On 2 December, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Latvia’s draft position on “Issues to be discussed at the 8 December 2025 meeting of the EU Competitiveness Council of Ministers.” Latvia’s position at the meeting emphasizes more effective supervision of e-commerce, opening investment opportunities in innovative green technologies, and ensuring that regulations do not increase bureaucratic burdens.
The EU Competitiveness Council meeting will take place in Brussels on 8 December 2025. Its main goal is to assess EU measures for reducing administrative burdens and ensuring more effective implementation of legislation.
Ministers will discuss the 2025 report on simplification, implementation, and enforcement, the removal of internal market barriers to improve the free movement of goods, services, capital, and labor, and the business environment. E-commerce issues will also be addressed, particularly problems with product compliance, the import of non-compliant goods from third countries, and enforcement. Investment opportunities in innovative green technologies will also be discussed. Latvia emphasizes that new regulations should not increase bureaucratic burdens or create disproportionate costs for businesses.
Latvia supports the removal of the EU’s most significant barriers (“Terrible Ten”) in the single market. In particular, it is necessary to address these barriers at the EU level, and the European Commission should be more actively involved in reducing bureaucracy and administrative burdens for businesses and ensuring full digitalization both at the start of business activities and throughout ongoing operations. Strengthening market surveillance is equally important to ensure that safe products are available to consumers across the EU.
Latvia advocates for clear, well-prepared legislation with timely and high-quality initial impact assessments that include data and information on the potential effects of regulations on businesses and other target groups.
Latvia also believes that the removal of internal market barriers should be a long-term priority, based on reliable methodology and quality data. At the same time, Latvia supports improving the mapping system, which reflects the assessment of barriers in each EU Member State, to ensure transparency, precise indicators, and clear criteria, while emphasizing the need to address barriers at the EU level.
The rapid growth of e-commerce requires effective risk-based and digitalized monitoring solutions, including automated inspections, strengthened laboratory capacities, and rapid testing methods. Close cooperation between customs and market surveillance authorities is needed, along with shared data platforms and information exchange, and expanded EU cooperation with third countries. Latvia supports digitalization to reduce regulatory burdens, particularly to support SMEs, and endorses the “one-in, one-out” principle to prevent bureaucracy.
Regarding investment opportunities in innovative green technologies, Latvia stresses the importance of a predictable regulatory environment for investment security. Support instruments promoting the green transition are also important, including green procurement, consumer incentives, and the financial sector’s involvement through green lending standards.