[NEW RELEASE] Deregulation, Not Simplification: Blueprint for Europe’s Competitiveness

Europe stands at a crucial moment. While global competitors move faster and innovate freely, European businesses, especially SMEs, find themselves tangled in growing layers of rules and procedures. The newly released 4liberty.eu Manifesto, Deregulation, not Simplification – Europe’s Way Out of Bureaucracy, sets out a clear and actionable alternative: less red tape, more room to grow, and a stronger Europe in the global economy.

For years, the EU has spoken about improving regulation. Yet the overall volume and complexity of legislation continues to rise, and with it, the burden on innovators. The Manifesto recognizes that minor tweaks are no longer enough. It advocates for a different approach: one where regulation is modern, digital-first, and truly proportional to what businesses need in practice, not only what lawmakers design on paper.

At its core, the Manifesto proposes four priorities that are practical, measurable, and ready to be implemented:

• A net annual reduction of EU legislation by 1%: a real commitment to cutting unnecessary rules
• Universal sunset clauses: every law should prove its value regularly or expire
• A stronger push for national deregulation: ensuring implementation does not recreate bureaucracy at home
• A revitalised Single Market: with fewer barriers to cross-border services and business mobility

Together, these steps point toward a more competitive Europe: one where the focus is on outcomes, innovation, and people’s ability to create and invest.

But this effort is not driven by us at 4liberty.eu alone. Behind the Manifesto stands a wide coalition of think tanks, business representatives, and public-policy experts from across Europe. What unites us is a simple belief: Europe should empower its entrepreneurs instead of overwhelming them with rules.

To move this debate forward, 4liberty.eu and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom will launch the Manifesto in Brussels, bringing together policymakers, entrepreneurs, and experts from EU Member States. It will be a moment to discuss how deregulation can unlock innovation, boost growth, and ultimately improve everyday life for Europeans, whether they run a local business or dream of scaling a breakthrough idea across the Single Market.

This is not a call to dismantle the European project – it is a call to strengthen it. A Europe that works better, that adapts faster, and that trusts its innovators will be a Europe ready for the challenges of the next decade.

The Manifesto offers a clear path. Now, its ideas must become action, and a priority on Europe’s political agenda. At the launch event in Brussels we hope to achieve just that.

SEE THE MANIFESTO HERE

Supporters of the Manifesto

If you or your organization would like to co-sign the Manifesto and join our call for meaningful deregulation and a less bureaucratic Europe, please contact Dan-Aria Sucuri at