On the eve of President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech, hundreds of civil society organisations, trade unions, and public interest groups have voiced alarm over the European Commission’s push for deregulation.
Just nine months into von der Leyen’s new term, the Commission is preparing an unprecedented drive to roll back protections that safeguard workers, communities, human rights, digital rights, and the environment.
In a joint statement signed by 470 organisations, groups from across Europe warned that over the next four years, the Commission and EU Member States risk dismantling the rules that hold corporations accountable. Such a move would undo decades of progress on social justice, climate action, and rights protections.
The risks go far beyond climate and labour. Deregulation threatens hard-won standards for animal welfare and could undermine the transition towards a healthier, more plant-based and fair food system. Watering down these protections would not only harm animals but also block progress towards a sustainable agricultural model that reduces emissions, supports farmers, and makes healthy diets accessible to all. The breadth of the response shows that deregulation is not a niche concern: it cuts across environmental, labour, food, digital, and human rights fields, and touches the core of Europe’s democratic fabric. Civil society is united in calling on EU leaders to prioritise people, animals, and the planet over corporate interests.