Industry representatives generally welcome these approaches but consider them insufficient to ensure internationally competitive energy prices. Achieving this goal, will require more targeted measures, such as further reductions in grid fees or effective electricity price compensation.

In Brussels, the term "omnibus" refers to a legislative package that consolidates amendments to several existing regulations. Specifically, this means that the due diligence obligations from the EU Supply Chain Act (CSDDD) will in the future only apply to direct business partners in the upstream supply chain. This change eliminates complex auditing duties for more distant suppliers, thereby reducing the administrative burden on companies. Additionally, sustainability reporting under the CSRD will be streamlined by reducing the number of required data points, easing documentation requirements. The EU taxonomy criteria will also be revised to make definitions of sustainable economic activities clearer and more practical.  The most significant change affects small and medium-sized enterprises, which will largely be exempt from these regulations – a relief that larger companies like LANXESS will not benefit from.

Many business representatives welcome the announced reforms but would have preferred bolder steps. Particularly, the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles could be implemented more consistently, for example, by completely eliminating certain reporting obligations. With the Clean Industrial Deal, the rhetoric of the European Commission has noticeably shifted: Competitiveness is now explicitly considered as a goal equal to climate protection. This can indeed be understood as a policy shift in response to increasing pressure from the USA and China.

The central challenge, however, remains implementation: Announced measures alone are not enough. All new initiatives must be evaluated based on whether they strengthen Europe's competitiveness, reduce bureaucratic burdens, lower energy costs, and promote investments. Only if these criteria are met can industrial policy be successful in the long term. The chemical industry, which has now been explicitly recognized by the European Commission as a key sector, should particularly benefit from this new focus. It will be crucial to continue to critically monitor the proposals and push for noticeable and practical improvements.