Every year, the European Commission adopts a work programme which sets out the list of the most important actions it will carry out in the following year.

The work programme informs the public and the other institutions of political commitments to present new initiatives, withdraw pending proposals and revise existing EU legislation.

Given that the new College of Commissioners will not take office until 1 December 2024, due to the European Parliament elections and the scrutiny process for Commissioners-designate carried out by the European Parliament, the presentation of the first work programme of the second von der Leyen Commission is not expected until the second week of February, during the plenary session of the European Parliament.

As a rule, the process of presenting the Commission’s work programme usually begins in mid-September, when the President of the European Commission delivers his State of the Union address to the European Parliament, outlining his political priorities for the coming year.

At that point, the President sends a letter of intent to the President of the European Parliament and the Presidency of the Council of the EU, outlining the specific measures the Commission intends to adopt following the speech.

The letter initiates a dialogue with the Parliament and the Council, in which the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament and also the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions take part.

In mid-October, the Commission usually adopts its annual work programme and presents it to the European Parliament and the other institutional partners.

The work programme does not cover the Commission’s ongoing work as guardian of the Treaties, implementing existing legislation, or the routine initiatives it adopts every year.

Our team is at your disposal for more information.