On 21 May 2025, the European Commission presented an ambitious package of measures to simplify rules and reduce administrative burden within the European Union’s Single Market. The new strategy aims to create a more favourable environment for growth, innovation and investment, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the newly defined category of small mid-cap companies (SMCs).
Key benefits of the package
- Estimated annual savings of over €400 million in administrative costs;
- Improved access to the Single Market for over 38,000 medium-sized companies with up to 750 employees;
- Expanded opportunities for competitiveness and growth for SMEs and SMCs;
- Increased legal clarity and digitalisation of regulatory processes;
- Enhanced protection for consumers and the environment.
Main measures of the strategy
- New category “small mid-cap companies” (SMCs): companies with fewer than 750 employees and turnover below €150 million will receive benefits similar to SMEs, including simplified GDPR requirements and reporting obligations;
- Digitalisation of product legislation: businesses will be allowed to provide product information in digital formats instead of printed documents;
- Common specifications: used as an alternative to harmonised standards to demonstrate compliance when such standards are unavailable;
- Simplified rules on fluorinated gases and batteries: extended deadlines and reduced administrative burdens for companies with low commercial volumes;
- Improved access to trade defence mechanisms: better guidance and support for SMEs and SMCs involved in anti-dumping and other trade investigations.
What does this mean for Bulgarian companies and Ruse?
The new EU strategy responds to business demands for a more predictable, accessible and competitive regulatory environment. For companies based in Ruse – especially export-oriented manufacturers operating in a cross-border region – these measures bring new advantages:
- Facilitated access to the EU internal market with reduced red tape;
- Lower administrative costs in trade, digital compliance and environmental regulations;
- Incentives for the development of new technology-driven industries, such as machinery, electronics, and chemicals.
The strategy is part of the Commission’s broader commitment to reduce regulatory burden by 25% overall and 35% for SMEs by 2029. Additional simplification initiatives are planned for defence, the chemical sector, and the digital economy.
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