The report covers progress on simplification, implementation, and enforcement made in the field of trade, customs, and economic security, as well as in the remit of the Publications Office of the European Union during the period 1 January – 31 July 2025.
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic has released the 2025 Progress Report on simplification, implementation, and enforcement across trade, customs, and economic security on 21 September 2025.
The report highlights major developments achieved between 1 January and 31 July 2025.
Simplification
Simplification was a major focus for efforts in the area of customs. Sefcovic’s services closely collaborated with the Council and the European Parliament in the negotiations on the Commission’s 2023 proposal for the EU Customs Reform to simplify customs processes, while enhancing the security and competitiveness of the European Union. Also, the EU Single Window Environment for Customs became operational in March 2025. It connects the national customs systems with systems managing ten non-customs formalities. Sefcovic’s services published a consolidated list of all valid Classification Regulations.
In the area of trade and economic security, regarding simplification, Sefcovic’s services remain firmly committed to solid engagement with stakeholders to improve the implementation and enforcement of international trade commitments. His services carried out a first reality check in the context of the Market Access Advisory Committee (MAAC) meeting of 4 June, in the presence of the Chief Trade Enforcement Officer, with participation of 15 European business associations and representatives of EU Member States. Furthermore, his services are preparing to stress test the legislative instruments in their remit, including with a view to identifying potential for further simplification.
Implementation and enforcement
Implementation and enforcement were also being advanced over the reporting period. In the area of customs, the report highlights proactive Member States’ engagement and comprehensive compliance support. On 11 July, Sefcovic hosted his first implementation dialogue on the application of the rules of origin. Moving forward, he will continue to invest in the implementation of the customs legislation and fostering stakeholder dialogue in this domain.
In the area of EU trade and economic security policy, a number of concrete initiatives to improve implementation started over the reporting period (the evaluation of the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation) while others will be kicked off in the second half of 2025, notably the assessment of the effectiveness of the EU’s trade defence measures and the evaluation of the EU’s Regulation on dual-use export controls. Revisiting these instruments may also deliver information on how processes could be further simplified.
Enforcement remained high on the agenda as the EU used its enforcement toolbox in support of rules-based trade and to address unfair competition and protectionism, seeing 20 trade barriers fully or partially removed over the reporting period in a variety of partner countries. The Commission also initiated 27 new trade defence investigations and, for the first time, used its powers under the EU International Procurement Instrument to tackle unfair practices in the Chinese medical devices’ procurement market. To strengthen implementation in the area of economic security, interinstitutional negotiations on improving the EU’s framework for screening of foreign direct investment (FDI) are in the final stages.
Under Sefcovic’s political lead, the Publications Office has combined its expertise in providing access to EU law with its know-how on legal analysis and the trustworthy use of artificial intelligence (AI) to make two types of contributions to simplification and implementation: i) AI-facilitated analysis of the EU acquis; ii) developing a comprehensive digital ecosystem for managing the EU acquis.
