Brussels in turmoil as von der Leyen unveils sudden deregulation drive

Ursula von der Leyen has kicked off her second term as European Commission president with a swift and decisive push for deregulation — one that caught most of Brussels off guard.

Facing pressure from right-wing governments, von der Leyen has placed cutting red tape at the heart of her agenda, aiming to make Europe's economy more competitive.

However, as the sources told Politico, many in Brussels — ranging from Commission officials to national diplomats, European Parliament lawmakers, industry representatives, and NGOs — were blindsided by the speed and scope of the move, per Caliber.Az.

The emerging picture is one of a top-down, centralized effort to “simplify” European Union regulations, with a clear pivot away from environmental priorities and toward industrial competitiveness. While business groups and major EU member states like France and Germany support the effort, critics warn that the rapid changes raise concerns about transparency and accountability.

Commission staffers have expressed frustration, with some feeling “depressed” as years of regulatory work are undone in a matter of months. Meanwhile, von der Leyen’s tightly controlled leadership style has left even high-ranking officials struggling for influence.

“When we’re going that fast, how can we be sure we’re getting it right?” a senior national regulator asked, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the discussions.

A shift decided at the top

The deregulatory push began in November when von der Leyen announced a major shift in green policy during a meeting with European leaders in Budapest. Her proposal—an “omnibus” bill aimed at simplifying environmental and social regulations—was presented as a way to cut unnecessary duplication and bureaucracy without weakening existing laws. However, many fear that reopening these regulations will inevitably lead to their dilution.

The announcement caught many off guard. Four Commission officials told Politico that they first learned about the plan — not through internal briefings, but from von der Leyen’s speech in Budapest.

Since then, the initiative has expanded, with von der Leyen promising “at least” five omnibus deregulation packages in 2025. The Commission has also begun scrapping previous legislative proposals deemed too burdensome and has urged EU countries and the European Parliament to fast-track simplification measures “without reopening other parts of the legislation.”

However, the highly centralized decision-making process has fueled uncertainty and frustration.

“We’re never sure if it’s her, or if it’s her head of Cabinet,” a senior regulator said, referring to Bjoern Seibert, von der Leyen’s closest adviser.

“It’s all decided at the top,” a mid-level Commission official confirmed. This official also noted that work on the deregulation agenda largely paused when von der Leyen was hospitalized with pneumonia in January — an event that the Commission was criticized for keeping secret.

Confusion and a lack of transparency

A lack of clear communication has further complicated matters. A national diplomat described the Commission’s shifting plans and timelines as a “clear credibility issue.”

Adding to the uncertainty, a leaked version of the Commission’s 2025 work plan contained a blank section where details of planned legislative rollbacks should have been listed. Another leaked document on the EU’s deregulation agenda had a similar blank space for the green finance “omnibus” bill. Two Commission officials admitted they were unsure whether the missing details were an intentional move to keep lower-level staff in the dark or if von der Leyen’s inner circle had not yet finalized their decisions.

The ever-changing plans have already sparked controversy. A leaked list of legislative proposals set for withdrawal initially included financial data access rules (FiDA), which were still under negotiation. However, when the final list was officially published a day later, FiDA had been removed — indicating that it remains on the table, at least for now.

Two EU officials attributed this reversal to lobbying efforts by the banking sector, which they said had directly influenced von der Leyen. A third official suggested that internal disagreements at the highest levels of the Commission led to the change. Meanwhile, lower-ranking officials working on FiDA were completely unaware that it was being considered for withdrawal until they saw the leak.

As von der Leyen’s deregulation push moves forward at breakneck speed, concerns over transparency and accountability are only growing. Whether this strategy will succeed in making the EU more competitive — or trigger a backlash from those worried about environmental and regulatory rollbacks — remains to be seen.

By Tamilla Hasanova