The European Ombudswoman has opened an inquiry into the European Commission’s decision-making process behind recent proposals to ease sustainability regulations, following a complaint from civil society groups alleging a lack of transparency and public consultation.
In February, the Commission introduced a set of legal amendments dubbed the “simplification omnibus”, which would exempt thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises from EU sustainability reporting requirements. The changes would also scale back obligations for larger firms to monitor human rights and environmental risks in their supply chains.
“The decision to open an inquiry follows a complaint by eight civil society organisations who argue that the Commission breached its better regulation guidelines by failing to justify why it did not carry out a public consultation or impact assessment on the draft legislation,” said Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho in a statement on Friday.
The European Ombudsman, an independent body established in 1995, investigates instances of potential maladministration within EU institutions. Anjinho, who took office in February, has formally requested that the Commission explain why no public consultation was conducted and provide details on which stakeholders were involved in discussions prior to the proposal.
Campaigners have alleged that the Commission held closed-door meetings with industry lobbyists before releasing the draft legislation, excluding wider public input.
The Commission has defended the proposals as necessary to reduce regulatory burdens on European businesses, which have argued that current sustainability rules place them at a disadvantage compared to competitors in countries such as China and the United States. Under the administration of former President Donald Trump, the US has rolled back regulations and introduced tariffs on imported goods.
A spokesperson for the European Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
