Press Release: ‘REFIT – Fit for growth’ – Commission takes ambitious next steps to make EU law lighter

On 2 October 2013, the European Commission took an important step in ensuring that EU legislation is fit for purpose. In a Communication the Commission set out in a concrete way, policy area by policy area, where it will take further action to simplify or withdraw EU laws, ease the burden on businesses and facilitate implementation.

It is the result of a screening of the entire stock of EU legislation. The Commission also announced the intention to publish a scoreboard to track progress at European and national in this regard. This exercise is at the heart of the Commission's Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT).

• Primary Source

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/13/833: 'REFIT - Fit for growth': Examples how EU law is becoming lighter, simpler and cheaper http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-833_en.pdf

ESO: Background Information: Hand-waving as renegotiation: The UK’s (and EU’s) limited options http://www.europeansources.info/record/hand-waving-as-renegotiation-the-uks-and-eus-limited-options/

ESO: Background information: President Barroso and Edmund Stoiber call on Member States to step up efforts to cut red tape for SMEs and improve the efficiency of their public administrations http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-president-barroso-and-edmund-stoiber-call-on-member-states-to-step-up-efforts-to-cut-red-tape-for-smes-and-improve-the-efficiency-of-their-public-administrations/

ESO: Background information: Commission wants to simplify life for SMEs by easing the top 10 most burdensome EU laws http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commission-wants-to-simplify-life-for-smes-by-easing-the-top-10-most-burdensome-eu-laws/

ESO: Background information: Website: Better regulation http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-refit-fit-for-growth-commission-takes-ambitious-next-steps-to-make-eu-law-lighter/

BBC News, 02.10.13: EU promises to cut back on red tape http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24363785

Die Welt, 02.10.13: A “purge” that’s making teeth grind in Brussels (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/4194571-purge-s-making-teeth-grind-brussels

European Commission: Smart regulation http://ec.europa.eu/smart-regulation/

ESO: Background information: Council Conclusions on Smart Regulation http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-smart-regulation/

ETUC: Press Release, 02.10.13: ETUC says No to deregulation and attacks on worker’s rights http://www.etuc.org/a/11608

Gazeta Wyborcza, 19.11.13: Do’s and don’ts for the EU (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/4329321-do-s-and-don-ts-eu

European Movement: Euroblog, 27.02.14: The process of EU reform is constant and the Commission is at its centre http://ymlp.com/zncV3r

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