MET industries are among the first sectors and most directly affected by the current geopolitical and geoeconomic context. Global overcapacity, distortions of competition, supply chain disruptions, and volatility in energy and raw material prices are putting considerable pressure on our sectors, which are essential to Europe’s industrial ecosystem, green transition, defence capability, and technological sovereignty. It is crucial to protect critical industrial sectors facing unfavourable competitive conditions. This requires simplifying the EU legislative framework.

On 21 October 2025, the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen’s second mandate adopted its work programme for 2026, where the President of the EU Commission increasingly emphasised regulatory simplification as a central policy objective.

This emphasis is justified, not because Europe needs less regulation, but because it needs clearer and more workable rules. The distinction between deregulation and simplification is fundamental. And what we are calling for is simplification, understood as designing regulation in a way that achieves policy goals without creating unnecessary administrative burdens.

With this paper, Ceemet would like to provide its views on how to complete the Single Market and regain EU competitiveness through the simplification of the EU Rules and enforcement of the existing rules.