Which initiatives are planned for 2026?

On 21 October 2025, the European Commission presented its Commission work programme for 2026, outlining the main initiatives for the coming year. The programme is guided by the Political Guidelines, the Mission Letters of the Members of the Commission, and the 2025 State of the European Union address (SOTEU). Consultations with the European Parliament and the Member States have also fed into the work programme.

Focus on competitiveness, security and simplification

Substantively, the work programme focuses on the European Commission’s current priorities – competitiveness and innovation capacity as well as security and sovereignty. Simplifying regulation and ensuring smoother implementation of EU rules are identified as decisive factors in strengthening Europe. Accordingly, the Simplification Agenda will be continued, among other things through additional omnibus proposals. This focus is also reflected in the first annual Overview Report on Simplification, Implementation and Enforcement, published alongside the work programme.

Further strengthening of the Single Market

The European Commission plans to present a legislative proposal for the 28th Regime (Q1 2026) to create a harmonised EU-wide framework for businesses operating across the Single Market. In addition, it will table the remaining proposals needed to complete the Savings and Investment Union. These include measures to strengthen occupational and personal pension schemes so that more risk capital becomes available in Europe. The European Commission will also explore ways to build up capital reserves within the first pillar of pension systems. Furthermore, a new Public Procurement Act (Q2 2026) will be proposed.

Resilience and biotechnology in the health sector

In the field of health, the European Commission plans to assess the impact of social media and excessive screen time on mental health and wellbeing. It also intends to adopt a Global Health Resilience Initiative (Q2 2026) to ensure that the EU has the tools and mechanisms needed to respond rapidly to new health threats. In addition, the European Commission will present two legislative proposals on biotechnology. The Biotech Act I will focus on health-related biotechnology and is due to be published before the end of 2025, while the Biotech Act II – covering non-health-related areas – is announced for the third quarter of 2026 in the work programme.

Social justice as a cornerstone

The work programme underlines that Europe’s social model – characterised by high standards for working conditions, strong social protection and a high quality of life – remains a cornerstone of the European project. Accordingly, a Quality Jobs Act (Q4 2026) will be proposed to empower workers and ensure that modern employment keeps pace with a modern economy. The Fair Labour Mobility Package (Q3 2026) will include legislative proposals for introducing the European Social Security Pass (ESSPASS), strengthening the European Labour Authority (ELA), and facilitating the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. Furthermore, the Commission will present a Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness (Q1 2026) and an EU Anti-Poverty Strategy (Q2 2026). The latter will include social investment initiatives, particularly in the field of prevention, and will be accompanied by a strengthened European Child Guarantee to tackle child poverty.