Leaked EU summit draft signals broader deregulation push as leaders target rules on digital, cars and chemicals
EU leaders are preparing to press Brussels institutions to speed up a new phase of deregulation at a European Council meeting later this month, according to a leaked draft set to guide talks among heads of state and government.
The text argues for an ambitious, wide-ranging drive to simplify EU rules and reduce administrative burdens, as policymakers look for ways to lift weak growth and support investment across the bloc.
The draft calls on the European Commission and the European Parliament to prioritise work on cutting red tape, including moving faster on so-called omnibus packages that bundle changes aimed at easing compliance for companies.
At the same time, it signals a broader sweep of potential targets, naming sectors such as automotive, military mobility and digital regulation, alongside environment and food safety measures.
One of the most sensitive areas flagged is a possible review of REACH, the EU’s flagship chemicals framework, which industry groups have long criticised as costly while environmental advocates warn that weakening it could undermine health and safety goals.
The document also urges officials to look for additional competitiveness gains ahead of a planned 2026 assessment of the banking system’s overall situation within the Single Market, a timeline that could shape how far reforms extend beyond industrial policy.
Alongside the simplification agenda, leaders are expected to weigh how to keep the green transition from harming industrial capacity, while also discussing EU security priorities, migration policy and continued financial support for Ukraine.
In a separate invitation to leaders, European Council President António Costa acknowledged recent progress on streamlining regulation but warned that the EU must accelerate efforts to cut bureaucratic burdens and avoid creating new ones.
