Commission work programme

Every year, the Commission adopts its annual work programme setting out the list of the most important new policy and legislative initiatives it will take in the year ahead.

The work programme is a key vehicle to deliver on commitments outlined in the Political Guidelines and the mission letters set by President von der Leyen to each College Member. 

Following its adoption, the work programme is presented to the European Parliament Plenary and subsequently to the General Affairs Council. 

On the basis of the Commission work programme and priorities put forward by the other institutions, the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council establish a Joint Declaration on the EU’s legislative priorities for the coming year, on top of the Joint Conclusions on priorities for the upcoming term prepared at the beginning of the mandate.

The work programme does not cover the ongoing work of the Commission as the guardian of the Treaties enforcing existing legislation, or routine initiatives that the Commission adopts every year.

The work programme is accompanied by an annual report on Simplification, Implementation and Enforcement. It summarises the main results of the Commission’s work towards a simpler and more agile Europe across three key components.