In February 2025, the European Commission launched an omnibus initiative to reduce administrative burdens on businesses, and provide more harmonisation within the European market. It also aims to make EU industry more competitive.

Several regulations are covered by the package. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and the EU Taxonomy will all see major changes. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) has also been slightly amended.

These new measures are designed to enhance Europe's global competitiveness by alleviating regulatory pressures on businesses, potentially saving companies billions of euros. For instance, the CSRD has been reduced in scope, now affecting only companies with over 1000 employees.

However, the proposal has sparked controversy. Critics argue that loosening these regulations could undermine corporate accountability and hinder progress toward the EU's climate goals. Some stakeholders also argue that SMEs have not been sufficiently included in the consultation period leading to the publication of the package, as opposed to big corporations who have contributed widely.

Listen to this Euractiv Virtual Conference to discuss what the omnibus package means in practice, how it affects European SMEs, and how it can impact the EU’s sustainability credentials. Questions to be addressed include:
- What does the revision of the CSDDD, CSRD, and EU taxonomy mean concretely? How will it impact European manufacturers?
- Are the updated regulations implementable and manageable for companies of all sizes across Europe?
- What are the challenges that European SMEs could face with the new omnibus?
- How would supply chain due diligence requirements be impacted? What can be expected in terms of European competitiveness?
- Can it be expected that the omnibus will be fully implemented in its current form?