What are the Commission's plans for 2025?
The EC Work programme sets up plans in the area of research and education, including simplification and MFF 2028-2034 preparation.
On Wednesday 12 February, the European Commission published its Work Programme for 2025, together with a Communication on simplification. The common motto of these two documents is a “bolder, simpler and faster” European Union focused on promoting competitiveness, increasing security and economic resilience.
What awaits us in 2025?
The Commission Work Programme is developed annually in cooperation with the European Parliament and presents the key initiatives of the EC for the given year. This year, it is based largely on the recently published Competitiveness Compass of the EU, with a total of 51 new initiatives planned by the end of the year and a strong emphasis on simplification (out of a total of 18 legislative packages, 11 focus on simplifying administrative and regulatory burdens).
Topics that have an impact on education and R&D include, in particular, the area of sustainability and competitiveness, where, for example, a European strategy for start-ups and scale-ups is planned, as well as initiatives in the areas of decarbonization and digitalization, including quantum technologies and artificial intelligence. The area of support for people and society includes the Union of Skills, focusing on lifelong learning and acquiring skills needed for the labor market. Priority topics also include supporting a quality of life (including the protection of oceans and water resources), protecting democracy and values, global cooperation (with a focus on the Middle East, the Mediterranean and India) and defense and security.
The above-mentioned simplification is to be achieved through several Omnibus packages, the first of which will focus on sustainability and investment and the others, for example, on creating a new definition for small mid-caps, which will simplify the administration of some processes for them.
All planned initiatives, including preliminary timeline and potential legislative impact, is available in a factsheet.
Simplifying administrative and regulatory burdens
The "Communication on Implementation and Simplification", which accompanies the Work Programme, is a five-year plan to simplify EU rules and reduce administrative and regulatory burdens for citizens and businesses, but also within the EU administration.
For businesses, the Commission plans to reduce administrative burdens by at least 25% in general, and by at least 35% specifically for SMEs. At the same time, the Communication emphasizes simplification in the preparation and implementation of new EU rules, better impact assessment, stronger support to Member States and active cooperation with relevant stakeholders. It suggests to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU to consider swift adoption of legislative proposals on simplification.
Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034
The Commission’s plan this year also includes the presentation of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 (MFF), with an emphasis on simplifying access to funding, modernizing the budget and financing strategic priorities more effectively. On Tuesday 11 February, the Communication “The Road to the Next Multiannual Financial Framework” was published, which maps the path to its creation. The Communication sets out the key challenges that will shape the MFF proposal. It is to include, for example, the creation of the European Competitiveness Fund, which should create an investment capacity to support strategic sectors, including science, research and innovation.
All EU citizens can also comment on the preparation of the MFF. A public consultation is currently open until 7 May, divided into several areas. One of them covers the area of cross-border education and training, including youth, while R&D it is mainly covered by the area focused on competitiveness. Panel discussions with EU citizens will also take place throughout the year.
More information on the Work Programme and the Communication on Implementation and Simplification can be found in the EC press release. More information on the upcoming MFF is also available on the EC website.