Campaigners Criticize the European Commission’s New “Competitiveness Compass.”

They claim that it “confirms widespread concerns that President Ursula von der Leyen’s administration is unleashing a sweeping deregulation agenda.”

It is further alleged that this will “come at the expense of democracy and social and environmental protections.”

The Competitiveness Compass defines corporate competitiveness as the Commission’s overarching goal, with deregulation positioned as the key method to achieve it.

Corporate Europe Observatory, a Brussels-based campaign group, said in a statement: “The Competitiveness Compass speaks a clearer language than Ursula von der Leyen’s political guidelines from July, in that wording on ‘maintaining high standards’ is practically absent.”

It goes on,

It is becoming crystal clear that ‘simplification’ is in fact about deregulation. The Compass, moreover, doubles down on giving corporate lobby groups far-reaching new powers to control EU decision-making,

said CEO.

The group continues, “This could enable them to block or weaken proposed new legislation from the earliest stages and even roll back existing legislation they oppose.”

To “help” European citizens keep track of new developments in the deregulation agenda, Corporate Europe Observatory has launched “Deregulation Watch.”

It says this new tool “will allow monitoring, assessing what’s at stake and supporting civil society to resist corporate-led rollbacks of key protections.”

’Deregulation Watch’, says CEO, features “17 steps to deregulation,” an up-to-date analysis of the EU Commission‘s toolbox of new deregulation initiatives.

The statement adds, “The toolbox creates major new hurdles for and risk of rollback of public interest regulations, including social and environmental protections that are deemed burdensome by corporations.”

CEO says that key elements of concern in the Competitiveness Compass include what it calls “an unjustified negative view on regulation and a strong focus on deregulation.”

“The plan emphasises reducing regulatory ‘burdens’ without adequate safeguards for public interest legislation,” says the group.

CEO also alleges that it fosters “unprecedented corporate influence,” adding, “Each commissioner will hold biannual ‘implementation dialogues’ to hear business concerns and identify deregulatory opportunities, further opening the door to corporate capture of EU law-making.”

CEO also claims it will create “fast-tracking of administrative procedures.”

The statement says, “Branded as ‘cutting red tape’, this approach could weaken crucial safeguards.

“For example, industry lobby groups are pushing for mining projects to bypass environmental impact assessments.”

“This deregulation agenda is a corporate dream come true,” said Olivier Hoedeman, Corporate Europe Observatory research and campaign coordinator. “By embracing questionable corporate lobby framing around ‘over-regulation’, the EU risks losing its moral and regulatory compass, giving industry lobby groups far-reaching new powers to erode social and environmental safeguards that stand in their way.”

Civil society organisations have reportedly been vocal in expressing their opposition. In an open letter, 270 civil society organizations, including trade unions, consumer groups, and environmental advocates, blank”>urged von der Leyen to abandon deregulation and provide guarantees that ‘simplification’ does not lower standards or obstruct vital socio-ecological transitions.