The European nature conservation directives are central to the protection of species and habitats. In practice, however, they are increasingly leading to complex and protracted permitting procedures. In light of the European Commission’s stress test, the BDI therefore calls for nature conservation to remain effective while also becoming more proportionate, practical, and legally certain.

The EU Soil Monitoring Law establishes a new framework for soil protection. Its national implementation must now avoid duplicate regulation and additional burdens for businesses. The BDI calls for a practical and low-bureaucracy approach that respects existing structures and sector-specific regulatory regimes and does not create new permitting obstacles.

Zur Präsentation des ersten Berichts zur Umsetzung der Modernisierungsagenda Bund äußert sich BDI-Hauptgeschäftsführerin Tanja Gönner: „Aus Ankündigungen müssen jetzt endlich Taten werden.“

Ein Blumenstrauß zum Geburtstag, ein Gutschein für Beschäftigte oder ein Geschäftsessen: Sachzuwendungen und Bewirtungen gehören zum Unternehmensalltag. Steuerlich lösen sie jedoch häufig aufwendige Prüfungen und Aufzeichnungen aus. Unterschiedliche Regelungen im Steuer- und Sozialversicherungsrecht erschweren zudem eine digitale Abrechnung. Der BDI schlägt deshalb ein Wahlrecht für eine vereinfachte Pauschalierung vor, die an den tatsächlichen Aufwendungen ansetzt.

The federal government aims to make environmental procedures more digital and efficient through the Umweltmodernisierungsgesetz (UMoG) and the Umweltmodernisierungsverordnung (UMoV). BDI supports this goal. However, in key areas, the proposed drafts fall short of their own ambitions. Without more far-reaching procedural reforms, new legal uncertainties and additional requirements threaten to limit the intended relief.

The government’s draft of the 12th GWB Amendment has been available since 15 July 2026. The amendment modernises procedures and sends out some signals of regulatory relief. In the area of merger control, however, it falls short of the BDI’s expectations: the increase in the notification thresholds is too modest, whilst the extension of the transaction value threshold creates new uncertainties.

Tanja Gönner, BDI-Hauptgeschäftsführerin sagt zum zweiten Entlastungskabinett: „Kleinteilige Entlastungen sind richtig und wichtig, entscheidend ist aber, die großen Gamechanger umzusetzen.“

On June 24, 2026, the European Commission presented proposals to simplify direct taxes (the so-called “tax omnibus”). This was an important signal. Real relief will only come about if overlaps are consistently eliminated and regulations that hinder investment are corrected. The focus is on eliminating duplicate reporting requirements, introducing investment-friendly proposals, and removing national measures that tighten EU requirements. A minimal compromise is not enough.

Tanja Gönner, BDI-Hauptgeschäftsführerin, zu den Ergebnissen des Koalitionsausschusses: „Positives Zeichen für den gemeinsamen Reformwillen und die Arbeitsfähigkeit der Koalition, aber kein kraftvoller Wachstumsimpuls.“

Tanja Gönner, BDI-Hauptgeschäftsführerin, zu den Erwartungen an den Koalitionsausschuss: „Die Koalition muss ein umfassendes Reformpaket für mehr Wachstum und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit liefern.“

Reducing red tape is one of the most pressing economic policy challenges facing the EU. The European Commission’s new communication on better regulation demonstrates that Brussels has correctly identified the core problem. However, in the BDI’s view, the measures so far and those announced fall well short of what is required. Tangible relief for businesses will only materialise once the flow of new regulation is significantly reduced. This necessitates a fundamental shift in the mindset of EU regulators.

The European Commission is planning a tax omnibus package for the end of June 2026 to simplify direct taxation. However, real relief will only be achieved if overlaps are consistently eliminated and rules that hinder investment are corrected. Why a minimal compromise is not enough and where urgent action is needed is outlined below.

Companies are already investing heavily in their own resilience. However, many risks cannot be managed at the operational level alone. A recent Allensbach study commissioned by the BDI shows that, from the perspective of many companies, there is a lack of a clear vision of what a resilient business location should look like, as well as a lack of an overarching strategy for achieving it. What is needed are clear goals, better framework conditions, and a government that steps in where companies reach their limits.