"Trade union and NGO coalition calls out corporate "shadow roadmap" dictating EU agenda", 10 February 2026

A coalition of major civil society and trade union organisations has issued a joint declaration to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, stating that the EU Commission is prioritising a "shadow roadmap" of industry-led deregulation over democratic and environmental safeguards. Von der Leyen this week will meet with chemical industry lobby group CEFIC, just before an informal retreat at a Belgian castle for EU heads of state, where a new suite of "competitiveness" deregulation measures is at the top of the agenda. In a joint declaration, the coalition, which includes Friends of the Earth Europe, Corporate Europe Observatory, and Transparency International EU, denounces a "recurring pattern" of privileged access for corporate interests...

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We reject this corporate-led deregulation agenda. Europe’s industrial and economic strategy must strengthen — not sacrifice — environmental integrity, social justice, human rights and democratic accountability. Strong standards are not a burden — they are the foundation of Europe’s long-term economic resilience. Public money and political power must serve society as a whole, not entrench the influence and profits of the industries most responsible for the crises we face.

To defend the public’s rights to health, to a livable environment and to decent working conditions, we say we need:

Rules to protect democracy, people and planet

1. Re-vitalise European democracy

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1. Rules exist to protect the public

People across the EU are increasingly exposed to forever chemicals (PFAS), pesticide pollution and more frequent extreme weather. This generates huge costs to society, both economically and in terms of wellbeing. Instead of more “omnibuses” that undermine protections, we need better and stronger rules to ensure access to clean water, air, and food, guarantee safer workplaces, safeguard our privacy and personal data online, and protect us from risky applications of AI...

3. No blank cheque for polluting industries

Polluting industries are paying nosebleed dividends to shareholders, year-in year-out. From 2010 to 2023, European firms in key energy transition sectors generated €2.1 trillion in net profit and distributed €1.6 trillion to shareholders—a staggering 75.3% of their total net profits (and about 40% of Germany’s GDP, for comparison). They do not need extra capital injections paid by taxpayers, who face cuts to healthcare, education, and climate action. The problem is not a lack of capital — it is a misallocation of existing resources. We should invest in a future-oriented, toxic- free and decarbonised economy, not prop up toxic-fossil-intensive sectors resisting the energy and toxic-free transition. Finally, polluting companies should bear the costs of harm caused by their products, not society, respecting the Polluter Pays Principle...

4. A new spirit of law-making should be evidence-based law-making

Omnibus packages are dismantling crucial protections without scientific evidence or proper impact assessments. Proposals are short-sighted, industry-driven, and ignore their effects on people and the planet. Lawmaking must be evidence-based and safeguard health, rights, the environment, and Europe’s long-term sustainability goals...