News
15 Apr 2026

Same Ambition, New Deadlines: Will 2026 Deliver?

New year, new you - so the saying goes. Yet, a quarter into 2026, the policy outlook feels more like a continuation than a reset. That said, the policy pipeline is far from empty, with the focus now firmly on implementation and a renewed push from the EU Council, following its 19 March Conclusions, to accelerate delivery in support of EU competitiveness.   

Implementation mode: activated 

While not all initiatives are meant to land by 2026, the Council Conclusions single out a number of key files aimed at simplifying rules, reducing administrative burdens, and reinforcing the integrity and deepening of the Single Market, placing them at the centre of the EU’s implementation agenda to be delivered in 2026.  

One of the headline acts is the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA). Published in early March 2026, the proposal aims to speed up industrial decarbonisation and strengthening the competitiveness of EU manufacturing including through the introduction of a “Made in Europe” requirement in public procurement and the creation of Industrial Acceleration Areas. Also landing in March is the communication for a 28th Regime (also known as "EU Inc."). Part of a broader push to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, this regime is expected to enable innovative companies, notably start-ups and scale-ups, to operate under a single, harmonised set of EU-wide rules by offering faster, cheaper, and fully digital company registration, alongside simplified procedures. 

The Council Conclusions also place the Omnibus Packages firmly in the spotlight. Here, the Environmental Omnibus, published in December 2025 and now part of this delivery timeline, introduces a series of measures aimed at simplifying administrative burdens in environmental legislation. Among these is a proposal to suspend the application of the rules on the appointment of an authorised representative for extended producer responsibility for batteries and waste batteries and packaging and packaging waste until January 2035.  

The clock is ticking 

Looking ahead, there are reasons for cautious optimism. This renewed focus on delivery could help anchor progress in the months ahead. Still, holding the timeline will be no small feat, particularly as none of these files is out of debate, and negotiations are likely to remain complex. Whether the Commission can convert momentum into timely execution remains to be seen, but the direction of travel suggests that implementation is no longer optional – the game is on. 

WHAT DID YOU MISS?    

  • 10 December 2025: Publication of the Environmental Omnibus (VIII Omnibus Package) 
  • 4 March 2026: Publication of the Communication for an IAA 
  • 18 March 2026: Publication of the Communication for a 28th Legal Regime 

WHAT'S NEXT?   

  • Q1-Q2 2023: appointment of rapporteurs and start of committee work on the IAA, 28th Regime and Environmental Omnibus 
  • H1 2026 (TBC): Publication of the Competitiveness Roadmap