Ursula von der Leyen's push for a sweeping overhaul of the European Commission moved closer on Monday as a group of external advisers handed over a report aimed at making the institution more efficient, streamlining its bureaucracy and turning it into a more attractive employer. The report, drawn up by a high-level group led by former Commission Secretary-General Catherine Day, marks the beginning of the second phase of the so-called large-scale review.
The group, consisting of Day and eight other experts from national administrations and international organisations including the OECD and OSCE, put forward nine interrelated recommendations. Among the main proposals is a shift away from siloed departments toward greater collaboration across directorates-general, including through cross-DG portfolios.
"Now we're reaching the second phase," von der Leyen said at the handover. "We need to be able to act effectively and to act quickly." She called for simpler procedures, clearer structures and better cooperation across departments so that staff can focus their efforts where they make the greatest difference.
The shake-up is politically sensitive, as it could involve reorganisation of powerful directorates-general that oversee billions of euros in EU spending. Among departments facing potential changes are the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), which manages cohesion policy funding accounting for almost a third of EU spending; the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI) responsible for Common Agricultural Policy money; DG EMPL overseeing employment and social funding; DG MARE handling fisheries funding; and DG RTD responsible for research and innovation.
The group also called for a stronger Secretariat-General to act as a strategic centre driving results, and for a human-centred approach to artificial intelligence to simplify administrative processes.
The report will feed into a wider review overseen by Budget and Public Administration Commissioner Piotr Serafin, who is tasked with presenting final recommendations to von der Leyen by the end of 2026. Serafin said the external assessment, combined with feedback from Commission staff, provided a "mandate to go for far reaching changes."
Day said the Commission had already demonstrated a willingness to reform. "The work done on the large scale review has shown that there is a broad coalition for change right across the Commission," she added.
A separate internal process produced an initial set of recommendations in July, drawn up by Commission officials to kick-start discussion. Any major reshuffling of the Commission's structure will depend on the outcome of negotiations on the next multiyear EU budget, which will run from 2028 to 2034. Those talks are expected to begin next year.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The overhaul could reshape how the EU manages and distributes funds totaling billions of euros, affecting regional, agricultural, employment and research spending.
- The Commission aims to become more agile and a more attractive employer, which may influence how the EU responds to future challenges.
- The process involves politically sensitive restructuring of powerful directorates-general, with decisions expected by end of 2026 and tied to the next multi-year budget negotiations.
Background
The European Commission is the EU's executive branch, overseeing a large bureaucracy. Ursula von der Leyen initiated a large-scale review to streamline operations and improve efficiency. The review began with internal workstreams and staff contributions, followed by an external high-level group. This is the biggest administrative shake-up in two decades.
Key Perspectives
Ursula von der Leyen: said the Commission needs to act effectively and quickly, requiring simpler procedures, clearer structures and better cross-departmental cooperation. She described the handover as reaching the second phase of the review.
Catherine Day: said the work done so far shows a broad coalition for change across the Commission.
Piotr Serafin: said the external assessment and staff feedback provide a mandate for far-reaching changes. He is tasked with presenting final recommendations by end of 2026.
What to Watch
- The final recommendations from Commissioner Serafin due by the end of 2026.
- The outcome of the next multi-year budget negotiations (for 2028-2034), which may influence which departments are merged or reorganised.
- Reactions from member states and stakeholders affected by potential changes to cohesion policy, agriculture and other funding streams.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
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- Partly supportedThe report marks the beginning of the review’s second phase.Politico Europe: “The report, drawn up by a high-level group led by former Commission Secretary-General Catherine Day, marks a new stage in the so-called large-scale review”
- Not in the sourcesThe talks on the next EU budget are expected to begin next year.Politico Europe: “Speaking in July to a small group of journalists, including POLITICO, Serafin acknowledged that structural reforms would be closely tied to negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget”
- SupportedThe Commission overhaul moved closer as external advisers handed over a report on Monday.Politico Europe: “Ursula von der Leyen’s push for a sweeping overhaul of the European Commission moved closer to fruition on Monday, as a group of external advisers handed over a report”
- SupportedThe group recommends greater collaboration across directorates-general, including cross-DG portfolios.Politico Europe: “Among its main proposals is a shift away from working in siloed departments toward greater collaboration across directorates-general, including through cross-DG portfolios.”
- SupportedThe group recommends a stronger Secretariat-General as a strategic centre driving results.Politico Europe: “The group also called for a stronger Secretariat-General to act as a strategic center driving results”
- SupportedVon der Leyen said, “Now we're reaching the second phase” and “We need to be able to act effectively and to act quickly” at the handover.Politico Europe: ““Now we’re reaching the second phase,” von der Leyen said at the handover, referring to the conclusion of an initial phase that involved 15 internal workstreams and contributions from thousands of Commission staff. “We need to be able to act effectively and to act quickly,” she said”
- SupportedVon der Leyen called for simpler procedures, clearer structures and better cooperation so staff can focus on where they can make the greatest difference.Politico Europe: ““That means simpler procedures, clearer structures, better cooperation across departments so that our colleagues can focus their efforts where it makes the greatest difference.””
- SupportedThe group comprised Day and eight other experts and put forward nine recommendations.Politico Europe: “The external group, consisting of Day and eight other experts with experience in national administrations and international organizations including the OECD and OSCE, put forward nine interrelated recommendations”
- SupportedDG REGIO oversees cohesion-policy funding that accounts for almost a third of EU spending.Politico Europe: “the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO), which oversees cohesion policy funding, accounting for almost a third of EU spending.”
- SupportedSerafin said the external assessment and staff feedback gave a “mandate to go for far reaching changes.”Politico Europe: “Serafin said at the handover that the external assessment, combined with feedback from Commission staff, provided a “mandate to go for far reaching changes.””
- SupportedDay said the review showed a broad coalition for change across the Commission.Politico Europe: ““The work done on the large scale review has shown that there is a broad coalition for change right across the Commission,” she added.”
- SupportedAny major reshuffling is tied to negotiations on the next EU budget, which determines spending from 2028 to 2034.Politico Europe: “Serafin acknowledged that structural reforms would be closely tied to negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework, which will determine how EU spending is organized from 2028 to 2034.”