On 17 October 2023, the European Commission adopted its Work Programme for the year 2024. The Work Programme builds on the priorities announced in the State of the Union address of 13 September 2023, among them:

1. A European Green deal
2. A Europe fit for the digital age
3. An economy that works for people
4. A stronger Europe in the world
5. Promoting our European way of life
6. A new push for European democracy.

The European Commission’s Work Programme sets out 18 new initiatives for the year 2024 within these priorities.

Under the first two priorities, the programme calls for initiatives on a new European wind power package, the 2040 climate target, water resilience, opening up European supercomputer capacity to ethical and responsible artificial intelligence start-ups, and EU space law.

The third priority foresees new initiatives in the areas of EU biotech and biomanufacturing, social dialogue, green and digital transition, and an initiative for rules on the European Works Council.

Joint communication on a strengthened partnership with Africa and a European defence industrial strategy form the core of the fourth priority. Fighting the smuggling of migrants and initiatives for a joint European degree of, which will contribute to achieving a European Education Area, make up the fifth priority. Lastly, the main areas envisaged in the sixth priority are preparing for enlargement and child protection.

The Annex of the Work Programme presents initiatives and proposals to rationalise the burden associated with reporting requirements. The Commission's goal is to reduce such burdens by 25%, without undermining the policy objectives of the concerned initiatives. The Annex also lists proposals and initiatives for evaluations and fitness checks, and it gives an overview of all 156 pending legislative proposals in the above-mentioned policy areas.

Due to the upcoming European Parliament elections in 2024, the Commission's 2024 work programme is largely limited to fulfilling the political guidelines from 2019 set by European Commission President Ursuala von der Leyen.