?? IT'S NOT YOU...

...It's the Commission's 2025 Work Programme.

If heart-shaped chocolates and stuffed bears aren’t your thing, perhaps you’ll find the origins of this day more intriguing. Valentine’s Day began as a Christian feast honouring a martyr named Valentine, who was beheaded for his faith.

In these trying times, when civil society is under attack and across the pond POTUS has yet again pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement — not to mention — reinstated plastic straws, working in the climate movement can feel like an act of martyrdom. So, maybe this is the Valentine’s story that will resonate with you this year. ?

For those?who?observe, check out this week’s #RoiRecommends: Have you ever had a work crush? If that's the case and you want to take a trip down memory lane, you may like?Baby Girl, an erotic thriller that explores the passionate affair of CEO Romy Mathis with her much younger intern, Samuel. Our song for the day: Crush.?

Today, we’ll be reacting to the EU Commission’s Work Programme announced this week, sharing our thoughts on the EU’s AI Summit and the ongoing funding spectre looming over the work of civil society and threatening the foundations of democracy in Europe. Missed this? Check out our recent editions of this newsletter, read the EEB’s statement, and help us defend against these baseless claims plucked straight out of a fairytale. ?

???NO LOVE (FOR AI) WITHOUT TRUST?

On Tuesday, world leaders, scientists and tech industry execs came together in Paris for an ‘AI Action Summit’. The goal? To lay the foundations for a 'trusted AI ecosystem'. A final statement was signed by 70 governments, international bodies and research institutes, including the EU, China and India. But the US and UK held off, seemingly over concerns about language calling for “inclusive and sustainable” AI, with a UK spokesperson saying, the UK would collaborate with other countries but “always put the national interest first.”?

WHAT'S OUR SAFE WORD? While AI might offer opportunities, it is not without its threats. To begin with, the impacts of this technology on our climate should not be underestimated. Europe’s data centres already consume as much electricity as all of Spain — and while they are booming, this is just the beginning.?

SEALED WITH A KISS?—?Alongside more than 120 organisations, we are demanding urgent action: the environmental toll of AI must be fully acknowledged, fossil fuels must be phased out across the entire AI supply chain, and false solutions must be rejected. AI must operate within planetary boundaries.

AI'S?DIRTY SECRET?— This week, the Beyond Fossil Fuels collective released a new report exposing how Europe’s AI-driven data centre boom risks derailing the energy transition. Without immediate action, skyrocketing energy demand could lock us into fossil dependence. The solution? These data centres must?run on new and additional renewable energy — not fossil fuels disguised as “clean” power. The message is clear: AI must be powered by the future, not the past.

???EU COMMISSION WORK PROGRAMME DROPS?

NOT OUR TYPE — On Wednesday, the European Commission unveiled its 2025 Work Programme, setting out its priorities for the year ahead. If you've been following this newsletter, you won’t be surprised to see 'simplification'?(read: deregulation) dominating the agenda.

HARDER, BETTER, FASTER, STRONGER.?NO??The Commission is calling for a "bolder, simpler, and faster" Union, but with only sparse references to the Green Deal, alarm bells are ringing. The stakes are clear: our climate, environment, and societies depend on decisive action, not backpedaling. The Green Deal goals that Europeans have fought for must not be sacrificed to appease a few big industry players whose endgame is reducing red tape to maximise profits — no matter the cost to people and the planet.

RED FLAGS — While many elements of this Work Programme are worthy of praise, like its commitments to decarbonisation and affordable energy, other areas raise red flags - in particular, its backtracking on Zero Pollution Ambition. Our reaction:?

????ON EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS & GOVERNANCE

DEREGULATION AFFAIR?—?The new Commission Work Programme risks being tempted by the false promises of deregulation and eroding the EU's leadership on sustainability. The EU Green Deal is only mentioned in the context of the Clean Industrial Deal, and the Omnibus package appears to serve as a vehicle for deregulation, potentially rolling back key environmental protections before they have had time to demonstrate their benefits. Such a move would create legislative uncertainty, slow regulation-driven innovation, and prioritise short-term industry gains over long-term sustainability-led competitiveness and social well-being.?

?? ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY

I CAN FIX HIM! On the face of it, the inclusion of an EU strategy to support civil society is positive. However, we've been burned before, and we find this a tad suspicious?in light of recent institutional attempts to strip NGOs of vital sources of funding. Similarly, the failure to repeal the Directive on Transparency of Interest Representation — despite strong opposition — raises concerns about the potential misuse of the law to suppress civil society, echoing repressive foreign agent laws seen elsewhere. Happy to be proven wrong!?

HALL?SHEN?—?Speaking of NGO funding, our?Deputy Secretary General, Patrizia Heidegger, participated?in the Europe Calling webinar to discuss attacks on NGOs and the defunding of environmental organisations. She, along with other experts, highlighted how these efforts are linked to broader pushbacks against the Green Deal and civil society. If you couldn′t attend the live stream, you can watch the recording auf deutsch hier?or in English here.?

OLD BUT GOLD?— As we explored in our last edition, the triple Omnibus package, under the guise of simplification, threatens to weaken environmental protections and enforcement, further jeopardising justice and accountability. ?

SAY IT OUT LOUD?— Though the Work Programme outwardly promotes rights, democracy, and the rule of law, closer examination suggests a pattern of measures that could be exploited to criminalise activism and quash dissent. True democracy is strengthened by innovation and support, not by restrictions that limit civic engagement and environmental advocacy. Read our take on why protest matters now, more than ever.?

? CLIMATE & ENERGY

ITS NOT YOU... The Commission rightly links lower energy prices to advancing the energy transition, highlighting key priorities like grid upgrades, energy integration, and decarbonising heating and cooling. To phase out fossil fuels fast, we must double down on proven and ready-to-deploy solutions — renewables, grids, flexibility, and storage.?

...ITS NUCLEAR?—?But there's a major contradiction in the roadmap, which promotes an increasing and misguided focus on costly nuclear power and unproven Small Modular Reactors instead. This?risks?wasting precious time and resources to meet urgent climate goals. It would be a huge mistake for this Commission to alter the EU’s energy policy — already delivering positive results — just to appease a declining industry?desperate for getting?public funds.?

???CHEMICALS??

UNTIL PFAS DO US APART?—?While we wish the Work Programme would talk a big game about protecting people and the environment — when it comes to banning toxic chemicals, the silence is deafening.?There’s no clear commitment to fast-tracking the restriction of hazardous substances through REACH. If the Commission truly wants a “bolder, simpler, and faster” Union, this ambition must apply to the long-overdue REACH revision — confirmed for Q4 2025 — and the swift ban of PFAS.?

At the same time, two critical regulatory proposals — the ECHA Founding Regulation and the Exports Ban — are nowhere to be found. Both were promised in 2020 and expected by 2023, yet they remain in limbo. Meanwhile, toxic chemicals continue to threaten our health and the planet. Delays have consequences... And the Commission must act now.

?? NATURE & BIODIVERSITY

OUR NATURE POLYCULE — The Work Programme contains no new initiatives on biodiversity and nature. While we welcome the commitment to finalising key legislative files, such as the Soil Monitoring Law, Forest Monitoring Law, and priority water pollutants,?progress remains fragile as negotiations remain challenging. ?

WHAT'S MISSING? Crucial gaps in the Commission’s plans cannot be ignored.?For instance, we see no action on nitrate pollution despite its severe impact on ecosystems and public health; no mention of the promised 'Integrated Nutrient Management Action Plan' (INMAP) — leaving vital pollution controls in limbo; no clarity on climate adaptation efforts — even as communities across Europe face escalating climate risks. ?

There is some hope on the horizon: the Water Resilience Strategy and the Oceans Pact, set for Q2 2025, could deliver progress. But deregulation threats loom — with further omnibus simplification packages raising serious concerns. Watch this space... ??

?? AGRICULTURE & FOOD SYSTEMS??

MAYBE NEXT TIME... We've left out our Work Programme analysis of this topic, as we expect big news from the Commission next week. Be sure to check your inboxes for updates on the upcoming Vision for Food and Agriculture. Here, we outline, alongside the EU Food Policy Coalition (a major coalition of 60 EU-level organisations representing smaller-scale farmers, consumers, environment and health), our willingness to support Christophe Hansen in his role as Commissioner for Agriculture and Food and what we expect to see during his mandate! ?

WE ?? TRULY CLEAN DEALS?

BIG DATE AHEAD! On 26 February, the Commission will unveil what are meant to be the flagship policies for the new mandate. That’s why we've sent our key recommendations on the Clean Industrial Deal (CID) and the Affordable Energy Action Plan directly to the cabinets of EU Commissioners.?

ONLY WIN-WINS — The EEB sees these proposals as a turning point to accelerate the energy transition and strengthen the Green Deal. To succeed, they must: 1) Harness climate-friendly, zero-pollution, and nature-positive solutions while driving industrial innovation through a solid regulatory framework. 2) Guarantee affordable renewable energy for households and industry, reinforcing Europe’s social and economic resilience. With the right approach, these initiatives could deliver a real breakthrough in Europe’s green transition — let's not allow them to be diluted in false solutions or delaying tactics.?

??GERMANY HEADS TO THE POLLS

A RELATIONSHIP WORTH SAVING — On 23 February, Germany will head to the polls?for snap federal elections shaping the next four years for the EU’s largest country and biggest economy. Migration, security and Germany's flagging economy are major focuses for the country's political parties — with a notable absence of references to climate change,?even from the Green party. The next German government must stay the course of the Green Deal: the only path to ensure stable jobs and strategic independence for Germany in the years ahead.?Mal sehen!

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By:?Ruby Silk.?Special thanks to the EEB's editorial team:?Alberto Vela,?Ben Snelson,?Roi Gomez,?Carlotta Di Pasquale.?Editor:?Christian Skrivervik