What do the projects currently being prepared in the corridors of the Commission have in store?
Marked by the Green Deal, Von der Leyen's first term saw the adoption of numerous texts aimed at making Europe the world leader in ecological transition.
Since then the Commission, inspired by the Draghi report, has sought to strike a better balance between environmental issues and competitiveness and to ease the burden on businesses, many of which complained of excessive regulation. The implementation timetables for the CSRD (non-financial sustainability reporting) and CSDD (sustainability due diligence) directives have therefore been postponed. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has also become less restrictive. It requires companies importing certain products (cement, aluminium, steel, electricity, hydrogen, nitrogen fertilisers) to purchase certificates proportional to the CO₂ emissions generated during their manufacture. Companies importing less than 50 tonnes per year will now be exempt.
Among the measures that could impact Brussels-based importers and exporters is the new packaging regulation (PPWR). From August 2026, it will impose design requirements to ensure the recyclability of packaging marketed within the EU, reuse and recycled content targets, and harmonised labelling to promote sorting.
However, the Commission is also planning a series of positive measures to boost the European single market and help businesses grow across the continent. In May, its Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné announced a strategy comprising some 20 legislative proposals. These include harmonising public procurement rules, the possibility of providing product instructions via a QR code, and new rules in the construction, postal and parcel delivery sectors. In the future, the EU could thus become synonymous with simplification – rather than complexity – for exporting SMEs.
Stay up to date with the latest international measures with our International community.
Beci is the contact point of Enterprise Europe Network for Brussels companies developing internationally. With the support of partner organisations in 56 countries, Enterprise Europe Brussels experts at Beci and hub.brussels provide advice and support for internationalisation, innovation, digitalisation and the transition to more sustainability. Contact Beci for information and advice on the European internal market, access to foreign markets and connecting with foreign companies. Services, access to the EEN networking platform and international B2B events on: www.brusselsnetwork.be.
