{"ky":206092,"docuLanguageResource":{"ky":663786,"title":"Remarks by Commissioner Šefčovič at the European Parliament Plenary session on the 2025 Commission Work Programme","subtitle":"Cssr Šefčovič's remarks at Plenary session on the 2025 CWP","htmlContent":"

Dear Chair,

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Honourable Members of the European Parliament.

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It is a pleasure to present to you the 2025 Commission work programme.

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Let me begin by thanking you for the fruitful cooperation we have enjoyed with this House in preparing this important document.

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In line with the well-established practice, the Commission Executive Vice-Presidents, Commissioner Dombrovskis and I held a discussion with the Conference of Committee Chairs in January.

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This input fed directly into the preparation of the work programme, which this year was an especially important exercise.

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The first one of the new political mandate, this work programme sets the political tone for our work over the next five years, at a time of growing uncertainty and global competition.

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And its main message is clear: we cannot carry on with business as usual.

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We need bold action, to bolster our security, prosperity and democracy, and respond to the issues that matter the most to Europeans.

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We cannot achieve this if we don't retain our economic edge. So we aim to boost the competitiveness of European businesses, and strengthen our economic resilience.

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We also need a joined-up approach, which is why, alongside the Work Programme, we adopted a vision for an ambitious implementation and simplification agenda.

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This answers a strong call from this House, and details our ambition to simplify our rules, reduce burdens, and boost competitiveness, prosperity and resilience in the EU.

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Under this agenda, we will propose unprecedented simplification to unleash opportunities, innovation and growth.

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Honourable Members, let me now highlight some of the key initiatives in the work programme.

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Our recently adopted Competitiveness Compass, will steer our efforts throughout the mandate to enhance Europe's competitiveness and is based on the recommendations in the Draghi report.

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In addition, the Clean Industrial Deal will support the creation of the right conditions for industry to retain and regain its competitiveness, as companies in the EU decarbonise.

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Key deliverables of the Clean Industrial Deal planned for this year include the Savings and Investment Union and the amendment to enshrine the 90% emission-reduction target for 2040 in our Climate Law.

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We will work to improve our common defence capabilities, to protect Europe's security.

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To this end, the White Paper on the Future of European Defence will launch a broad consultation on establishing a Union framework for defence investment needs and critical defence capabilities.

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Building on the special report of Sauli Niinistö, the Preparedness Union strategy will aim at improving our preparedness and response to cross-border threats.

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The new European Internal Security Strategy will present a set of actions to ensure security – online and offline – is integrated into EU legislation and policies by design.

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Alongside the continued implementation of the Pact on Asylum and Migration, we will adopt a dedicated strategy and new legislative framework to accelerate and simplify the process of returns.

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We will prioritise the continued implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, while launching a Road Map to ensure quality jobs and tackle skills and labour gaps under the Union of Skills.

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A Vision for Agriculture and Food will set out key strategic proposals to ensure a stable framework for farmers.

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The Ocean Pact will be a single reference framework for all ocean-related policies, while our work on water resilience will take a source-to-sea approach to ensuring proper water management and address water scarcity.

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The Democracy Shield will seek to tackle the evolving threats we are facing when it comes to protecting our democracy and upholding our values.

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In a global context where the rules-based order is being increasingly challenged, we need to leverage Europe's power on the global stage.

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Our first and foremost priority here continues to be standing with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

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We will also outline cooperation with partner countries and regions across a range of areas and policies. As part of this, we will adopt the Pact for the Mediterranean, the Black Sea Strategy and the Strategic EU-India agenda.

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To prepare our Union for the future, we will propose a new EU Long Term Budget, which is simpler in the way it works, more impactful, and more targeted where EU action is most needed in a flexible way.

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The Communication on the next multiannual financial framework, also adopted yesterday, will kickstart the debate that will inform our proposals.

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Finally, the pre-enlargement policy reviews will look at the consequences and impacts of enlargement on all EU policies, identify policy gaps, and explore options to improve EU governance and our capacity to act rapidly.

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Dear Members,

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In total, we are announcing 51 flagship initiatives in this year's work programme, of which 11 initiatives have a strong simplification dimension, including three omnibus packages.

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In addition, we identified 37 evaluations and fitness checks we will conduct on existing legislation.

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At the start of this new interinstitutional cycle, we have examined all proposals currently awaiting decision by the Parliament and the Council, and we are proposing to withdraw 37 where further progress appears unlikely.

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In addition, we will propose to repeal 4 pieces of existing EU legislation.

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Honourable Members,

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In closing, let me underline that making good laws is a team effort between all institutions, Member States and key partners, throughout the policy cycle.

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We need to have a common priority focus on simplifying our laws where possible, and equipping EU businesses with the right tools and regulatory environment to remain globally competitive.

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Together, in this way, we can work towards a bolder, simpler, and faster Union.

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Thank you, and I look forward to your interventions.

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