The European Commission has drawn up proposals to roll back several EU environmental reporting obligations, including requirements for industries to disclose pollution and waste data, according to a draft document due for publication on Wednesday. The plan forms part of the bloc’s wider “omnibus” initiative to reduce administrative burdens and streamline regulations that businesses argue hinder competitiveness.
Under the proposal, the Commission would remove the obligation for individual industrial sites and livestock farms to maintain separate environmental management systems (EMS). Instead, companies would be permitted to implement a single, simplified EMS covering all their facilities. This would also remove certain disclosures, such as reporting the use of hazardous chemicals at specific sites.
The draft further suggests scrapping requirements for industrial facilities to produce “transformation plans” aligned with EU climate objectives. Livestock and fish farms would no longer need to report data on water and energy consumption. Additional measures aim to simplify environmental assessments for industrial and energy projects.
According to the document, the initiative seeks to achieve EU environmental goals “in a more efficient, less costly and smarter way”. The Commission estimates that the changes could reduce administrative costs by roughly €1 billion annually.
The proposals come as Brussels works towards its target of cutting companies’ reporting burdens by 25% by 2029. In recent months, the EU has delayed implementation of its deforestation law, eased sustainability reporting and due diligence rules for thousands of companies, and softened environmental conditions linked to farming subsidies.
These moves have prompted criticism from environmental groups, as well as some businesses and investors, who warn that weakening regulatory requirements could undermine efforts to manage climate-related risks and support the green transition. While the EU has maintained its core climate targets, pressure from some member states continues, including calls to revisit policies such as the 2035 phase-out of new CO₂-emitting cars.
A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the draft. Any changes to EU law would require approval from member states and the European Parliament.
