Leftist politicians and green activists are panicking in Brussels as the EU Commission is set to publish its ‘Competitiveness Compass,’ which will include a set of reforms aiming to simplify rules in the EU’s overregulated private sectors to boost productivity, including those ensuring compliance with environmental and climate regulations.

But while slashing from the mountain of red tape accumulated during von der Leyen’s first mandate was much needed, reducing paperwork and delaying some of the new requirements will do next to nothing to save European economies from the disastrous consequences of the Green Deal.

The truth is that von der Leyen’s Commission is using this strategy of “simplification, not deregulation” as a smokescreen that allows for the continuation of harmful climate policies while diffusing public anger—at least for the time being.

What will be cut?

The so-called “omnibus” legislation, a key component of the Compass, is promised to be an “unprecedented simplification effort” to streamline the rulebook on how companies in the EU report compliance with environmental regulations.