MEP urges government to oppose 'omnibus' proposal
Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, Lynn Boylan has urged the government to oppose Ursula von der Leyen’s "omnibus" package to cut red tape for businesses.
In its Work Programme for 2025, the commission announced a series of measures to address what it called overlapping, unnecessary or disproportionate rules that create barriers for EU companies.
Boylan said: “The government needs to come out in strong and clear opposition to the disastrous omnibus proposals released today by Ursula von der Leyen."
The commission said that it wants to reduce administrative burdens by up to 35% for small- and medium-sized businesses, by the end of its mandate in 2029.
The commission has said that the measures will focus the sustainability reporting obligations on the largest companies, which are more likely to have the biggest impacts on people and the environment.
The Sinn Féin MEP stated that the proposals would scrap requirements for almost all companies to report actions they take to protect human rights and minimise damage to the environment.
“Both Kathleen Function MEP and I have written to six European commissioners, including Michael McGrath, to criticise the key parts of this omnibus plan, and the lack of public consultation around the plan.
“It’s unfortunate that this proposal has come from the same European Commission that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael voted for, but they have an opportunity to do the right thing," she added.
The package includes amendments to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), the Carbon Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the InvestEu Regulation.
Under the proposals companies with under 1,000 employees will no longer be under the scope of CSRD, and so the sustainability reporting requirements will no longer apply to them.
This means that the number of companies under the legislation will be reduced by about 80%.
The MEP added: “The government can call these proposals out for being reckless and dangerous, and make it clear that they are opposed to the plan, and that they will vote against it when the time comes.
“That will be an opportunity for all Irish MEPs to come together to send a clear message, and to vote in favour of defending robust climate measures and human rights.”
The commission stated that these proposals will provide substantial simplification in the field of sustainability and EU investment programmes.
