EU Sidelines Experts in Rush to Cut Green Rules

EU Sidelines Experts in Rush to Cut Green Rules

In an effort to simplify its sprawling environmental rulebook, the European Union is pushing forward controversial reforms that reduce corporate reporting burdens — but diplomats warn that cutting experts out of the process may come at a cost.

Since the European Commission proposed sweeping legislative changes in February 2025 to slash green regulations, EU member states have formed a new diplomatic task force to review the proposals — notably excluding the technical experts who helped craft the original laws. This ad-hoc group, operating within the Council’s Antici Group, is staffed by senior envoys rather than subject specialists, a move designed to accelerate negotiations.

Critics, including multiple diplomats and lobbyists, fear this sidelining of expertise risks weakening the depth and integrity of key environmental protections. Concerns include oversights in complex details, rushed decision-making, and the potential dismantling of hard-won elements of the European Green Deal — such as corporate sustainability reporting, supply chain due diligence, and transition plans aligned with net-zero targets.

Despite the Polish Council presidency defending the approach as necessary for economic competitiveness, legal experts argue that removing such safeguards undermines EU commitments under international climate agreements. With national leaders like Macron and Merz openly challenging supply chain rules, the debate reflects mounting political pressures and diverging visions for the EU’s green future.

The simplification packages — nine in total — may redefine everything from AI regulation to agricultural budget rules. Whether they achieve clarity or compromise remains to be seen.

Read the full article https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-countries-sideline-expert-speed-up-deregulation-drive-green-rulebook-red-tape/