| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2012) 746 final (12.12.12) |
| Publication Date | 12/12/2012 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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EU legislation is essential to achieve the objectives of the EU Treaty and to set the conditions for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, benefitting citizens, businesses and workers. Achieving these goals is a shared responsibility between the Commission, the other European Institutions and the Member States. The economic and financial crisis has revealed costs of non-action, weak legislation and enforcement in some areas. It has prompted a call for strengthened economic governance and financial regulation at EU level. At the same time, the crisis has focused attention on the costs of EU legislation and the challenges of implementing and enforcing the laws already on the statute books. National administrations, already under strain, find it difficult to keep up with the transposition and application of EU legislation. Businesses and citizens raise concerns about the complexity and administrative load of laws. The European Council has called for further efforts to reduce the overall regulatory burden at EU and national level. The Commission is responding to these concerns. Since outlining new initiatives two years ago, it has consolidated its impact assessment system. The 25% target set under the Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens has been met and exceeded. Legislation has been simplified and codified. Significant simplification proposals in several policy areas are being examined by the European Parliament and Council. The Commission has been applying a ‘Think Small First’ principle and is using the full set of regulatory instruments (from enhanced consultations and impact assessment to specific implementation monitoring) to adapt EU regulation to the needs of microenterprises. Pilot policy evaluations (‘fitness checks’) have been launched. Many problems on the correct application of EU legislation are being solved without having to resort to formal infringement procedures. The public is being systematically consulted on policy initiatives. The Commission will continue these activities and is determined to meet policy goals at minimum cost, achieving the benefits that only EU legislation can bring and eliminating all unnecessary regulatory burden. It will continue to strengthen its regulatory tools and to apply them systematically across its regulatory activities. The Commission will also step up its implementation and enforcement in close cooperation with the other European institutions and the Member States. It will combine various initiatives now underway into a Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT) aimed at eliminating unnecessary regulatory costs (i.e. burden) and ensuring that the body of EU legislation remains fit for purpose. |
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| Source Link | Link to Main Source http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0746:FIN:EN:PDF |
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| Subject Categories | Politics and International Relations |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
