EU to target energy bureaucracy in upcoming council meeting
A push to streamline energy bureaucracy across the European Union may soon gain traction. According to early reports, the next EU Energy Council meeting on June 16 could endorse new measures to simplify energy-related rules, potentially offering relief to industries across the bloc.
The 27 push for streamlined energy policies
While the Omnibus package marked a first step, it appears insufficient. To improve the global competitiveness of European businesses, broader efforts are now being considered – including a serious review of energy bureaucracy.
As reported exclusively by Reuters, the draft conclusions of the upcoming meeting include a commitment to extend the Union’s broader bureaucratic simplification push to the energy sector as well.
A complex regulatory framework under the Green Deal
This direction comes as no surprise. The regulatory framework of the European Green Deal is dense and growing. Over the past five years, the European Commission has proposed more than 70 major laws, including regulations and directives, along with hundreds of technical legislative acts affecting the private sector. This legislative volume has triggered rising compliance costs, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises.
To alleviate these burdens and protect business competitiveness, the von der Leyen Commission set a clear target: reduce administrative burdens for SMEs by at least 25% and cut compliance costs by 35% before the end of the mandate.
In that spirit, the Omnibus package released on February 11, 2025, serves as an initial step. It includes revisions to major sustainability-related laws such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the InvestEU program.
What to expect from the next EU Energy Council
The Commission is now reviewing additional EU laws that could be eased. According to the draft reviewed by Reuters, ministers from all 27 member states are expected to support the inclusion of energy bureaucracy in the next wave of regulatory streamlining.
“Among the policies targeted for simplification are EU obligations on energy savings and methane emission rules,” the agency reported.
However, the meeting conclusions are unlikely to address one of the bloc’s most divisive issues: the proposed phase-out of Russian gas by 2027. The lack of consensus on this critical topic continues to stall any formal approval.