Environment and rights, real estate and consumers: how Europe changes the rules of the game
Provisions and regulations, the work programme for 2026
Key points
The European Commission is preparing to present proposals in 2026 under the banner of 'building an independent Europe', as clarified in the work programme for the year just begun (COM(2025)870).
In the meantime, states are expected to do their homework, implement numerous regulations and transpose EU directives with wide-ranging effects, ranging from sustainability to the protection of consumer rights, from gender equality to increased obligations for companies despite the fact that, with the six Omnibus packages already approved, Brussels has put the brakes on the Green Deal objectives, although not yet on the road to deregulation.
Environmental deadlines
The national authorities will have to proceed, among other acts, to transpose the directive 2024/1275 on the energy performance of buildings (green houses) applicable from 29 May 2026 which, on the one hand, represents an opportunity for environmental improvement and the redevelopment of buildings, with drastic reduction of emissions, through a boom in renovations but, on the other hand, is worrying because of the costs of implementation.
Also green-tinged are Directive 2024/1799 on common rules promoting goods repair to be transposed by 31 July 2026 and Regulation 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste to be implemented by 12 August 2026. Also as part of the Green Deal, states will have to transpose Directive 2024/825 on empowering consumers for the green transition by improving protection from unfair practices and information. The focus here is above all on combating greenwashing in the context of unfair commercial practices by strengthening the transparency of information and curbing misleading information, including false environmental characteristics, more vigorously than in the past.
Businesses, meanwhile, will have to contend with Regulation 2024/3234 that amended 2023/1115 on making available on the Union market and export from the Union of certain raw materials and products associated with deforestation and forest degradation that established a postponement in the application of the rules now set to 30 December 2025 for large operators and traders and 30 June 2026 for micro and small enterprises.
