On February 11,the European Commission published its long-awaited Work Programme, which sets out its key initiatives and lays the groundwork for its main policy actions in 2025. The programme lists 51 new policy initiatives, in addition to the 123 pending files carried over from the previous mandate, and 37 proposals that will undergo evaluations and fitness checks. Given the geopolitical pressure on Europe and the conclusions of Mario Draghi’s Competitiveness report, the theme of this work programme is "A Bolder, Simpler, Faster Union".
The majority of new legislative proposals will focus on regulatory simplification, to be delivered through three omnibus packages. These packages will include the revision of the REACH chemicals legislation and the environmental reporting requirements for companies and SMEs. Building on the previously published Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal will be the legislative pillar balancing climate goals and sustainability.
The phasing out of Russian energy imports remains a priority for the Commission in this legislature, with the aim of achieving full energy independence. To tackle continuously high energy prices, the Commission will present a dedicated Action Plan for Affordable Energy on February 26. This will be accompanied by the yet-to-be-announced Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act, which aims to support industry in the energy transition through investments in infrastructure, energy-intensive sectors and lead markets for clean technologies, including speeding up permitting procedures.
While the adopted and enforced Batteries Regulation already covers key aspects relevant to FREE4LIB, such as recycling and battery passport, the emphasis on streamlining environmental reporting and accelerating clean technology investments could enhance the efficiency and scalability of battery recycling initiatives in the future. Additionally, the forthcoming Industrial Decarbonisation Accelerator Act may provide funding and policy support for sustainable material recovery, aligning withFree4Lib’s mission to drive innovation in battery recycling and promote a more sustainable and self-sufficient European battery ecosystem. We will also continue to closely monitor the implementation of the Batteries Regulation’s provisions.
