European Commission Work Programme 2025: A Bolder, Simpler, Faster Union

On 11 February 2025, the European Commission adopted its 2025 work programme, titled Moving forward together: A Bolder, Simpler, Faster Union.

Consistent with the political priorities set out last year for the period 2024-2029, the programme contemplates measures aimed, inter alia, at strengthening economic competitiveness, responding to geopolitical instability, addressing migration and climate change and safeguarding European values and democracy.

The initiatives on which the Commission intends to focus in 2025 are listed in three annexes.

Annex I deals with new initiatives. No new measures based on Article 81 TFEU are indicated in the document. However, some of the initiatives considered – in particular those based on Article 114 TFEU – may have at least an indirect impact on private international law issues.

One notable proposal is the First Omnibus Package on Sustainability. On 30 January 2025 the European Commission presented its compass to boost Europe’s competitiveness over the next five years. In this context, the omnibus proposals aim to ease regulatory and administrative burdens on businesses, with a strong focus on simplifying requirements in sustainable finance reporting, sustainability due diligence and taxonomy. The first omnibus package would introduce amendments to Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on corporate sustainability due diligence. The general objective is simplification. Which aspects will be affected remains to be seen.

Another proposal is the EU Space Act, which aims to establish a common framework for sustainability, security and safety in space, ensuring a harmonized, EU-wide approach. Space activities, including those carried for commercial purposes, may raise a range of issues relating to private international law.

The protection of democracy and fundamental values is also addressed. Several non-legislative initiatives are contemplated, including a European Democracy Shield and an EU Strategy to Support, Protect, and Empower Civil Society.

Annex II is about the annual plan on evaluations and fitness checks. It refers to instruments such as Regulation (EU) 2018/302 (the Geo-blocking Regulation — GBR).

Pending legislative proposals are discussed in Annex III. The document refers, among others, to the Proposal for a Regulation on combating late payment in commercial transactions; the Proposal for a Directive on European cross-border associations; the Proposal for a Regulation on the establishment of the digital euro and related measures; the Proposal for a Directive harmonizing certain aspects of insolvency law; the Proposal for a Directive on alternative dispute resolution for consumer disputes; the Proposal for a Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions, and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood, including the creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood; and the Proposal for a Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition, enforcement of measures, and cooperation in matters relating to the protection of adults.

Also interesting is Annex IV, on withdrawals.

The list of proposals that the Commission plans to withdraw includes the Proposal for a Regulation on the law applicable to the third-party effects of assignments of claims. The statedreason for the withdrawal is the absence of a foreseeable agreement, meaning the proposal is effectively blocked, and further progress appears unlikely.

Similarly, the Proposal for a Directive on adapting non-contractual civil liability rules to artificial intelligence (AI Liability Directive) is also to be withdrawn. The stated reason is again the lack of a foreseeable agreement, but it is specified that the Commission intends to evaluate whether to introduce a revised proposal or explore an alternative approach.