Brussels, Belgium – January 19, 2026 — Brussels, 19 January 2026 – European Union institutions have forged a powerful alliance with a Joint Declaration outlining ten key legislative priorities for the year, signalling a bold step towards enhanced prosperity, resilience and unity across the continent.
Signed on the sidelines of a recent European Council meeting by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen representing the Council presidency, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the declaration emphasises collaborative action to address pressing needs. This agreement underscores a shared commitment to streamlining regulations, fostering innovation and securing a brighter future for citizens and businesses alike.
At the heart of the priorities lies a drive to elevate the EU’s competitiveness. Leaders aim to implement the 28th regime, which promises to modernise automotive standards and support greener mobility solutions. Complementary measures include an act safeguarding critical medicines, ensuring reliable supplies for healthcare systems, and initiatives to deepen financial market integration. These steps are designed to create a more dynamic economic landscape, encouraging investment and job creation.
Simplification efforts stand out as a cornerstone of progress. Four comprehensive omnibus packages – covering digital advancements, chemical product regulations, defence enhancements and support for small and medium-sized enterprises – will bundle reforms to reduce administrative burdens. This approach allows for swift implementation, enabling businesses to thrive with fewer obstacles and more opportunities for growth.
Defence and security emerge as vital focuses, with plans to usher in a new era of European preparedness. By prioritising capability coalitions among willing member states, the EU seeks to expand defence budgets and leverage dual-use technologies that benefit both civilian and military applications. Such innovations will bolster infrastructure while strengthening collective security, fostering stability in an interconnected world.
Migration management receives targeted attention through a regulation to streamline procedures, promoting efficient border controls and orderly returns. This balanced framework supports comprehensive strategies that protect communities while upholding humanitarian values, paving the way for sustainable integration.
Negotiations on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) gain momentum, with the European Council urging the incoming Cyprus presidency to secure an agreement by year’s end. Building on the Commission’s June proposal, these talks aim to channel resources into clean transitions, innovation and energy infrastructure. Discussions on new own resources and joint financing mechanisms promise to unlock public and private investments, anchoring long-term prosperity.
The clean industrial deal features prominently, with rollout of transition plans, an Industrial Decarbonisation Bank and measures for lead markets, EU preferences and circular economy practices. These initiatives signal strong investor confidence, enhancing the appeal of sustainable projects and driving forward the 2040 climate target.
Social policies round out the agenda with advancements in affordable housing, anti-poverty programmes, labour mobility, quality employment and fair transition strategies. Social leasing for clean products links environmental goals to improved living standards, ensuring benefits reach everyday citizens through better jobs and community support.
President Metsola highlighted the declaration’s significance, noting it represents unity in action and a focused roadmap to a stronger Union. President von der Leyen echoed this optimism, stressing the need for a competitive, fairer Europe backed by a robust budget to realise ambitious visions.
The centre-right European People’s Party, dominant since the June 2024 elections, continues to guide this legislative momentum, shifting emphasis towards bureaucracy reduction and trade advancements. Pending deals like Mercosur hold potential to open new markets, while ongoing work in AI regulation and defence positions the EU as a global leader.
As Brussels enters this pivotal year, the declaration provides a clear framework for monitoring progress, with regular updates to maintain momentum. Emerging coalitions and creative pre-negotiations among institutions demonstrate adaptability, turning challenges into opportunities for advancement.
This unified front not only addresses immediate priorities but also builds a foundation for Europe’s independence moment. By harnessing investment, innovation and international partnerships, the EU is poised to deliver tangible improvements in security, economic vitality and quality of life. Stakeholders from businesses to local communities stand to gain from these forward-thinking measures, marking 2026 as a year of constructive transformation and shared success.
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