Reality check on the EU taxonomy

The EU taxonomy is a classification system for economic activities that contribute to the EU’s climate targets and broader sustainability objectives. It is an important part of the EU's sustainable finance framework.

However, stakeholders have reported challenges related to the taxonomy’s implementation, due to complexity of the technical screening criteria or uncertainty surrounding the documentation required to show compliance. Stakeholders have also highlighted the need to update the EU taxonomy criteria to reflect developments in legislation, policy and technology.

The Commission has been conducting a systematic review of all the taxonomy’s technical screening criteria, in particular of all the ‘do no significant harm’ (DNSH) criteria. The aim was to update them and assess ways to make them simpler, more usable and more aligned with EU legislation.

To gather input for this review, the Commission held a reality check on the taxonomy in the form of a workshop series in September, October, November and December 2025. In several sessions, both physical and virtual, practitioners were able to share input on how to improve, where needed, the technical screening criteria for activities covered in the taxonomy.

Sessions were sector‑specific to enable focused exchanges. The workshops were organised online or in person, with a selected group of participants invited individually.

Please note that this event was by invitation only and not open for registration.

Past sessions

• 11 December - Generic appendices
• 4 December - Pharmaceutical activities
• 27 November - Transitional activities and plastic packaging
• 26 November - Energy
• 12 November - Low carbon activities
• 13 November - Construction and real estate
• 17 November - Water and waste
• 17 November - Services activities
• 7 October - Forestry and environmental protection
• 26 September - Information and technology
• 25 September - Transport