16/02/2026
A powerful wave of civil society action is reshaping the debate on EU lawmaking. In recent days, NGOs, trade unions, academics and public interest groups have successfully denounced the corporate-led deregulation, imposed by the industry and favoured by the US administration.
At a time, President von der Leyen and heads of state and government were outnumbered by hundreds of industry lobbyists during their pre-summit meeting in Antwerp, but civil society succeeded in unveiling the industry script and flipping it. Industry representatives overplayed their hand, exposing the weaknesses of their own claims and triggering a backlash against deregulation as a shortcut to competitiveness. Instead of reinforcing corporate talking points, the moment helped debunk the myth that weaker rules deliver economic strength.
From the rollback of Better Regulation principles and transparency safeguards in the AI Act, to the systematic weakening of environmental, social and climate protections, civil society is raising the alarm over a dangerous shift in EU governance. Fast-tracked omnibus packages are becoming the new normal, bypassing impact assessments, public consultation and democratic scrutiny – while privileged corporate access increasingly shapes political priorities.
At the same time, a major investigation by SOMO revealed how a secretive alliance of multinational polluters has been working behind closed doors to rewrite EU human rights and climate laws through lobbying, political pressure and omnibus packages – confirming long-standing warnings about corporate capture and democratic erosion.
Together, four open letters published in recent days mark a turning point. They defend democratic safeguards, transparency, fundamental rights and evidence-based policymaking, showing that civil society is not only resisting rollbacks – it is changing the narrative.
Below are the four open letters.
