The Federation of Business Information Services (FEBIS) welcomes the Commission work programme for 2025 which emphasizes competitiveness, digitalization and regulatory simplification as key drivers of economic growth and resilience. FEBIS reaffirms its commitment to full compliance with the Commission’ initiatives and to support the Commission’ efforts in fostering a “Bolder, Simpler, Faster Union”.
As the key representative of the business information industry worldwide, FEBIS will continue to advocate for a balanced regulatory framework that promotes international trade competitiveness, financial innovation and data security.
The European Work Programme 2025 outlines the European Commission's key policy objectives and initiatives for the coming year. A strong emphasis is placed on simplification of regulations, digital transformation, decarbonization, and ensuring the EU is "fit for enlargement." The programme acknowledges significant global challenges and stresses the need for a united and strong EU to address these issues effectively. Furthermore, the Commission intends to withdraw 37 proposals pending adoption that they deem unlikely to be agreed upon.
Priorities:
- Simplification: Streamlining regulations and reducing administrative burdens.
- Digital Transformation: Investing in digital technologies and infrastructure.
- Decarbonization: Transitioning to a climate-neutral economy.
- Competitiveness: Strength of EU capital markets and boost economic growth
Analysis:
The European Work Programme 2025 reflects the EU's ambition to address both internal and external challenges while maintaining its global competitiveness and promoting its values. The emphasis on simplification suggests a recognition of the need to reduce bureaucratic obstacles to economic growth and innovation. The focus on security and resilience underscores the heightened awareness of potential risks. Preparing for enlargement indicates a commitment to the EU's future development.
FEBIS Next Steps:
- Monitor the progress of the initiatives outlined in the EC Work Programme.
- Assess the potential impact of the initiatives on our sector across the EU.
- Engage with relevant stakeholders to provide input on policy development.
Key Themes and Initiatives for our Industry:
Sustainable Prosperity and Competitiveness:
Focus: The core objective is to make Europe a global leader in climate neutrality and technological development. This includes bolstering industry, innovation, and entrepreneurship while ensuring a stable legal framework.
Key Initiatives:
- Competitiveness Compass: A non-legislative tool to guide competitiveness policy. Its primary goal is to provide a clear framework and set of indicators to guide EU policy on competitiveness. This tool will help the Commission monitor Europe’s global competitive position in key areas such as industry, innovation, and sustainability. (Q1 2025).
- Single Market Strategy: Further developing the Single Market (non-legislative, Q2 2025). Will address current challenges within the Single Market, improve cross-border digital services, enhance the mobility of professionals, and ensure that businesses can thrive within a simplified regulatory environment.
- The Investment and Savings Union focuses on strengthening the financial market, providing better opportunities for investment and savings across the EU. While detailed timelines are still being developed, this initiative will focus on creating a more integrated financial market within the EU, enhancing access to investment opportunities for both individuals and businesses.
- Omnibus Packages on Sustainability: Legislative Packages aimed at simplifying regulations related to sustainability and investment (Q1 2025)
- Clean Industrial Deal: A deal focusing on decarbonization and industrial competitiveness (Q1 2025).
- FIDA – Financial Data Access: Aims to establish a regulatory framework for the access and use of financial data within the EU. Part of the pending proposals of the EC work programme. However, without additional information on the status of the proposal, it is not possible to determine precisely when FIDA will be adopted.
- EU Start-up and Scale-up Strategy: Supporting the growth of start-ups and scale-ups (Q2 2025).
- Digital Networks Act, AI Continent Action Plan, Quantum Strategy of EU: Initiatives aimed at fostering digital innovation and leadership (Q1, Q2, and Q4 2025).
- European Business Wallet: Aimed at simplifying B2B and B2G exchanges. The document states, "In addition to facilitating secure data exchange, the business wallet would unlock new business opportunities for trust service providers."
-
- "Europe has long been a center of industry, innovation and entrepreneurship...However, the global race to achieve climate neutrality and take the lead in developing technologies that will shape the global economy for decades to come presents significant challenges. With the European Business Wallet, we will simplify business-to-business and business-to-government exchanges for businesses."
Security and Resilience:
Focus: Enhancing the EU's ability to address internal and external security threats, including cybersecurity risks, and geopolitical instability.
Key Initiatives:
- EU Preparedness Union Strategy (Q1 2025): This non-legislative strategy aims to enhance the EU’s preparedness for various crises, including cybersecurity risks. Part of the strategy involves creating a framework for better coordination between member states in handling cybersecurity threats and ensuring that common responses to cyber incidents are fast and effective.
- New European Internal Security Strategy (Q1 2025): This comprehensive set of actions aims to strengthen the EU’s ability to anticipate and respond to emerging threats, including cybercrime and cybersecurity risks. The strategy will focus on enhancing the EU’s cybersecurity capabilities, particularly in the context of protecting critical infrastructure and responding to cross-border cyber threats. It will also include measures to improve cooperation and information-sharing between members on cybersecurity issues.
Preparing for the Future:
Ensuring the EU is prepared for future challenges and opportunities, including potential growth.
- EU Long Term Budget (Multiannual Financial Framework proposals): (legislative, Q3 2025).
- An EU fit for enlargement: policy reviews and reforms: (non-legislative). This includes assessing the consequences and impacts of enlargement across all policy areas.
Withdrawals, Repeals and Evaluations:
The Commission intends to withdraw 37 pending proposals due to lack of agreement or obsolescence. A list of regulations that will be repealed is included, due to obsolescence. The EU intends to conduct many fitness checks and evaluations, primarily in Q4 of 2025.
AI Liability Directive - Withdrawn from the European Work Programme: The AI Liability Directive, initially introduced as part of the European Commission’s efforts to regulate artificial intelligence, aimed to update liability rules by establishing clear legal pathways for individuals to seek compensation for AI-related harm while ensuring accountability for developers and users. However, after extensive discussions and consultations, the Commission decided to withdraw the proposal from the European Work Programme.
Key reasons for the withdrawal include:
- Lack of Consensus: The proposal faced significant challenges in achieving agreement among the European Parliament, the Council, and various stakeholders on how best to frame liability rules for AI.
- Complexity of Legal Framework: Given the rapid evolution of AI technology and its unpredictable outcomes, it proved difficult to develop a universally applicable set of liability rules.
- Reevaluation of Approach: The Commission indicated that it would revisit the issue, possibly integrating the principles of liability with other regulatory measures focusing on AI ethics, transparency, and accountability.
While some Members of the European Parliament opposed this move, the withdrawal is aligned with the Commission’s broader simplification efforts, aiming to streamline regulations.
With the European Commission’s Work Programme shaping the future regulatory landscape, staying ahead of upcoming developments is more important than ever. By actively following legislative progress and fostering relationships with key stakeholders, FEBIS and its members can ensure their voices are heard in policy discussions. Engaging early in the process allows us to help shape regulations that not only promote innovation and digital resilience but also support a fair and competitive business environment.
Source:
FEBIS
EU Commission News
Write a comment