Competitiveness Compass

EU Reopens Anti-Dumping Investigation on Lysine Imports from China (Absorption Reinvestigation)

In April 2026 the European Commission reopened its anti-dumping investigation into lysine imports from China through an absorption reinvestigation, examining whether post-duty price cuts have undermined the effect of the 2025 definitive measures. If absorption is confirmed, duties on Chinese lysine could be raised by up to twice their current level, so producers, importers and downstream feed users should reassess sourcing, pricing, and engagement with the tight investigation timetable.

12 May 2026, 12:51eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionChina

EU Commission Recommends Council Decision to Open EU–Korea MRA Negotiations on Conformity Assessment

The European Commission has initiated a proposal to negotiate a Mutual Recognition Agreement with South Korea to streamline product certification and conformity assessments. Successful negotiations would significantly reduce administrative burdens and market-access costs by allowing manufacturers to use domestic testing results for cross-border compliance.

4 Apr 2026, 10:58eur-lex.europa.euEuropean UnionSouth Korea

EU Member States Issue Non-Paper On European Competitiveness Fund Proposal

Ten EU Member States have proposed a streamlined European Competitiveness Fund for 2028-2034 to accelerate industrial innovation and reduce strategic dependencies. Companies should prepare for a shift toward performance-based EU funding that prioritizes private investment leverage and simplified access for high-growth technology sectors.

3 Apr 2026, 17:53zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlEuropean UnionAustriaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyIrelandLuxembourgNetherlandsSpainSweden

European Commission Outlines “Simpler and Faster Europe” Simplification Agenda to EP Legal Affairs Committee

The European Commission has launched its Simpler and Faster Europe agenda targeting a 25 percent reduction in administrative costs with specific simplification packages for sustainability reporting and due diligence planned for 2025. This signals a strategic shift toward streamlining CSRD and CSDDD compliance burdens while simultaneously intensifying the enforcement of existing EU regulatory frameworks.

27 Mar 2026, 11:57ec.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Speech Sets Out EU Regulatory Simplification Agenda

The European Commission is accelerating a regulatory simplification agenda with a target to finalize all pending omnibus burden-reduction packages by the end of 2026. This shift signals a transition toward streamlined corporate sustainability and due diligence reporting intended to lower administrative costs and bolster industrial competitiveness.

27 Mar 2026, 11:55ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Registers Explanatory Note On Omnibus IX (Automotive) Presidency Compromise Texts

EU Council negotiations on the automotive components of the Omnibus IX package reached the Presidency compromise stage in March 2026. This advancement signals a move toward finalized technical standards and streamlined market access requirements for the automotive sector.

27 Mar 2026, 07:47consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU European Council Adopts March 2026 Conclusions On ETS Review And Single Market Agenda

EU leaders have launched the One Europe One Market agenda mandating a carbon market review by mid-2026 and new product surveillance and labeling rules by year-end. This initiative signals a shift toward harmonized digital labeling and intensified enforcement against non-compliant imports to stabilize energy costs and streamline the single market.

22 Mar 2026, 17:09data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Answer On EU White Goods Competitiveness And Possible CBAM Expansion (E-000381/2026)

The European Commission has confirmed plans to expand the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to white goods and initiate a review of the WEEE Directive under a new Circular Economy Act. This signals a shift toward protecting domestic industry through carbon-related trade barriers and stricter circularity mandates to secure critical secondary raw materials.

20 Mar 2026, 06:23europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

BAuA Publishes Article on Industrial Operationalisation of EU Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design Framework

Germany’s BAuA has released a strategic analysis on operationalizing the EU’s Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design framework within industrial innovation and portfolio management. While currently voluntary, the framework is being hard-wired into Ecodesign regulations and EU funding, establishing it as a critical benchmark for future market access and investment.

19 Mar 2026, 19:35baua.deGermanyEuropean Union

EU AGRIFISH Council Presidency Drafts Background Note on Energy Transition in Fisheries and Aquaculture

EU ministers are debating a strategic roadmap to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonization of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors in early 2026. This signal points toward future revisions of the Common Fisheries Policy and funding frameworks, requiring operators to plan for low-carbon fleet modernization and infrastructure shifts.

12 Mar 2026, 21:35data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Prepares Revision of EU Public Procurement Directives

The European Commission is overhauling EU public procurement rules to prioritize strategic investment and sustainability, with a formal legislative proposal expected in Q2 2026. This shift toward local-content preferences and stricter green criteria will fundamentally alter market access and competitive dynamics for companies supplying the public sector.

12 Mar 2026, 11:58ec.europa.euEuropean UnionNetherlands

Netherlands: Faber Amendment To Remove Power To Designate Additional Critical Entity Sectors

The Dutch House of Representatives is considering an amendment to the Critical Entities Resilience bill to remove the government's authority to designate additional national sectors beyond EU requirements. This move signals a commitment to avoiding regulatory gold-plating, ensuring that compliance obligations for critical infrastructure remain strictly aligned with minimum EU standards to protect national competitiveness.

11 Mar 2026, 17:29zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlandsEuropean Union

EU TRAN Committee Adopts Opinion on 2028–2034 MFF Transport and TEN‑T Funding Priorities

The European Parliament’s transport committee has set its 2028–2034 budget priorities, demanding a significant funding increase for the Trans-European Transport Network and industrial decarbonization. This signals a legislative push to secure long-term infrastructure investment, though proposed structural changes to EU regional funds may introduce new risks for project predictability and sector-specific allocations.

9 Mar 2026, 16:57europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

Denmark Launches DKK 100 Million Fund For Biosolutions Facilities

Denmark has launched a DKK 100 million funding pool to scale biosolutions infrastructure, including microalgae production and microbial fermentation facilities. This investment, paired with Danish advocacy for streamlined EU approvals, signals a strategic shift toward accelerating market entry for novel bio-based products and industrial biotechnology.

6 Mar 2026, 11:17em.dkDenmarkEuropean Union

European Parliament Committee Report on EU Regulatory Fitness and Better Law-Making 2023–2024 (A10-0020/2026)

The European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee has adopted a report calling for enhanced impact assessments and a 25% reduction in reporting burdens to improve EU regulatory fitness. Businesses should prepare for more rigorous competitiveness checks in future legislation and a potential streamlining of administrative requirements across all EU policy areas.

4 Mar 2026, 16:55europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

European Commission Launches Public Consultation On Shareholder Rights Directive Review

The European Commission has initiated a public consultation to review the Shareholder Rights Directive, with a formal legislative proposal scheduled for late 2026. This review aims to modernize corporate governance through digitalization and streamlined cross-border investment, likely impacting shareholder engagement protocols and reporting requirements for listed entities.

4 Mar 2026, 15:53ec.europa.euEuropean UnionSlovenia

EU Commission Launches Consultation On Draft New State Aid General Block Exemption Regulation

The European Commission has proposed a revised General Block Exemption Regulation to simplify state aid rules, with adoption targeted for late 2026. The update will streamline public investment processes, offering companies faster access to national funding for industrial competitiveness and green transition projects.

2 Mar 2026, 13:23ec.europa.euEuropean Union

European Union Negotiates EU Space Act on Safe, Resilient and Sustainable Space Activities

The European Commission has introduced a proposal for the EU Space Act to harmonize space activity regulations and establish a single market framework for safety, resilience, and sustainability. Businesses must prepare for standardized EU-wide requirements for debris mitigation and environmental impact assessments that will replace fragmented national regimes and introduce new compliance obligations for space-based services.

2 Mar 2026, 11:19defence-industry-space.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EU ECA Opinion on Proposed Single Market and Customs Programme 2028–2034

The European Court of Auditors issued its opinion on the proposed 6.2 billion Euro Single Market and Customs Programme for 2028 to 2034. This consolidation of funding for customs and market surveillance points toward more integrated and automated enforcement of product compliance at EU borders.

23 Feb 2026, 18:55data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Competitiveness Council Thought Exchange on 2026 Internal Market and Competitiveness Report and Enforcement Agenda

EU Member States are pushing for a more robust and transparent internal market enforcement agenda following the Commission’s 2026 Competitiveness Report. This signals a shift toward stricter market surveillance and harmonized compliance measures to address persistent cross-border trade barriers.

22 Feb 2026, 12:14open.overheid.nlEuropean UnionNetherlands