Merz, Meloni and De Wever call for 'emergency brake' on new EU laws
In a letter to European Council President Costa, Germany, Italy and Belgium seek a mechanism against overly costly EU rules ahead of Thursday's summit.
Archive image · Photo: The White House / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
Germany, Italy and Belgium want to be able to halt new EU legislation that places an excessive burden on businesses. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever proposed an "emergency brake" in a letter to European Council President António Costa. It would serve as a last resort against unnecessary bureaucratic costs, Euronews reported after seeing the letter sent Monday. How the mechanism would work remains unclear.
The three leaders also called for faster planning and permitting for investments in decarbonisation, energy, artificial intelligence and defence. A "priority rule" would temporarily suspend certain regulations in those areas. Reporting requirements would be cut, with any new obligation having to be specifically justified. The aim, the letter said, is to accelerate the reduction of bureaucracy in the EU.
The three countries lead an informal group of 19 EU states known as the "Friends of Competitiveness." Diplomats expect the issue to come up at the EU summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday, where it could prove contentious.