, the EU Commission presented a Green Deal Industrial Plan with the aim of strengthening European industry on the path to climate neutrality. But the geopolitical race for industrial competitiveness is getting tougher. To maximise impact, two long-announced, interrelated proposals followed on 26 February 2025: the Clean Industrial Deal and an Action Plan for Affordable Energy. Just a week later, on 5 March, the Commission presented the Industrial Action Plan for the European automotive sector.

On 12 February, the EU Commission published a communication setting out the initial key points of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. It provides the basis for discussion as to how the future long-term EU budget is to be adapted to meet changing needs and priorities. The proposal of the EU Commission is to be presented in July 2025 and will subsequently be discussed in the EU Parliament and Council. Implementation is planned for January 2028. AK is taking part in the relevant consultation.

Since the EU Commission presented its competitiveness compass on January 29, the whole of Brussels has been discussing how Europe can assert itself economically against the USA and China to secure long-term prosperity. The Council under the Polish Presidency is not alone in directing its attention towards industrial policy for the next six months. By hosting two events at the beginning of February, AK EUROPA also took a stand on this issue.