European Commission Publishes Environmental Omnibus
Key points
- Target areas for simplification include industrial emissions, circularity, extended producer responsibility, environmental assessments, and geospatial data.
- The Environmental Omnibus will now be submitted to the European Parliament and the Council for negotiation under the ordinary legislative procedure.
On 10 December 2025, the European Commission (Commission) published the Environmental Omnibus, a package of six legislative proposals that are intended to simplify certain EU environmental legislation.
According to the Commission, the Environmental Omnibus does not change the EU’s environmental objectives but instead aims to reduce administrative burdens for companies by cutting red tape and streamlining procedures.
Background
The Environmental Omnibus is the eighth “Omnibus” from the Commission in 2025 and forms part of the EU’s current focus on European competitiveness, as set out in the Competitiveness Compass. The Commission targets reducing administrative burdens by at least 25% for all companies and 35% for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2029 through simplification of the EU legislative environment.For more information on the EU’s objectives of competitiveness and simplification, and the first Omnibus package, see this Latham article.
The proposal sits alongside the EU’s Sustainability Omnibus, which proposes amendments to simplify ESG frameworks such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Publication of the Environmental Omnibus proposal follows a call for evidence that took place earlier in 2025, drawing nearly 200,000 responses.
Key Elements of the Environmental Omnibus
Industrial Emissions and the Circular Economy
The Environmental Omnibus would:
- Simplify the Industrial and Livestock Rearing Emissions Directive (IED), which is the EU framework aimed at reducing emissions and limiting waste generation from large industrial installations and intensive livestock farms. The Environmental Omnibus would introduce measures to provide more flexibility in implementing environmental management systems (EMS) under the IED.
- Amend the Waste Framework Directive to repeal the Substances of Concern in Products (SCIP) database. The proposal recommends alternative digital solutions for the SCIP’s functionality, including the Digital Product Passport.
- Reduce administrative burden concerning extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes. This includes proposed suspensions of the application of the rules on the appointment of authorised representatives for EPR under the EU Batteries Regulation (EUBR), the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive (WEEE Directive), and the Single Use Plastic Directive (SUP Directive). The forthcoming Circular Economy Act is anticipated to further reduce the extent of obligations for producers of products subject to EPR.
Environmental Assessments and Permitting
The Environmental Omnibus proposes to establish an umbrella framework to speed up and improve the quality of environmental assessments that are central to permit granting. This is in response to the Draghi Report and calls from EU leaders to accelerate planning and permitting.
INSPIRE Directive (Geospatial Data)
The Environmental Omnibus would align technical requirements for geospatial data under the INSPIRE Directive (which sets out spatial data infrastructure for EU Member States) with the Open Data Directive, which is the most recent EU data legislation. This proposal is separate from, but in synergy with, the Digital Omnibus.For more information on the Digital Omnibus, see this Latham Client Alert.
Next Steps and Related Measures
The Environmental Omnibus will be submitted to the European Council and the European Parliament for negotiation under the ordinary legislative procedure.
In an accompanying communication document, the Commission indicates that there is potential for further simplification, as well as stress-testing EU environmental legislation through 2024–29. Additional measures include upcoming guidance on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, a review of the Water Framework Directive, and targeted revision of the REACH chemicals regulation, among others.
Additionally, the Circular Economy Act (expected in Q3 2026) is intended to deliver simplification and harmonisation across circular activities, and to create a single market for waste and recycled materials. This will further build on proposals of the Environmental Omnibus, including those related to EPR.For more information on the circular economy and product-related frameworks, see this Latham article.
Latham & Watkins will continue to monitor ESG and sustainability regulatory developments in the EU and globally.
This article was prepared with the assistance of Samantha Banfield at Latham & Watkins.