270+ organisations demand strict chemical regulations from EU Commission

EU Competitiveness Compass must safeguard social and environmental protections

More than 270 civil society organisations, including HEJSupport, trade unions, consumer groups, farmers organisations, civil rights groups and environmental organisations representing millions of citizens, call on European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen to shun deregulation and prioritise the protection of people, nature, and democracy in its decision-making processes. This warning comes ahead of the announcement of the EU Competitiveness Compass, which is supposed to guide the EU’s efforts in enhancing its “economic competitiveness”. In an open letter, the organisations emphasise the critical need for robust and effective regulations to address Europe’s socio-ecological challenges.

Amid concerns about the European Commission’s focus on “competitiveness through simplification”, the signatories warn against the risk of deregulating vital EU social, environmental, democracy and human rights protections. While simplifying procedures can improve efficiency, they stress that prioritising the narrow interests of businesses over the public interest is neither acceptable nor sustainable as an economic strategy. EU and national laws and regulations are designed to protect citizens, workers and the environment, and should not be dismissed as “red tape” or “administrative burdens”.

Signatories of the joint letter initiated by Climate Action Network Europe, Corporate Europe Observatory, European Environmental Bureau, European Public Service Union, European Trade Union Confederation and Friends of the Earth Europe call on the Commission to provide guarantees against the rollback of social and environmental standards and for clear regulatory standards to guide a just and green transition at both EU and national levels.

This collective action sends a clear message: Europe’s path to progress lies in prioritising the welfare of its citizens and ecosystems, ensuring a thriving and inclusive future for all and not a race to the bottom where “simplification” is undoing the European Social model.


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