Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union DG Enterprise & Industry European Commission International Conference on SCM Berne – May 29th 2007 The EU Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens Manuel Santiago dos Santos DG Entreprise European Commission

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union “Laws and regulations are fundamental to ensuring a fair and competitive market place, citizen's welfare and the effective protection of public health and the environment. Better Regulation is about doing this in ways that maximise benefits whilst minimising costs. It can boost productivity and employment significantly, thus contributing to growth and jobs. In Europe, the regulatory environment is developed both by the Union and the Member States in an international context – Better Regulation is, therefore, a joint responsibility. “

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union The EU Better Regulation Strategy Tackles all BR pillars: New legislation New legislation Stock of existing laws Stock of existing laws Policies Policies Institutions Institutions Tools Tools

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Specific Policies Better Regulation: Part of the Lisbon competitiveness agenda Part of the Lisbon competitiveness agenda A priority topic for the last six Presidencies A priority topic for the last six Presidencies A commitment for the Commission‘s A commitment for the Commission‘s Subject of many initiatives in MS Subject of many initiatives in MS

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Specific Institutions An inter-institutional agreement on Better Lawmaking (Commission - Council - EP) An inter-institutional agreement on Better Lawmaking (Commission - Council - EP) Dedicated organisational structures in the Commission and in several MS Dedicated organisational structures in the Commission and in several MS A newly created Impact Assessment Board in the Commission A newly created Impact Assessment Board in the Commission

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Specific tools Impact Assessments (mandatory) Impact Assessments (mandatory) Consultation guidelines Consultation guidelines Rolling Simplification Programme (05-08) Rolling Simplification Programme (05-08) Codification Programme Codification Programme Screening Programme Screening Programme Action Programme (AP) on the reduction of Administrative Burdens Action Programme (AP) on the reduction of Administrative Burdens

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union The AP was adopted by the Commission on January 2007 The AP was adopted by the Commission on January 2007 The AP builds upon the 2006 Pilot Project comparing the SCM measurements in CZ, DK, NL and UK The AP builds upon the 2006 Pilot Project comparing the SCM measurements in CZ, DK, NL and UK The Action Programme was endorsed by the Spring 2007 European Council The Action Programme was endorsed by the Spring 2007 European Council

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union The AP includes 5 main elements: I. Targets II. Methodology III. Priority areas IV. Organisation V. Fast track actions

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union I. Targets AP requires a strong commitment from MS and co- legislator for a joint 25% target to be achieved by AP requires a strong commitment from MS and co- legislator for a joint 25% target to be achieved by To facilitate the obtainment of this overall target, the Commission proposed a 25% reduction target specifically related to EC legislation and its implementation measures. To facilitate the obtainment of this overall target, the Commission proposed a 25% reduction target specifically related to EC legislation and its implementation measures. This specific target will be differentiated across the priority areas once the measurement is finished. This specific target will be differentiated across the priority areas once the measurement is finished. MS should set similar targets at national level by October 2008 to be completed by MS should set similar targets at national level by October 2008 to be completed by 2012.

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union II. Methodology – Phases Mapping Mapping Measurement Measurement Assessment – evaluation Assessment – evaluation Reduction proposals Reduction proposals

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union II. Methodology EU SCM approach EU SCM approach Mapping of Information Obligations (IO) and Data Requirements (DR) on the basis of an ABC type analysis – only IO on business Mapping of Information Obligations (IO) and Data Requirements (DR) on the basis of an ABC type analysis – only IO on business Coverage: EU regulations and directives in 13 priority areas (most burdensome – about 40 pieces of legislation) Coverage: EU regulations and directives in 13 priority areas (most burdensome – about 40 pieces of legislation) Measurement in all 27 Member States Measurement in all 27 Member States Time frame: from July 2007 to October 2008 Time frame: from July 2007 to October 2008 Active involvement of stakeholders (workshops, panels) Active involvement of stakeholders (workshops, panels)

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union II. Methodology Stakeholders involvement Involvement of stakeholders to be structured around three pillars: Involvement of stakeholders to be structured around three pillars: 1. Web-site inspired by BE’s KAFKA.be 2. Group of independent experts to oversee implementation of the Action Programme 3. Local workshops with businesses in MS Purpose: provide reduction ideas and serve as reality check Purpose: provide reduction ideas and serve as reality check

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union II. Methodology Common principles for reducing AB Reduce frequency Reduce frequency Eliminate duplication Eliminate duplication Require electronic/web-based info Require electronic/web-based info Introduce thresholds Introduce thresholds Target risk operators Target risk operators Drop obsolete requirements Drop obsolete requirements

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union II. Priority areas Annual accounts/company law, health protection, working environment-employment relations, fiscal law-VAT, statistics, agricultural subsidies, food labelling, transport, fisheries, financial services, environment, cohesion policy funds and public procurement.

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union II. Priority areas Should work indicate a need to include additional pieces of legislation, they will be added to the list. Should work indicate a need to include additional pieces of legislation, they will be added to the list. MS should identify their priority areas and complete measurement by March 2009 MS should identify their priority areas and complete measurement by March 2009

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union III. Organisation Measurement will be carried out by a contractor in close collaboration with Commission services and MS. Measurement will be carried out by a contractor in close collaboration with Commission services and MS. Commission will oversee process with a Steering Group (SG) composed of relevant services. Commission will oversee process with a Steering Group (SG) composed of relevant services. Sub-groups will be created for each priority area (13). They will be composed of one DG Enterprise official and at least two officials of other relevant Commission services plus consultant. Sub-groups will be created for each priority area (13). They will be composed of one DG Enterprise official and at least two officials of other relevant Commission services plus consultant. High-Level Group of National Regulatory Experts will appoint a single contact points as interface with the Commission & oversee project progress. High-Level Group of National Regulatory Experts will appoint a single contact points as interface with the Commission & oversee project progress. SCM Network to provide methodological input on ad hoc basis SCM Network to provide methodological input on ad hoc basis

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Steering Group (Commission services) Sub-group (1) i.e. Transport - 1 ENTR official - 1 official from line DG (specialist on specific pieces of legislation) - Consultant pieces of legislation) - Consultant Line officer from national authority Consultant High-Level Group of National Regulatory Experts Standard Cost Model Network Sub-groups (2-13) Line officers from national authorities (2-13)

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Role of the external consultant ConsultantMapping Interviews, calculations DatabaseReporting Proposals for action Sub-groups - will identify IOs - validate results Businesses - interviews - proposals Steering Group - monitoring and validation - interface with MS - interface with SCM

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union IV. Fast track actions To ensure early progress, the Commission will regularly propose small reductions that have already been identified and that can be processed while the action programme is being implemented. To ensure early progress, the Commission will regularly propose small reductions that have already been identified and that can be processed while the action programme is being implemented. 10 items have already been proposed that could reduce administrative burdens by approximately 1.3 billion euro. 10 items have already been proposed that could reduce administrative burdens by approximately 1.3 billion euro. Calls on European Parliament and the Council to give special priority to these measures. Calls on European Parliament and the Council to give special priority to these measures.

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Timeframe Agree on reduction proposals and amend national legislation, including transposition measures Continued presentation of legal proposals to reduce AB End of programme TARGETS Commission proposal for targets and action for decision and implementation DecemberOctober 1. Community level Continue to report in Implementation Reports Member States to set national targets and continue to report on implementation Reporting in Implementation Reports Ongoing measurement exercise 2. Member States Spring Council Spring Council OctoberMayMarchJanuary European Council conclusions on AB action programme (political target ) Action on burden reduction Action Programme on reducing AB priority areas low-hanging fruit measurement (what/who) targets 2012 Annual Progress Report Update project on AB Simplification programme Launch measurement and burden reduction Strategic Review of Better Regulation Adoption of specific targets for AB reduction following report on Action Programme Pilot study determined : Priority areas (EU & national) Reach a methodological agreement Programme for reduction of administrative burdens

Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the European Union Useful links DG Enterprise: /3/index.htm Secretariat General: on/index_en.htm