Germany, Italy request ’emergency brake’ power to stop new EU laws
Friedrich Merz, Giorgia Meloni and Bart de Wever said Brussels must accelerate business simplification efforts.
The leaders of Germany, Italy, and Belgium have requested the power to halt new EU laws they deem overly burdensome for governments and businesses. In a letter to European Council President António Costa, the three heads of state advocated for an "emergency brake" mechanism to bolster the bloc's economic competitiveness. The German Chancellor, Italian Prime Minister, and Belgian Prime Minister also demanded the "swift acceleration of planning and approval procedures," coupled with the temporary suspension of specific regulatory areas under a new "priority rule".
They proposed additional simplification packages to expedite the reduction of bureaucratic red tape in the EU. The letter emphasized the need to alleviate this burden on small and medium-sized enterprises first and foremost. The call aligns with previous demands made in March after a summit focused on European competitiveness. This comes as the bloc faces worsening indicators for its industrial sector.
The EU leaders' deliberations will include the long-term budget, energy costs, and support for Ukraine when they convene for a two-day European Council summit in Brussels.
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