Press Release: Commission sets out principles for simplifying the regulatory environment in the Union

On 7 March 2001 the European Commission adopted an interim report, to be submitted to the Stockholm European Council, proposing a comprehensive strategy to improve and simplify the regulatory environment in the Union. The report reviews the work done in this field and examines the key elements of a coordinated approach for better regulation. The interim report is the first step in a three pronged approach pursued by the Commission in follow-up of the mandate on this issue given by the March 2000 Lisbon European Council. The report examines the life cycle of all legal instruments. It takes on average 20 or so months for an act to be adopted. A further 18 to 24 months can elapse before implementation of Directives by the Member States. Such periods could prove too lengthy for issues linked to market developments or new technologies. Given the Union's objective to become the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world, further steps are needed to shorten the life cycle of legislative action when necessary