A coalition of civil society and trade union organisations, including ECOnGOOD, has issued an urgent call to the European Commission, emphasising the critical importance of maintaining and strengthening EU regulations that protect health, nature, climate, and social justice. The appeal comes in response to concerns about the Commission’s focus on “competitiveness through simplification,” which many fear could lead to dangerous deregulation.
The organisations argue that what some industry actors view as “regulatory burdens” are actually fundamental protections necessary for a well-functioning society. They point out that implementing and enforcing EU environmental laws could save the EU economy approximately €55 billion annually in health and environment-related costs, demonstrating that strong regulations can benefit both society and the economy.
Recent events, such as the flood disaster in Valencia, serve as stark reminders of what can happen when protective regulations are dismantled. The organisations emphasise that proper enforcement of local and national regulations could have prevented such tragedies, highlighting the real-world consequences of deregulation.
The coalition calls for the European Commission to maintain and strengthen rules enabling socio-ecological transformation, ensure that simplification doesn’t hinder necessary regulations, prevent any rollback of current standards, and hold companies accountable for their social and environmental impacts.
Read the full open letter here: Protect people, nature, and democracy in EU regulations.
