The European Commission’s Work Program for 2027 includes 23 new initiatives, significantly fewer than the 38 initiatives in the current year. According to the Commission, ten of the planned measures are aimed at simplifying the EU regulatory framework. With nine projects, the largest share of the new initiatives falls under the theme of competitiveness and the single market. Only five initiatives fall under the social policy category, though these are predominantly non-binding measures and a proposal for simplification related to housing matters. In addition, the Commission intends to withdraw 18 previously announced legislative proposals, repeal 14 existing legal acts, and finalize 24 ongoing legislative projects that it considers a priority.

Focus on competitiveness and simplification as a common denominator

Increasing competitiveness remains a central focus of the work program. A key step in this regard is seen as the removal of so-called internal market barriers, with the highest priority to be given to implementing the “One Europe, One Market” roadmap, which also includes the EU Inc. initiative. New initiatives include a European Corporation for Critical Raw Materials, as well as further proposals for implementing the Savings and Investment Union. As part of this, proposals to reform the venture capital framework and a Bank competitiveness and simplification package have been announced. In the digital sector, a legislative package on digital transformation, simplification and copyright is planned for the second quarter of 2027 to respond to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI). The Commission aims to promote the responsible and ethical use of AI and to develop blueprints for five sectors of industrial AI: health, transport, agri-food, advanced manufacturing and defence and space.

The recurring theme throughout the entire work program is the “simplification” of existing legislation. The program plans to accelerate permitting and review regulations and directives in transportation, digital affairs, housing, and nature conservation. The presentation of the post-2030 energy framework – which had already been announced for this year – is now scheduled for the first quarter of 2027 and will also include proposals for simplification. Efforts to review CO2 emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles are resuming, intensifying the tension between competitiveness and climate protection.

Few initiatives for a social-ecological Europe

In 2027, the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) will celebrate its tenth anniversary. To mark this occasion, a summit will be held to restate the commitment to the principles of the EPSR. However, no further concrete measures in relation to the EPSR are mentioned. Also listed among the social policy initiatives is the EU Care Deal, which aims to promote access to affordable, high-quality care, reduce staff shortages, and improve working conditions in the care sector. Given the rising demand for care and the need to improve working conditions for care workers, this is a welcome development; however, the Care Deal is set out to remain a non-binding instrument. Likewise, the announced EU Skills Guarantee to promote education and training, as well as a Right to Stay strategy for more rural, structurally disadvantaged regions, remain non-legislative.

In the areas of climate and the environment as well, there are mostly initiatives that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already announced in her State of the Union address. For example, the Commission is planning a European Heat Wave Plan and an European Water Initiative to address the impacts of increasing heatwaves and droughts. This is intended to further pursue the goal of securing vital water resources as set out, among other things, in the Water Resilience Strategy. The Climate Resilience Framework, which was also announced, was published at the end of October.

Pact against gold-plating and withdrawal of key proposals

The pact against so-called “gold-plating”,  already announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is now also part of the work program. In the future, member states shall be transparent if they go beyond European minimum requirements when implementing EU law and explain the implications of such additions. As part of the European Semester, a ‘review and remove’ mechanism is to be created to eliminate existing burdens resulting from ‘gold-plated’ EU laws. By linking the European Semester to the future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), exceeding the EU directives requirements when implementing —for example, in the environmental sector—could then block access to EU funding. According to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the pact is set to at least exclude labour and social legislation.

In addition, the Commission is stepping away from key initiatives. For example, the proposals on the European digital services tax, the Common Corporate Tax Framework (BEFIT), and the European deposit insurance scheme are to be withdrawn. The Green Claims Directive, designed to protect against misleading environmental claims, is also planned to be withdrawn.

Strong Criticism of the Commission's Priorities

The Commission’s priorities have drawn widespread criticism. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) criticizes the fact that, despite the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, the work program does not include any new binding measures to improve working conditions. ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch criticizes the lack of legislative proposals in the social sector. These shortcomings reinstate the importance of a strong Quality Jobs Act with binding legislation, rather than just additional guidelines. The ETUC is particularly critical of the planned pact against “gold-plating” and is threatening legal action should labour and social legislation directives not be explicitly exempted.

The Social Democratic S&D Group also clearly opposes the one-sided focus on deregulation and simplification and criticizes the lack of emphasis on initiatives that make a real difference in people’s lives. It argues that concrete measures are needed to address the cost-of-living crisis and ensure affordable housing. The Greens criticize the impending weakening of European nature conservation directives as an “attack on nature.”

Overall, the AK also shares the criticism that competitiveness and “simplification” are being prioritized, while binding measures to improve living and working conditions and to protect the environment are largely absent.

Further Information

European Commission: Work Programme 2027
AK Europa: Work Programme of the EU Commission 2026
ETUC: Statement on the EU Commissions Work Programme 2027