Climate action and clean energy

Key developments

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EU Environment—horizon scanner — Climate action and clean energy—this Practice Note is a horizon scanner tracking key future developments in EU environmental law. It provides details of key dates for your diary (including forecasted dates where possible) and relevant commentary in relation to legislation-in-progress, legislation subject to future application dates or transposition deadlines, new consultations and calls for evidence, forthcoming guidance, and new EU-level strategies and action plans
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EU Environment—key developments tracker — Climate action and clean energy—this Practice Note tracks key past developments in EU environmental law. It provides details of key events and relevant commentary relating to finalised legislation and other key developments, including published guidance and EU-level strategies and action plans. This tracker covers legislative developments from 2025 onwards.
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The European Green Deal—tracker—tracks policy developments at the EU level under the European Green Deal, the European Commission's roadmap for moving to a sustainable economy, central to which is the commitment to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The Green Deal forms the basis of EU actions to tackle the risk of climate

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Latest EU Law News

EUIPO and EPO publish study on IP-intensive industries' EU economic contribution

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) have published IP and Innovation in European Sectors, a joint study examining 361 intellectual property rights intensive industries during the 2021-2023 period. The study finds that industries making intensive use of intellectual property rights account for 47.9% of the EU's gross domestic product and employ more than 65 million people, representing one third of the EU's total workforce. The analysis covers six types of intellectual property rights: trade marks, designs, patents, copyright, geographical indications and plant variety rights. Trade mark-intensive industries account for the largest share at 39.1%, followed by patent-intensive industries at 18.4% and design-intensive industries at 16.1%. The study shows that IPR-intensive industries generated €7.7trn of EU GDP, with workers in these sectors earning an average wage premium of 40.9%. The 2026 edition updates results from the previous 2022 study.

European Commission publishes January 2026 harmonised standards update under the medical devices Regulations

The European Commission has published two new Implementing Decisions updating the references of harmonised standards under the EU medical devices framework. On 28 January 2026, the Commission adopted Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/193 under Regulation (EU) 2017/745 on medical devices and Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/197 under Regulation (EU) 2017/746 on in vitro diagnostic medical devices. The Decisions amend earlier Implementing Decisions to reflect newly developed and revised harmonised standards, the voluntary application of which confers a presumption of conformity with the relevant regulatory requirements.

Accountancy Europe publishes factsheets on Omnibus Directive changes to CSRD and CSDDD

Accountancy Europe has published factsheets that analyse the Omnibus Directive, which amends both the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). The directives were adopted by the European Parliament on 16 December 2025. Under the updated CSRD, the scope is limited to large undertakings that employ over 1,000 people and generate an annual turnover of at least €450m, while listed small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are fully exempt. Meanwhile, the CSDDD applies to EU companies with more than 5,000 employees and an annual turnover of €1.5bn, with Member States mandated to transpose the directive by 26 July 2028.

Commission adopts EU Visa Strategy and recommendation on attracting talent for innovation

The European Commission has published the first EU visa policy strategy, intended to advance the EU’s long term interests and make visa policy more strategic and responsive to growing mobility, regional instability and geopolitical competition. The Strategy focuses on strengthening the security of the Schengen area, supporting economic growth and competitiveness and advancing the EU’s strategic interests, values and global standing. It is structured around three pillars: strengthening EU security, boosting competitiveness and deploying modern visa tools. It outlines plans to modernise visa processes through increased digitalisation, revised criteria for visa exemptions and targeted measures to address misuse of visa free regimes, with key steps scheduled for 2026 including a new assessment framework for exemptions, a revision of the Visa Code and the roll out of major border management IT systems. The strategy also highlights the introduction of restrictive visa measures in response to deteriorating relations with third countries, strengthened monitoring of visa free regimes and misuse such as unfounded asylum applications and overstays and enhanced tools for cooperation on return and readmission.