Germany, Italy and Belgium seek power to pause burdensome EU laws
The three leaders also want faster investment approvals and a requirement to justify business reporting obligations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever have asked for a mechanism that could stop new EU laws considered too onerous for businesses. Their proposal was set out in a letter to European Council President António Costa as part of efforts to improve EU competitiveness.
The leaders envisage the brake as a last-resort protection against unnecessary administrative costs. How it would operate and which legislation it would cover remain unclear. Diplomatic sources said the issue was expected to come before EU leaders at their summit in Brussels.
The letter also seeks quicker planning and authorisation for investments in decarbonisation, energy, artificial intelligence and defence. A proposed priority rule would temporarily suspend certain regulations in those sectors to speed up the development and introduction of technologies.
On business reporting, the leaders want authorities to justify why an obligation is needed, rather than presume it is necessary. Their proposal could reduce administrative demands, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. The initiative follows work by the Friends of Competitiveness, an informal group comprising 19 EU countries and led by Germany, Italy and Belgium.
