Omnibus Regulation sets EU ESG reforms in motion

Draft proposals to simplify and streamline the European Union's multiple corporate sustainability programmes were published at the end of February. Alessandro De Nicola discusses this key initiative.

Alessandro De Nicola (alessandro.denicola@belex.com) is a Milan-based partner with BonelliErede's Legal Risk, Compliance & Investigations practice.

The landscape of environmental, social and governance compliance is shifting rapidly as global regulations evolve to address the growing demand for responsible corporate behaviour. One of the most significant developments is the EU Omnibus Regulation (with proposals published on 26 February 2025), which aims to streamline and simplify existing sustainability rules to enhance the competitiveness of European businesses. The decision to adopt such a regulation came after the report on 'The future of European competitiveness' (September 2024) signed by Mario Draghi, the former President of the European Central Bank. This document argued that simplifying the laws could increase the competitiveness of European enterprises.