![\"EU](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/European-Flags-716x476.jpg\" "\\"EU")
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The European Commission has defended and justified its decision to fast-track the release of the sustainability Omnibus<\/a> in February in response to an ongoing enquiry into the process.<\/p>\n European ombudsman Teresa Anjinho has opened an enquiry<\/a> into how the commission prepared the legislative proposal as part of its first Omnibus package of simplification measures for sustainability reporting and due diligence requirements, with a particular focus on stakeholder consultations.<\/p>\n The ombudsman, which is independent and tasked with holding EU institutions and agencies to account, has asked the commission to explain its decision not to carry out a public consultation on the Omnibus package.<\/p>\n The decision to open an enquiry follows a formal complaint filed by NGOs in April, which challenged the commission\u2019s draft legislation for the sustainability Omnibus.<\/p>\n The NGOs accused the EU executive of failing to \u201cproperly\u201d gather evidence and assess the environmental and social impacts of amending the laws, sidestepping broad consultations to favour closed-door meetings \u201cdominated by oil and gas industry interests\u201d, and failing to assess whether the proposal aligns with the EU\u2019s climate neutrality target.<\/p>\n The commission told Responsible Investor that it is ready to co-operate with the ombudsman and will reply to the questions raised within the expected timeframe.<\/p>\n A spokesperson said the commission \u201caccelerated the preparation\u201d of the first simplification Omnibus in response to the \u201cconcerns\u201d of stakeholders linked to the \u201ccomplexity and implementation cost\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe urgency was also justified by the need to provide legal clarity for undertakings in the second wave that were required to report for the first time in 2026 for financial year 2025,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n The commission faced criticism<\/a> in the build-up to the release of its Omnibus package, with MEPs Pascal Canfin and Lara Wolters \u2013 both are now shadow rapporteurs on behalf of their respective political parties Renew and the S&D on the Omnibus file \u2013 criticising the lack of impact assessment and a \u201cbiased\u201d and \u201crushed\u201d process.<\/p>\n Impact assessments are a key part of the commission\u2019s \u201cbetter regulation\u201d rules and are carried out before it finalises a proposal for a new or revised law.<\/p>\n It is usually a detailed process that can take several months and aims to examine whether there is a need for EU action, analyse the possible impacts of available solutions and guide the commission\u2019s preparation.<\/p>\n Instead of producing an impact assessment, the EU executive put together a staff working document alongside the Omnibus proposal based on available evidence, which included input and feedback collected through \u201cvarious consultation activities\u201d.<\/p>\n According to the commission, in case of urgency, a staff working document<\/a> is produced as an alternative to an impact assessment. The spokesperson said the methodology used to assess the impacts of the Omnibus was \u201csimilar\u201d to that followed for an impact assessment.<\/p>\n The document presents the evidence behind the proposed approach and the expected impacts, the Commission told RI, including a \u201cquantification of the savings\u201d resulting from the simplification efforts.<\/p>\n When the commission delivered its proposal, it said it was delivering more than \u20ac6 billion in administrative relief by simplifying the rules.<\/p>\n \u201cIt builds on previous impact assessments carried out in connection with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)<\/a> and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)<\/a>, the EU Taxonomy Disclosures Delegated Act, as well as the work done by EFRAG in relation to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS),\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Consultation<\/strong><\/p>\n The commission said it reached out to various stakeholders across the simplification process.<\/p>\n The spokesperson said that, as part of the commission\u2019s \u201cresolute effort\u201d to engage with stakeholders \u2013 and in particular those \u201cmost and directly affected\u201d by the legislation \u2013 the political guidelines identified \u201cimplementation dialogues and reality checks\u201d as main consultation tools for simplification measures.<\/p>\n The commission cited this as the reason at organised roundtable discussions in February, ahead of the release of the proposal, to gather the views of practitioners and stakeholders on \u201cconcrete issues\u201d faced when implementing sustainability rules.<\/p>\n \u201cThe roundtable discussion included full participation of NGOs, who made their views clear in the discussions,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n