We, the undersigned civil society and trade union organisations, urge the European Commission to uphold rules that protect health, nature, climate, and social justice, including workers’ and trade union rights. The Commission must provide guarantees against the rollback of social and environmental standards and for the regulations necessary for the socio-ecological transition at both EU and national levels. Prioritising the narrow interests of certain businesses over the public interest is neither acceptable nor sustainable as an economic strategy.

The risks of misguided simplification

The emphasis by the new team of EU Commissioners on "competitiveness through simplification” has raised concerns. While simplifying procedures can improve efficiency, there is a growing and very real risk that this agenda may translate into deregulation of essential EU social, environmental, democracy and human rights protections, which some industry actors view as "burdensome".

Food safety, public health, social protection, workers’ rights and labour regulations, animal welfare and environmental protections are not regulatory burdens — they are the very foundation of a wellfunctioning, resilient and fair society. The Commissioners must honour their commitments made during hearings to ensure that simplification does not equate to deregulation or undermine the policy objectives of the EU acquis. Unfortunately, we already see discrepancies between reassurances given and plans being laid out – often to a dangerous point. 

For example, under a "one in, one out" rule, introducing critical new energy efficiency measures could require scrapping another regulation deemed part of the "regulatory burden". This approach is deeply flawed and risks undermining the very frameworks needed for the green and just transition. Similarly, reducing reporting requirements without considering the policy objectives they pursue risks jeopardising the effective enforcement of the EU acquis. The Commission’s plans to change EU laws related to sustainable development and social justice like the directives on corporate sustainability and due diligence were only recently adopted, yet their imminent revision is one first outcome of corporate lobbying.

Deregulation is not the answer

The challenges facing certain industries are not due to excessive regulation but rather the failure of governments and corporations to plan ahead, invest and adapt to necessary transitions. For instance, the crisis in the German car industry stems not from too many rules but from a lack of innovation and vision and a delayed shift to electric vehicles. Companies continued to prioritise the combustion engine instead of a future-proof business model and felt confident that their lobbying influence could maintain the status quo of fossil-fuel vehicle primacy, without adequately considering global climate and innovation contexts. Any deregulation now would create uncertainty, penalise first movers and those who invested significant sums to catch up with emerging leaders outside of the EU. It would open the door to unfair competition, and reward laggards — counter-productive to innovation and sustainability.

How the economy can benefit from strong regulations

Far from hindering economic growth, implementing and enforcing EU environmental laws could save the EU economy around €55 billion annually in health and environment-related costs. Well staffed and resourced permitting and regulatory agencies at national and European level are crucial for timely permit delivery and necessary enforcement. Clearly, inaction and lax enforcement also come at a cost.  ecent tragedies, such as the flood disaster in Valencia, illustrate the dangers of dismantling systems designed to protect people and ecosystems. Dissolving emergency coordination units and ignoring urban planning principles have exacerbated the impacts of the climate crisis, leading to human tragedy and immense material damage. This could have been avoided if local and national regulations had been enforced. Our societies need rules, and they need governance and the capacity that these rules are applied to all equally. The enforcement of these rules thanks to labour inspectors, tax inspectors, etc. will ensure a level playing field.

Regulations for a thriving society

Lawmaking should aim to maximise benefits for society, not minimise costs for businesses. It should focus on responsibility to act, responding to societal, human and wider costs of inaction and not short term costs of action. 

Rules and regulations are the tools that help society evolve, through the exercise of democracy at all levels. Repeating the mantra that "there are too many rules" does nothing to address Europe’s most pressing challenges. On the contrary, deregulation of essential protections would deepen inequality and insecurity among Europeans, undermining citizens’ trust in public institutions and feeding into the narratives of anti-democratic movements that exploit these fears to gain electoral support.

The European Commission must lead with boldness and integrity, ensuring that EU regulations prioritise public welfare over corporate interests. Europe’s ability to tackle the climate, biodiversity and pollution crisis, and foster social justice and progress depends on it.

To ensure a fair and sustainable future for Europe, we call on the European Commission to:

• Maintain, complement, strengthen and implement rules that enable a deep, socially just, and ecological transformation of our societies. 
• Provide strong guarantees that "simplification" will not obstruct or delay the regulations necessary for the socio-ecological transition at both EU and national levels.
• Prevent any rollback of social, environmental, and human rights standards.
• Ensure that enforcement of existing laws and new EU regulations:
   - Hold companies accountable for their social and environmental impacts.
  - Foster social dialogue, active citizen participation and strengthen democratic
  governance.

Initiated by
Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe)
Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO)
European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
European Public Service Union (EPSU)
European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE)

Supported by 265 other organisations:
EU and Europe
BirdLife Europe and Central Asia
CHEM Trust
ChemSec
CIDSE
Citizens’ Climate Europe
ClientEarth
Compassion in World Farming
Counter Balance
Defend Democracy
Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS)
EU LAT Network
EuroMemo Group - European Economists for an Alternative Economic Policy in Europe
Eurogroup for Animals
European Anti-poverty Network (EAPN)
European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ)
European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC)
European Trade Justice Coalition
European water movement
Fern
Food & Water Action Europe
foodwatch
Foundation the London Story
Generation Climate Europe
Greenpeace
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL)
Organising Bureau of European School Student Unions
Oxfam
PAN Europe
Panoptykon Foundation
People vs Big Tech
REScoop.eu
Seas At Risk
The Good Lobby
T&E
WWF EU

Austria
AK EUROPA GT
Attac Austria
fair sorgen! Wirtschaften fürs Leben
Umweltdachverband
GLOBAL 2000 - Friends of the Earth Austria
Protect Our Winters Europe
Queer Base
Solution, Sozialforschung & Entwicklung
Südwind
Talente-Tauschkreis
transform.at

Belgium
ACV-CSC Belgium
Bond Beter Leefmilieu
BRAL - citizens action brussels
CNCD
Denktank Minerva
11.11.11
Entraide et Fraternité
Join For Water
Jesuit European Social Centre
Mouvement d’Action Paysanne - Ecole Paysanne Indépendante
Mutualités Libres - Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen
Les Amis de la Terre - Belgique asbl
Viva Salud
Vredesactie

Bulgaria
Air4Health
Environmental Association Za Zemiata
Institute for Circular Economy

Croatia
Earth Trek (Zemljane staze)
Institute for Political Ecology
Zelena akcija / FoE Croatia

Cyprus
Friends of the Earth (Cyprus)

Czechia
Hnutí DUHA - Friends of the Earth Czech Republic
Limity jsme my

Denmark
Global Aktion
International Dalit Solidarity Network (IDSN)
International Network for Sustainable Energy – Europe
NOAH - FoE Denmark
Plastic Change

Estonia
Estonian Green Movement
Zero Waste Estonia SA

France
AVICENN @VeilleNanos
ActionAid France - Peuples Solidaires
Adéquations
Association SOS MCS (Sensibilité Chimique Multiple)
Attac France
BLOOM
Cantine sans plastique France
CCFD-Terre Solidaire
Collectif Ethique sur l’Etiquette
Générations Futures
Les Amis de la Terre France
Objectif Zéro Plastique
On Est Prêt
No Plastic In My Sea
Notre Affaire à Tous
Réseau Action Climat
Reclaim Finance
Sciences Citoyennes
WECF France

Germany
Attac Germany
bendnotbreak
Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V. (BUND)
CorA-Netzwerk für Unternehmensverantwortung
Dachverband Entwicklungspolitik Baden-Württemberg DEAB e.V.
Deutsche Umwelthilfe /Environmental Action Germany
Fair Finance Institute
FEMNET
FIAN Deutschland
Forum Fairer Handel
Global Policy Forum Europe e.V.
Initiative Lieferkettengesetz
INKOTA-netzwerk
International Federation for the Economy for the Common Good
Jugend im Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUNDjugend) e.V.
Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO)
LobbyControl
PowerShift e.V.
Romero Initiative (CIR)
SÜDWIND e.V.
WEED (World Economy Ecology and Develoment)
Werkstatt Ökonomie
Women Engage for a Common Future

Greece
Consumer Association the Quality of Life-EKPIZO
ECOCITY
Electra Energy
EYATH trade union (Thessaloniki water union)
Naturefriends Greece
SOS te to NERO

Hungary
Csermely Environmentalist Association
Climate Alliance Hungary
E-misszó Association
ELTE Nature Conservation Club
FAUNA Foundation for Animal Wellfaire and Nature Protection
Green Action Association
Guta Environmental Law Association
Hungarian Society for Environmental Education
Hungarian Society for Environmental Protection
Karátson Gábor Kör
Magosfa Foundation for Environmental Education and Eco-tourism
National Society of Conservationists - Friends of the Earth Hungary
Protect the Future/Védegylet
Reflex Environmental Association
Tavirozsa Association for Environmental Protection and Nature Conservation

Ireland
Africa Solidarity Centre Ireland
An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland
Bat Conservation Ireland
Coastwatch
Friends of the Earth Ireland
Friends of the Irish Environment
Hedgerows Ireland
Irish Coalition for Business & Human Rights
Irish Peatland Conservation Council
The Environmental Forum

Italy
A Sud Ecologia e Cooperazione
Campagna Abiti Puliti
CRS - Centro per la Riforma dello Stato
FAIR
Fondazione Finanza Etica (Banca Etica Group)
Forum Italiano dei Movimenti per l’Acqua” (FIMA - Italian Forum of Water Movements)
ISDE, International Society of Doctors for Environment
Legambiente
Osservatorio Fairwatch
ReCommon

Latvia
Green Liberty
Luxembourg
Action Solidarité Tiers Monde
Fondation Partage Luxembourg
Mouvement Ecologique asbl

Malta
Friends of the Earth Malta

Portugal
Acréscimo - Associação de Promoção ao Investimento Florestal
Iris - Associação Nacional de Ambiente
Linha Vermelha
Quercus - Associação Nacional de Conservação da Natureza
SEO/BirdLife
TROCA - Plataforma por um Comércio Internacional Justo
ZERO - Association for the Sustainability of the Earth System

Poland
Fundacja Zielone Światło
Fundacja Kupuj Odpowiedzialnie/Buy Responsibly Foundation
Polish Ecological Club in Krakow Gliwice Chapter
Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczne EKO-UNIA
Zielone Wiadomości

Romania
Asociația “Clubul de ciclism și ecologie IASIBIKE” Iași
Asociația “Codrii Iasilor”
Asociația Mai bine

Spain
Associació Internacional d’Enginyeria sense Fronteres
ATTAC España
Confederación General del Trabajo (CGT)
Confederación Sindical Comisiones Obreras (CCOO
CICrA Justicia Ambiental
Debt Observatory in Globalisation (ODG)
Ecologistas en Acción
Entrepueblos
Federación de Consumidores y Usuarios (CECU)
Fundació Pau i Solidaritat - CCOO de Catalunya
Fundación Renovables
Justicia Alimentaria
La Coordinadora de ONGD
LaCoordi - Coordinadora pel Comerç Just i les Finances Ètiques de Catalunya
Observatori DESCA
Plataforma por Empresas Responsables
Retorna.org
SEAE- Sociedad Española de Agricultura Ecológica y Agroecología
SETEM Catalunya
Solidaridad Internacional Andalucía

Slovenia
Alpe Adria Green internacional
CIPRA Slovenia
Focus Association for Sustainable Development
Institute for Health and Environment
Institute InTeRCeR
Morigenos – Slovenian Marine Mammal Society
PIC - Legal Center for the Protection of Human Rights and the Environment
Umanotera

Sweden
Jordens Vänner, Friends of the Earth Sweden
Stad- och Landnätverket
Swedwatch
Vision Fackförbund

The Netherlands
Arisa
Clean Clothes Campaign - International Office
Fair Finance International
Fair Trade Advocacy Office
FNV Overheid
Leefmilieu
Milieudefensie - Friends of the Earth Netherlands
Schone Kleren Campagne
Solidaridad
SOMO (Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations)
Transnational Institute
Women Engage for a Common Future

International
ActionAid International
Anti-Slavery International
Avaaz
Balanced Economy Project
Center for International Environmental Law
Child Rights International Network
ClientEarth International
CorpWatch
Fair Finance International
Fairtrade International
FIAN International
Forests of the World
Global Social Justice
HEJSuppor
Hivos
Mighty Earth
Naturefriends International
Permacultura ATTA
Rainforest Alliance
Slow Food International
350.org
Trócaire

3rd countries
Association ZORA (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Attac Suisse
Center for Environment / FOE Bosnia and Herzegovina
Centre for the Politics of Emancipation (Serbia)
Centro de Políticas Públicas y Derechos Humanos (Perú EQUIDAD)
Coffee Watch (USA)
CSO “Living Nature”, Settlement Glamoč, Goražde (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Common Weal (Scotland)
Earth Thrive Serbia/UK
Earthsight (UK)
Environmental Investigation Agency (UK)
Environmental center for Development Education and Networking - EDEN (Albania)
Friends of nature EKO ELEMENT Bugojno, (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Genç Düşünce Enstitüsü (Türkiye)
Gallifrey Foundation (Switzerland)
Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development (Nigeria)
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council (US/Canada)
OT Watch (Mongolia)
Rainforest Foundation Norway