KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON

One year into the EU’s new policy cycle, the political and regulatory landscape is shifting rapidly. And not always in ways that protect citizens and businesses. 

Unprecedented geopolitical tensions, a more polarised political environment, an erosion of the rules-based system, and socioeconomic pressures challenge European policy-makers. Meanwhile, the biodiversity and climate crises intensify relentlessly.

At the same time, several concerning U-turns by EU leaders are instrumentalising the focus on competitiveness to promote policy rollback, threatening the integrity, stability and predictability of the EU legal framework. Growing demands for “regulatory simplification” cast a shadow over both citizens’ safety and businesses’ ability to thrive and transition predictably.

In this volatile context, trust, leadership and delivery matter more than ever. Yet, the stark rollback raises a critical question:

Why is Europe discarding predictability and a forward-looking vision just when it needs these the most?

At WWF, we believe there is another way. 

“KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON”

We refute the notion that nature and economic development must compete. Europe can and must combine economic resilience with ecological responsibility to unlock competitive sustainability: a model where people and companies prosper within planetary boundaries. This was the promise of the 2019 Green Deal and must remain our compass.

Achieving it requires a new level of engagement between civil society and businesses, moving from isolated actions to structured, long-term collaboration. Many companies already lead, but too often, their voices remain unheard, drowned out by short-sighted narratives.

This is why we are launching our newsletter - the EU Green Business Dispatch. 

This new tool keeps sustainability professionals and business leaders informed by highlighting urgent environmental policy developments and showing where responsible corporate voices can drive positive impact.

This first edition shares WWF’s views on three critical legislative files where business engagement is vital:

🌴 The EU Deforestation Law and risks of delay

⚖️ The first omnibus on corporate sustainability

🌱 The Nature Restoration Law and its implementation

Stay ahead on EU environmental policy 🌍

Subscribe to the EU Green Business Dispatch to get regular, concise updates on key EU environmental legislation. Please also share with potentially interested colleagues or contacts!

Want to dive deeper? Join our one-hour webinar on 15 October 2025 (10:00 CET), where WWF experts will share their assessment after one year into the political mandate of the von der Leyen Commission and Parliament. This interactive session is your chance to engage directly, exchange strategies, and learn how your company can help shape Europe’s environmental future.

📝 Register here: https://forms.gle/oQ4rtXSRTkiZuM8w6

Can’t make it? Reach out to Florian Martinez-Buathier , our Advocacy officer, for further exchange.

Preventing further delay to the EU Deforestation Law: a critical test of EU credibility

Last December, the EU postponed the EU Deforestation Regulation by one year, despite opposition from 220 NGOs and major cocoa, coffee and rubber brands. Now, there are new proposals that threaten to dilute the law again by adding a so-called “negligible-risk” category that could exempt whole countries or sectors from due diligence checks, creating unfair market conditions, especially for businesses already investing in compliance.

👉 Why does it matter? With tropical forest loss surging by 80% last year, science leaves no room for delay. Adding a fourth category would require legally revising the EU Deforestation Regulation, leading to further delays. This would mean higher compliance costs and even greater legal uncertainty for companies and investors.

The first omnibus on corporate sustainability: a major blow to EU environmental objectives

The Commission’s first Omnibus package, presented in February 2025, severely undermines the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). By excluding thousands of companies from their scope and stripping away essential obligations, such as credible transition plans, double materiality reporting, and value chain data flexibility, it injects confusion and inconsistency into the EU’s sustainability framework.

This already harms Europe’s transition, despite strong business support for sustainability. A survey of 1,300 German corporate leaders found that 3 in 5 large firms prefer suppliers within the European Economic Area due to due diligence rules. But nearly half are delaying investments because of the uncertainty caused by the Omnibus proposal. This is the exact opposite of the stability the Commission promised.

👉 Why does it matter? The changes risk diluting the law’s environmental impact and penalising responsible businesses, especially early adopters. Moreover, many companies and civil society organisations were sidelined in consultations, leaving only the loudest voices heard.  This fuels concerns over blind deregulation and rising legal uncertainty.

A beacon of hope: carrying on the implementation of the Nature Restoration Law

The new Nature Restoration Law commits every Member State to restore at least 20% of land and sea by 2030 and all degraded ecosystems by 2050. Economic benefits outweigh costs roughly 10-to-1, driving job creation, tourism and regional renewal, especially in post-industrial landscapes.

Now is the time to move from commitment to action. Member States must submit their draft national restoration plans by September 2026, with final plans due a year later - businesses have a unique opportunity to take an active role.

👉 Why does it matter? 72% of companies in the Eurozone depend on healthy and restored ecosystems to thrive. Early business input in the national restoration plans can raise ambition, align finance for nature restoration activities and de-risk project pipelines. Well-designed plans create predictable demand for restoration services and nature-positive infrastructure. 

Did you like this newsletter?

📩 Subscribe to the EU Green Business Dispatch | Get concise, science-based updates on EU environmental policy, tailored for corporate sustainability leaders. Follow us on LinkedIn to receive new editions in your feed and subscribe to the newsletter here.

📢 Sharing is caring | If you find this newsletter useful, consider sharing it within your team or with peers in your business network. Let’s make sure informed, responsible voices are heard.

🌍 Let’s go further | Join us for an exclusive webinar on 15 October 2025 (10:00-11:00 CET), where our experts will unpack key legislative developments and help identify opportunities for corporate engagement. Sign up here: https://forms.gle/oQ4rtXSRTkiZuM8w6

By Florian Martinez-Buathier , Advocacy Officer at @WWFEU

With the support of Anke Schulmeister-Oldenhove , Forest Manager, Sebastien Godinot , Economist and Head of Sustainable Finance, and Sabien Leemans , Biodiversity Manager