EU member states demand drastic cuts to European bureaucracy

A group of 17 European Union member states, including Croatia and led by Austria, is calling for a drastic reduction in European bureaucracy and a thorough cleaning of EU laws. The coalition argues that complex and excessive regulations act as a major brake on European economic development.

Austrian Minister Claudia Bauer criticized the European Commission, stating that attempting to suppress bureaucracy by constantly introducing new laws is akin to “trying to put out a fire with paper.” The initiative proposes a dedicated year for consolidation, during which the focus would shift from enacting new legislation to enforcing and streamlining existing rules.

In response, European Commission spokesperson Ricardo Cardoso noted that systemic reviews are already underway. European Commissioner for Economy, Productivity, and Simplification Valdis Dombrovskis stated that 12 major simplification packages have been presented, which are estimated to save approximately 17 billion euros in administrative burdens.