European Commission pushes Member States to stop gold-plating
European Commissioner Dombrovskis addressed the European Parliament plenary on gold-plating, warning that when Member States add stricter or broader requirements while transposing EU law, it distorts competition, raises compliance costs especially for SMEs, and discourages cross-border activity. The Commission will work with Member States on better detection, follow-up and prevention, prepare a best-practice toolkit, and has circulated questionnaires to Member States and stakeholders.
Impact and considerations
Gold-plating fragments the EU Single Market and raises cross-border compliance costs, hitting SMEs hardest. For business-travel and multinational firms operating in Europe, additional national requirements can affect employment, data, operations and travel-compliance arrangements.
Key points
- Commissioner Dombrovskis addressed the European Parliament plenary on stopping gold-plating.
- Gold-plating occurs when a Member State introduces wider scope, stricter rules or obligations beyond what the EU legal act requires.
- The Commission will work with Member States on three objectives: better detection, better follow-up and better prevention.
- The Commission is preparing a best-practice toolkit and has circulated a questionnaire to Member States and a survey to stakeholders.
- The Commission will consider gold-plating risk when making legislative proposals, for example prioritising regulations over directives where appropriate.
Sources and time
- Primary source
- European Commission
- Other sources
- 0
- First source publication
- 16 Sept 2026, 18:06
- Page published
- 16 Sept 2026, 20:44
- Last updated
- 16 Sept 2026, 18:06
- Original links
- European Commission Press Corner：Dombrovskis at the European Parliament plenary debate on stopping gold-plating (opens in a new tab)Primary source · en · Published 16 Sept 2026, 18:06