Commission President Ursula von der Leyen struck strong notes on unity, freedom, democracy and the rule of law in today’s State of the Union. But despite invoking “the power of the Green Deal” and the need to “stay on course”, her relentless deregulation drive serving mainly short-term industry interests exposes a hollow approach to the climate, nature and pollution crises.

Behind the rhetoric of “simplification” for “competitiveness” lies a deregulatory agenda: a tsunami of Omnibus packages to cut rules for certain businesses, hailed as an €8 billion saving. Yet the Commission’s own review shows that failing to implement existing EU environmental law already costs €180 billion every year.

This deregulation push comes with no evidence of benefits for society or the economy – and directly contradicts the International Court of Justice’s recent opinion that climate obligations are not aspirational but binding, substantive and enforceable. States have a duty to prevent environmental harm, cooperate internationally, and uphold fundamental rights as climate risks escalate.

We acknowledge positive signals on social justice, the Circular Economy Act, affordable housing, stronger power grids, action on disinformation and democratic safeguards. But these steps are overshadowed by a deregulatory agenda that strikes at the heart of the Green Deal – compounded by the lack of dedicated funding for environmental action in the proposed MFF.

“Today’s speech was not a State of the Union – it was a state of delusion about the triple climate, nature and pollution crisis, and the solutions needed,” said Patrick ten Brink, Secretary General of the European Environmental Bureau.

“President von der Leyen invoked the power of the European Green Deal, yet put corporate wish-lists ahead of people and planet. She spoke of saving the EU, yet 2025 has so far been about dismantling the very environmental acquis that makes Europe strong and resilient. The true cost of inaction – both human and economic – far outweighs the supposed savings trumpeted today, and will ultimately undermine Europe’s competitiveness and stability. Believing we can deregulate our way out of the climate, pollution and nature crises is a dangerous illusion that threatens Europe’s security and erodes trust in the Union.”

By unravelling the EU’s common rules in the name of competitiveness, the Commission risks fuelling polarisation, triggering a race to the bottom with China and the US, and undermining the very foundations of the European project.

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Notes for editors

• The EEB will put out a more granular reaction to the SOTEU on policy areas such as climate, energy, agriculture, food, circular economy, nature, economic transition, and more on Friday in our newsletter New Leaf. To receive it, sign up here.
• The European Commission’s 2025 Environmental Implementation Review (EIR) – the fourth edition – highlighted that full implementation of existing EU environmental law would bring annual benefits of around €180 billion.
• The ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change (1 May 2025) confirmed that States’ climate obligations are binding, not aspirational. States have binding obligations to prevent significant environmental harm, cooperate internationally, and uphold fundamental rights in the face of escalating climate risks. These duties extend to all states, and the climate system must be protected for present and future generations.