# EU member states alliance for bureaucracy reduction

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/eu-member-states-alliance-for-bureaucracy-reduction
> Updated: 2026-09-23T17:25:54.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 3.

The coalition of EU member states advocating for regulatory reform has expanded to 17 nations, including Croatia. Led by Austria, the group continues to demand a thorough cleaning of EU laws, arguing that excessive regulations act as a major brake on European economic development.

Austrian Minister Claudia Bauer has intensified her criticism of the European Commission’s approach, stating that attempting to suppress bureaucracy by constantly introducing new laws is akin to “trying to put out a fire with paper.” The initiative maintains its focus on a dedicated year for consolidation, shifting the priority from enacting new legislation to enforcing and streamlining existing rules.

In response to these demands, 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.

## Claims

- 13 EU member states, led by Austria, have signed a non-paper calling for a systematic review of existing regulations. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The initiative aims to improve economic competitiveness and reduce administrative burdens. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Signatory countries include Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Slovenia, and Slovakia. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- The group proposes a 12-month moratorium on new legislation to focus on a consolidation year. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The group calls for a systematic impact assessment of all new EU laws on competitiveness. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The initiative seeks to establish a permanent network of countries dedicated to simplifying regulations. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The initiative aligns with the European Commission's agenda to reduce bureaucracy under Ursula von der Leyen. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The proposal suggests that new EU rules should only be introduced where national solutions are insufficient. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-23: EU member states demand drastic cuts to European bureaucracy

Seventeen EU member states, led by Austria, are demanding a drastic reduction in European bureaucracy to boost economic growth and simplify complex regulatory frameworks.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/eu-member-states-demand-drastic-cuts-to-european-bureaucracy

### 2026-09-21: European Alliance launched to reduce bureaucratic burdens

Italian Minister Casellati joined the launch of the Alliance for the Reduction of Bureaucratic Burdens in Brussels, aiming to simplify EU and national regulations to support SME competitiveness.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-alliance-launched-to-reduce-bureaucratic-burdens

### 2026-09-21: Austria leads 13 EU states in call for regulatory pause

Thirteen EU member states, led by Austria, are calling for a 12-month pause on new legislation to focus on a “year of simplification” and a systematic review of existing regulations to reduce bureaucracy.

13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/13-eu-states-demand-systematic-reduction-of-european-bureaucracy

---
Cite as: EU member states alliance for bureaucracy reduction. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/eu-member-states-alliance-for-bureaucracy-reduction