On 28 April 2026, European Commission Executive Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis presented a new Communication titled 'A Simpler, Clearer and Better Enforced EU Rulebook', aimed at modernising the EU's regulatory framework to enhance competitiveness amid global shifts. The plan, announced at the European Parliament, centres on five pillars: simplicity by design, strengthening better regulation, a regulatory 'deep cleaning' action plan, tackling gold-plating by member states, and faster enforcement.
Dombrovskis emphasised that the initiative seeks to ensure EU laws are 'clear, agile, fit for purpose and supported by solid evidence'. The Communication proposes more systematic use of regulations and full harmonisation to deepen the Single Market, alongside more realistic transposition timelines and a 'think small first' principle to benefit small businesses. Impact assessments will be more proportionate and focused, even for urgent proposals, and stakeholder consultations will be streamlined to avoid over-consultation while seeking diverse views.
Action Plan on Regulatory Deep Cleaning A key element is the launch of an Action Plan on Regulatory Deep Cleaning, which will target 12 priority areas in 2026-2027, including free movement of goods and services, housing, and permitting. The plan aims to eliminate fragmented, inconsistent, or overlapping provisions. Examples cited include streamlining dozens of public procurement rules, removing duplications in banking regulations, and ongoing digital fitness checks. A new Simplification Platform, comprising stakeholders from civil society and small companies, will support these efforts.
Tackling gold-plating and enforcement Dombrovskis addressed the issue of 'gold-plating', where member states add stricter rules than required by EU law, creating barriers and costs. The Commission will provide best practices and transposition guidance, use the European Semester and Single Market Enforcement Taskforce to detect instances, and step up enforcement against unlawful gold-plating. On enforcement, the Communication outlines faster procedures, more automaticity, higher dissuasive penalties, and a focus on reducing long-standing cases. Eleven focus areas for Single Market enforcement have been identified to remove barriers to free movement and establishment.
The speech contains concrete proposals, including numerical targets (12 priority areas, 11 enforcement focus areas) and new institutional structures (Simplification Platform). The policy orientation shifts towards deregulation and simplification, prioritising business competitiveness and Single Market integration over regulatory complexity. For stakeholders, the impact is mixed: EU producers and small businesses may benefit from reduced compliance costs and simpler rules, while national authorities face pressure to avoid gold-plating and may need to adjust implementation practices. EU consumers could gain from more efficient markets, but there is a risk that simplification might dilute protections in areas like public procurement or banking. The approach is more assertive towards member states on enforcement, signalling a shift towards centralised oversight.
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