Thirteen EU member states propose pause on new regulations to reduce bureaucracy

On October 13, 2026, a coalition of thirteen European Union member states, led by Austria, formally proposed an "European Year of Implementation and Consolidation." The initiative, which includes countries such as Germany, Italy, Poland, and Denmark, calls for prioritizing the evaluation and simplification of existing legislation over the introduction of new rules. The primary objective is to reduce administrative burdens, overlaps, and compliance costs for businesses and public administrations while maintaining strong standards in health, safety, and labor law.

Simultaneously, a separate proposal was submitted on Monday by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to European Council President Antonio Costa. This group advocates for an "emergency brake" mechanism to halt new legislative acts deemed overly burdensome. While the exact scope of this mechanism remains to be clarified, diplomatic sources suggest that both initiatives are aimed at enhancing EU competitiveness. These proposals are expected to be the subject of discussion during the upcoming EU summit scheduled for Thursday in Brussels.