Radio Schuman Can the European Commission successfully simplify EU legislation ?
Feb 11, 2025
Gerardo Fortuna, a senior reporter at Euronews with expertise in EU policies, discusses the European Commission's new priorities aimed at simplifying legislation. He highlights the push for agricultural law reforms and the Clean Industrial Deal as part of the Green Deal. Fortuna also addresses the complications of balancing environmental goals with legislative simplification. Additionally, the rise of far-right influences in Europe and the variation in school holiday lengths across countries provide intriguing insights into the current political climate.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Timing vs. Quality in EU Legislation
- The EU Commission's working program sets the legislative agenda, but focusing too much on timing can hurt policy quality.
- The General Pharmaceutical Legislation illustrates how rushing can lead to incomplete proposals requiring further work.
Simplification Paradox
- The Commission aims to simplify EU legislation, but introducing new categories like "small mid-cap" can increase red tape.
- Overlapping initiatives also risk increasing complexity, making simplification challenging.
Shifting Priorities
- The Commission's new focus is simplification and security, shifting from the previous emphasis on environmental impact.
- This shift is evident in the working program's approach, prioritizing omnibus proposals for simplification.