SOTEU 2026: Renewed ambitions, familiar changes
On 16 September 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered her annual State of the European Union (SOTEU) address to the European Parliament. With the Single Market in focus, she reiterated the ambition to complete the “One Europe, One Market” Roadmap by 2027 and highlighted the role of Member States in addressing national barriers, including through a proposed alliance against gold-plating.
While the address was not accompanied by concrete legislative proposals, the inclusion of gold-plating in the speech reflects its growing prominence in the debate on the Single Market. The question, however, is no longer whether gold-plating deserves attention, but how political commitments will translate into practical action.
Gold-plating in the spotlight
The renewed political attention comes against the backdrop of the Commission’s existing efforts to gather evidence of gold-plating. Earlier this summer, the Commission launched an initiative inviting stakeholders to share examples of gold-plating and national requirements that go beyond what is required under EU legislation. And just this week, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on EU leaders to launch work on an anti-gold-plating pact, with the aim of signing a declaration by the end of 2026 committing Member States to review and remove unnecessary national requirements.
At national level, Member States are also beginning to coordinate their efforts. Following the renewed focus on gold-plating, Austria and Italy launched the “Alliance for the Reduction of Bureaucratic Burden”, a coalition of 17 EU Member States aimed at eliminating gold-plating. These developments point to a growing recognition that the consistent implementation of EU rules is not solely a matter for the Commission, but also depends on how Member States transpose, implement and enforce them.
From political commitment to practical change
Addressing unnecessary gold-plating is an important part of making the Single Market work more effectively in practice. Greater harmonisation in the implementation and enforcement of EU legislation, effective use of the Technical Regulations Information System (TRIS), and the avoidance of unnecessary national requirements can help reduce regulatory fragmentation and compliance costs for businesses.
Yet the gap between political ambition and national practice remains evident. Despite renewed calls for greater consistency, Member States continue to notify national measures that risk introducing additional requirements and further fragmenting the Single Market. This highlights a persistent challenge: commitments to a more integrated Single Market will have limited impact if they are not reflected in national implementation and enforcement practices. Tackling gold-plating therefore requires more than political declarations. It calls for greater scrutiny of national measures, consistent application of existing EU rules and a willingness to address unnecessary regulatory differences at their source.
Ultimately, the credibility of the renewed push against gold-plating will be measured not by the number of initiatives announced, but by whether businesses experience fewer barriers and a more coherent regulatory environment across Member States.
WHAT DID YOU MISS?
- 24 April 2026: EU Parliament, Council and the EU Commission sign the joint ‘One Europe, One Market’ Roadmap.
- 13 July - 15 September 2026: Commission launches a survey to gather stakeholder evidence on gold-plating.
- 16 September 2026: State of the European Union Address
WHAT'S NEXT?
- End of 2026: EU Commission and Member States to sign a declaration against gold-plating.
- End of 2027: Deadline for One Europe, One Market Roadmap agreement to be completed.