Written by Eliza Druta
Dear reader,
Welcome to Publyon’s monthly sustainability newsletter. As warmer and longer days approach, Brussels is busy shaping key policies that will influence the green economy and innovation across Europe. This month, we put the spotlight on the ambitious Single Market Strategy aimed at making Europe more competitive and digitally advanced. At the same time, EU agriculture ministers are pushing back on deforestation rules, sparking important discussions about balancing regulation with practical realities. The European Commission has also launched its Startup and Scaleup Strategy to accelerate green innovation, while the long-awaited Action Plan for the Chemical Industry is finally on the horizon.
Ready to stay ahead of the latest developments shaping Europe’s green future? Let’s dive in.
Europe’s bold plan for sustainable growth, the “Clean Industrial Deal”, represents a major shift for EU businesses, especially in energy-intensive sectors. Don’t miss your chance to engage with the Commission to shape this deal and influence the policy direction for the next five years.
The spotlight
Single Market Strategy
On 21 May, the European Commission unveiled its Single Market Strategy, meant to remove existing barriers in the internal market. The Strategy is the next step in the Commission’s efforts to simplify procedures and reduce administrative burdens for companies in order to boost the competitiveness of the European Economy.
The Strategy is a response to a request from the European Council and outlines key priorities for the strengthening of the Single Market. It is Europe’s answer to the current geopolitical and economic challenges. The Commission believes that by further completing the Single Market, gains from economic growth can be doubled. It focuses on five key areas: (1) eliminating barriers in the Single Market, (2) European services markets, (3) supporting SMEs, (4) digitalisation across the Single Market, and (5) effective enforcement of Single Market rules.
Impact analysis for your business
Our free updates keep you informed, but is that enough? With our tailored sustainability updates you’ll receive:
- Custom insights on how upcoming policy changes might impact your business;
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- Early warnings about key legislative developments.
Policy updates
Agriculture Ministers push back on the EUDR – Europe’s deforestation rules
This month, EU agriculture ministers met in Brussels during the Council on Agriculture, pushing to ease the incoming anti-deforestation law (EUDR). Led by Luxembourg and Austria, and backed by ten others, they argue the rules impose excessive red tape on farmers and foresters.
The group wants low-risk regions excluded, tree harvesting allowed if offset by replanting, and reporting requirements kept to a minimum. They also called for another delay in the implementation. This follows after a group of cross-party MEPs also called for a revision of EUDR.
Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, however, stood firm, stressing the European Commission has already delayed the law by a year and is supporting implementation efforts. France also opposed additional delays, pointing instead to the built-in 2028 review clause for future adjustments. Germany’s new agriculture minister, Alois Rainer, supported simplification, citing excessive bureaucracy despite backing the regulation’s goals.
Start-up and Scale-up Strategy
On 28 May, the European Commission launched the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, titled ‘Choose Europe to Start and Scale’, aiming to position Europe as a global hub for green, forward-looking businesses. It supports sustainable growth and climate-friendly technologies while enhancing the EU’s competitiveness. The Strategy focuses on five elements:
- Innovation-friendly environment: Streamline regulations with a new “European 28th regime” and support green innovation through the EU Biotech Act, the upcoming European Innovation Act, and the Life Science and Bioeconomy Strategies. On the latter, the European Commissioner for Environment, Jessika Roswall, recently hosted a strategic dialogue on the forthcoming Bioeconomy Strategy.
- Better financing: Boost access to sustainable capital via the Savings and Investments Union, Scaleup Europe Fund, and a new Innovation Investment Pact to fund climate-focused startups.
- Market uptake: Bridge lab-to-market gaps with the Lab to Unicorn initiative and Startup & Scaleup Hubs linking universities and startups.
- Talent attraction: Launch the Blue Carpet initiative and improve access to talent through education, stock option reforms, and immigration pathways like the Blue Card Directive.
- Infrastructure access: Establish a Charter of Access to ensure fair and harmonised startup access to research and tech infrastructure.
Action plan for the Chemical Industry
After strong pressure from the European chemical industry, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen finally confirmed that the Action Plan for the Chemical Industry proposal will be presented on 2 July, along with a chemicals sector-specific omnibus — a legislative package aimed at simplifying multiple laws at once. This announcement follows the Strategic Dialogue with the chemical sector held on 12 May.
During the dialogue, von der Leyen emphasised the crucial role of the chemical industry, which is essential to sectors such as defence, healthcare, green economy, and energy.
Chemical industry group CEFIC welcomed the constructive dialogue with the European Commission, while the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) stressed that the European Green Deal remains the guiding framework, emphasising renewable energy as key to security and affordability. The Commission will also present a Chemicals Industry Package by the end of 2025.
Blog
EU chemicals policy in flux: what to expect from Brussels
Discover what to expect from the EU’s evolving chemicals policy in 2025, including the highly anticipated REACH revision, PFAS restrictions, simplification, and shifting political priorities that could shape future chemical legislation.
READ ARTICLE
Events
Find a detailed overview of Brussels’ main sustainability-related events that you absolutely should join this month.
- 3-5 June, European Commission, EU Green Week 2025, Brussels
- 4 June, Bellona, EU Carbon Pathways: Unlocking the European CCS Market for a Competitive Net-Zero Industry, Brussels
- 6 June, European Commission, Debate on Extended Producer Responsibility and the Circular Economy Act, Online
- 10-12 June, European Commission, European Sustainable Energy Week, Brussels
- 24-26 June, AMI, Chemical Recycling event, Brussels
