European Family Businesses (EFB) was pleased that the 2027 Commission Work Programme largely continues the 2026 Work Programme. This is an opportunity to continue working on important files such as the Industrial Accelerator Act, the Public Procurement Act, simplification efforts via the omnibuses, EU Inc., the Savings and Investments Union and the Fair Labour Mobility package, rather than creating a wave of new proposals.

The continued focus on simplification is key. That is why we welcome the Pact-against gold plating, which we expect will, hopefully, act as a mechanism for further simplification and a forethought on the impact additional requirements have on businesses.

EFB supports the Commission’s effort to deliver on the simplification agenda, but highlights that the extent to which companies on the ground feel the reduction of administrative burdens, reporting and related costs must be measured. Only then can we further evaluate what businesses need to grow within the EU Single Market.

Moreover, while the topics of generational structures, changing demographic realities, job creation and the right to stay strategy were mentioned, we were surprised that the topic of business transfers was not tackled. We reiterate that thousands of businesses in Europe are set to undergo a transfer over the next decade, impacting several facets of the EU’s Single Market and competitiveness agenda, possibly exacerbating job loss, moves away from rural regions to cities in search of opportunities and further challenges. One of the keys to Europe’s strategic autonomy is to ensure that businesses can successfully transfer to successors. Therefore, Europe should create an environment where family businesses can pass on to the next generation, retain employment and keep innovating and investing in the future.

Finally, we were pleased to see that the Commission plans new initiatives to ensure a better regulatory framework that modernises how EU laws are designed and ensures they are clear, agile and fit for purpose. However, we reiterate the need to ensure that future legislation,  where appropriate, considers the “think small first” principle and takes Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Small Mid-Caps (SMCs) into account from the beginning.

EFB will continue to call for these efforts to become tangible and measurable outputs for family businesses.