Businesses get insight into new EU policy coming in 2027

The document, which the Commission publishes annually, lists the initiatives (21-page / 308KB PDF) – legislative and non-legislative – that the Commission intends to pursue in the following 12 months. As well as giving businesses some initial insight into the nature of new policy measures that will follow, it provides indicative timeframes for when the proposals will be brought forward during the year. A separate communication (10-page / 218KB PDF) provides some context for what is proposed.

Much of the Commission’s work programme for 2026 was focused on simplification measures, amidst concern that EU regulation is inhibiting businesses and acting as a drag on growth, innovation and the EU’s global competitiveness. While various simplification measures have already been introduced and are in force, including around sustainability reporting and due diligence and on AI regulation, simplification is again a feature of the work programme for 2027.

EU commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis, who is the commissioner for economy and productivity; implementation and simplification, said that the Commission is “determined to address outdated, overlapping and fragmented rules”, adding that its “simplification priorities for 2027” are banking, transport, digital markets, housing as well as accelerating permitting.

In relation to digital regulation, the Commission said it plans to put forward legislative proposals on a “digital transformation package, simplification and copyright” in the second quarter of 2027.

Out-Law has asked the Commission for more details on that initiative, but there are already some clues in the public domain about what it may be planning.

In articulating its work programme for 2027, the Commission said: “With the speed of technological progress, we need to ensure that our companies can thrive in an environment that is fit for the future. We will review the digital decade targets, and propose a broader digital transformation package to better reflect the latest developments. We will work to harness AI’s potential for the cultural and creative sectors, support creators, safeguard human creativity and cultural and linguistic diversity as well as promote ethical use of AI.”

“To tap the potential of artificial intelligence, we will propose a blueprint for action in five sectors of industrial AI: health, transport, agri-food, advanced manufacturing and defence and space, as well as actions to strengthen Europe’s position in the AI stack, from chips, to data, to compute and innovative funding instruments, in particular equity, complementing other forms of support, to support the necessary investments. Furthermore, we will strengthen Europe’s collective cyber preparedness, resilience and industrial competitiveness in a streamlined manner,” it added.

Some proposals to simplify data and digital regulation in the EU were outlined in November 2025, but while changes concerning the regulation of AI were approved by law makers and took effect in the summer, the wider package of reforms has still to be agreed.

On copyright, the Commission recently indicated that it is considering update EU copyright law to address challenges linked to the use of copyright-protected content for generative AI. It held a consultation on the matter, which closed on 3 November.

The 2027 work programme also features a range of initiatives that are relevant to investors in and developers of major projects.

Plans to accelerate permitting for major projects will be brought forward in the third quarter of next year, the Commission has said, building on a pledge contained in Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s ‘state of the union’ address in September.

A housing simplification package is also scheduled to be introduced, with legislative proposals expected to be tabled in the second quarter of 2027. The Commission said this initiative will be “aimed at increasing the supply of homes by cutting red tape and making it easier to carry out building and renovation works”.

The Commission has previously indicated that it will bring forward measures to support off-site construction, in a move that it said could cut the time it takes to build new homes by between 20% and 60%, as well as reduce waste. It is also previously outlined its intention to pursue “harmonised standards for innovative construction products, materials and methods”, in another indication of what the new housing simplification package may contain.

A review of nature protection rules, including the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive, is also planned for the third quarter of 2027. The Commission said it is committed to protecting nature and biodiversity but said the review will enable it to “assess whether changes to the legal framework are needed to continue to function effectively to achieve their objectives in a simple way”. Earlier this year it announced a stress test of the Birds Directive and Habitats Directive through which it said it hoped to “identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary administrative burden while maintaining the directives’ ambition and high standards of nature protection”.

The work programme 2027 also lists various EU legislative initiatives previously announced for withdrawal. Among them are the proposed Green Claims Directive and the Financial Data Access Regulation, while one of two proposals for an EU digital tax is also to be withdrawn.