Tracking Ireland's Legislative Agenda
During the Presidency, Ireland will guide negotiations and broker agreements between Member States on EU laws and policies that will shape the regulatory environment for years to come.
Ireland will navigate a complex legislative landscape shaped by three key workstreams:
- omnibus simplification packages;
- legislative proposals requiring progression; and
- new policy objectives outlined in the Commission’s 2026 work programme.
With agenda-setting as its most powerful tool, the Irish Presidency can drive outcomes that resonate far beyond its six-month term – steering Europe’s response to competitiveness challenges whilst managing the tension between regulatory ambition and practical implementation.
Over the coming months, Matheson will publish detailed analyses of individual omnibus packages, specific legislative files, and emerging dossiers as they develop under Ireland’s stewardship.
Understanding where Ireland is taking negotiations and the compromises being brokered will be essential for anticipating regulatory outcomes, engaging strategically during the legislative process, and positioning your organisation to respond as new requirements take shape.
EU Commission Omnibus Proposals for Simplification
The European Commission has set a target to reduce administrative burdens by at least 25% for all businesses and by at least 35% for SMEs by the end of its mandate.
This reduction aims to cut recurring administrative costs by EUR 37.5 billion. Whilst the Commission recognises that robust regulation remains essential, it acknowledges that excessive administrative complexity can hinder innovation, competitiveness, and economic growth across the EU.
To deliver these savings, the Commission has adopted an omnibus approach—bundling together amendments to multiple related laws. This method allows for more efficient reform across sectors than traditional single-directive amendments. In 2025, the Commission proposed several omnibus packages which are expected to reduce recurrent administrative costs by EUR 11.9 billion.
The following sections provide an overview of all omnibus proposals announced to date. Given Ireland’s Presidency role during the second half of 2026, particular attention should be paid to proposals entering critical negotiation phases during this period.
Ireland’s success in advancing these measures will significantly influence whether the Commission achieves its EUR 37.5 billion cost reduction target and whether the EU can deliver on its commitment to boost competitiveness through smarter regulation.
Omnibus Packages in Progress
The Defence Readiness Omnibus is a comprehensive package aimed at establishing a defence-readiness mindset across the European Union.
Adopted: 17 June 2025
Scope: Simplifies EU rules applicable to the European Defence Industry to facilitate investment and make it easier to design, develop, manufacture and deliver defence products and technologies.
Cost Savings: Direct annual cost savings of EUR 1.2 billion, of which EUR 710 million administrative cost savings.
Legislative Procedure: COM(2025)820, COM(2025)821, COM(2025)822, COM(2025)823
Status: No adopted legal act yet.
The Chemicals Omnibus provides for simplification of certain requirements and procedures for chemical products.
Adopted: 8 July 2025
Scope: Cuts compliance costs and administrative burden for the chemical industry, whilst maintaining a strong level of protection of public health and the environment.
Cost Savings: EUR 363 million administrative cost savings, out of which EUR 290 million in recurrent savings.
Legislative Procedure: COM(2025)526, COM(2025)531
Status: No adopted legal act yet.
The European Commission proposes a new Digital Package to simplify EU digital rules and boost innovation.
Adopted: 19 November 2025
Scope: Simplifies existing rules on data, cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence.
Cost Savings: Overall administrative cost savings of up to EUR 5 billion by 2029, i.e. EUR 1.2 billion administrative cost savings per year.
Legislative Procedure: COM(2025)836, COM(2025)837
Status: No adopted legal act yet.
The Environmental Legislation Omnibus aims to simplify administrative burdens in environmental legislation.
Adopted: 10 December 2025
Scope: Simplifies the environmental legislation in the area of industrial emissions, circular economy, environmental assessments and geospatial data.
Cost Savings: Approximately EUR 1 billion cost savings, of which EUR 890 million administrative cost savings per year.
Legislative Procedures: COM(2025)981, COM(2025)982, COM(2025)983, COM(2025)984, COM(2025)985, COM(2025)986
Status: No adopted legal act yet.
The Automotive Package aims to support the sector’s efforts in the transition to clean mobility.
Adopted: 16 December 2025
Scope: Aims at simplifying the technical requirements and testing procedures for motor vehicles.
Cost Savings: EUR 50.8 million per year
Legislative Procedures: COM(2025)993, COM(2025)999
Status: No adopted legal act yet.
The Food and Feed Simplification Package has been proposed by the Commission to streamline and simplify food and feed legislation in specific areas.
Adopted: 16 December 2025
Scope: Cross-cutting package that simplifies rules and procedures across the EU’s applicable legislation, from plant protection products and biocidal products, to feed, official controls and animal health and welfare.
Cost Savings: EUR 939 million per year
Legislative Procedures: COM(2025)1030, COM(2025)1020, COM(2025)1021
Status: No adopted legal act yet.
Completed Omnibus Packages with Legislative Acts
The Sustainability Package Omnibus will reduce compliance complexities for all companies, while focusing the rules on the largest companies that have a bigger impact on the environment and climate.
Adopted: 26 February 2025
Scope: Revises the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to simplify rules on sustainable finance reporting, sustainability due diligence and taxonomy.
Cost Savings: EUR 4.5 billion in administrative cost savings
Legislative Procedures: COM(2025)81; COM(2025)80
Adopted Legal Act: Directive (EU) 2025/794, published on O.J. L on 16.04.2025, entered into force on 17 April 2025, with Member States transposition by 31 December 2025. The Directive postpones by two years the entry into application of the CSRD requirements for large companies that have not yet started reporting, as well as listed SMEs, and by one year the transposition deadline and the first phase of the application (covering the largest companies) of the CSDDD.
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is the EU’s tool to put a fair price on carbon emitted during the production of carbon-intensive goods that are entering the EU, and to encourage cleaner industrial production in non-EU countries.
Adopted: 26 February 2025
Scope: Removes related obligations for approximately 182,000 or 90% of importers.
Cost Savings: EUR 1.2 billion in administrative cost savings
Legislative Procedure: COM(2025)87
Adopted Legal Act: Regulation (EU) 2025/2083 of 8 October 2025, published on OJ on 17 October 2025, entered into force on 20 October 2025.
Investment Simplification Omnibus
Adopted: 26 February 2025
Scope: Facilitates deployment and reporting of InvestEU and the European Fund for Strategic Investments.
Cost Savings: EUR 350 million savings in strategic investment, of which 324 million one-off savings and mobilising EUR 50 billion in additional public and private investment capacity.
Legislative Procedure: COM(2025)84
Adopted Legal Act: Regulation (EU) 2025/2005, published on O.J.L, 2025/2005, 23.12.2025, entered into force on 24 December 2025.
The Commission is proposing a package of 25 amendments to the Common agricultural policy (CAP) legislation.
Adopted: 14 May 2025
Scope: Reduces complexity and excessive administrative burden for farmers and national administrations in managing, monitoring and reporting, and leverages the potential of digitalisation.
Cost Savings: EUR 1.58 billion in administrative cost savings for farmers and EUR 210 million for administrations.
Legislative Procedure: COM(2025)236
Adopted Legal Act: Regulation (EU) 2025/2649, published on O.J.L, 2025/2649, 31.12.2025, entered into force on 1 January 2026.
This package aims to make it easier for businesses to operate, innovate, and grow, while maintaining high standards of protection for consumers and the environment.
Adopted: 21 May 2025
Scope: Enables small mid-cap companies to benefit from some of the same lighter requirements as SMEs and removes inefficient paper format requests in product legislation.
Cost Savings: EUR 380 million in administrative cost savings.
Legislative Procedure: COM(2025)258, COM(2025)501, COM(2025)502, COM(2025)503, COM(2025)504
Adopted Legal Act: Regulation (EU) 2025/1561, published on O.J. on 30.07.25, entered into force on 31 July 2025.
Tracking in-progress EU legislative files during Ireland’s Presidency
A significant number of existing legislative files will be under active consideration or negotiation during Ireland’s presidency. Many will carry forward from the Cypriot presidency and will require substantial progress during Ireland’s six-month term.
At Matheson, we will be monitoring these files closely throughout both presidencies. We will track the policy considerations driving negotiations, the positions member states are taking, and what these developments mean for our clients’ business operations and compliance obligations. We will keep clients updated on key developments as they emerge.
Both Cyprus and Ireland have emphasised strategic autonomy, competitiveness, regulatory simplification as priorities. We therefore expect files relating to taxation, energy, digital regulation, and environmental measures to feature prominently in the coming months.
This monitoring will help us keep clients ahead of legislative developments that may affect their strategic planning and regulatory compliance. We will pay particular attention to files where Ireland, as presidency holder, plays a crucial role in brokering compromises, and steering negotiations towards agreement.
Tracking anticipated EU legislative initiatives during Ireland’s Presidency
As part of Matheson’s monitoring of legislative developments during Ireland’s Presidency, we will be tracking the initiatives outlined below, which are expected to be commenced either prior to or during the Presidency period.
These proposals are particularly significant given their potential impact on financial services regulation, sustainable finance, EU competitiveness, and their alignment with Ireland’s emerging priorities including single market deepening, regulatory simplification, and strategic autonomy.
Many of these files will require careful negotiation during Ireland’s Presidency, whilst others initiated in the first half of 2026 will be at critical stages of the legislative process during this period. Tracking these developments will be important for clients seeking to engage effectively with the EU legislative process. Click the tiles below for a timeline of anticipated legislative initiatives across 2026.