1. Presidency Priorities of the Czech Republic in Better Regulation
Aleš Pecka
Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the European Union

2. Priority topics and orientations
General priorities defined in 18-month Presidency Programme:
Action programme: delivery of results in reducing administrative burdens for businesses, monitoring of the progress, simplification of administrative procedures by exploitation of e-government tools
Impact Assessment (incl. consultations): improvement of the quality, strengthening of procedures for external stakeholder consultations
Simplification programme: call for clear explanation of the simplification consequences of the proposals in the impact assessments
Access to law: better access to legislative texts

3. Priorities under CZ PRES
Action Programme for reducing AB
Impact Assessment
Reflections on the outputs of the Better Regulation Strategy in the EU, possible recommendations for the next Commission

4. Action Programme for reducing AB
Adoption of necessary steps and measures to remove unnecessary administrative burdens for businesses based on results presented by the Commission
Approval of monitoring principles of the AB reduction process (poss.: Sectoral targets, annual reporting to the Spring European Council, net target approach etc.)

5. Impact Assessment
Focus on the outputs of the Review of the Common Approach to Impact Assessment (ongoing process)
Identification of feasible and practical solutions for the Council‘s commitments to carry out impact assessment to substantial amendments
Training of WPs chairs in the use of impact assessments

6. Simplification Programme
Delivery of outputs in the Programme through the period
Reflection on possible identification of new areas of simplification ( ) for the forthcoming Commission: results of the completed screening the EU acquis

7. Presidency plans Competitiveness Council (March 5-6, 2009)
Presidency Progress Report on Better Regulation
Poss. topics – stock-taking in: Use of the Impact Assessment in the EU legislative process; review of administrative burdens measurement results and efforts in reducing administrative burdens;state of play in the adoption of pending simplification proposals
Spring European Council (March 19-20, 2009)
AB reduction as the „key issue“ for Better Regulation in the Key Issue Paper 2009

8. Presidency plans Informal Competitiveness Council (May 28- 29, 2009)
Afternoon session (under consideration): Reducing administrative burdens, incl. exchange of best practices and early-warning mechanisms
Competitiveness Council (May 28-29, 2009)
Council conclusions on better regulation
Poss. topics: Reflections on the outputs of the review of the Inter-Institutional Common Approach to Impact Assessment
Administrative Burdens– concrete reduction proposals in the respective priority areas
Recommendations to the continuation of the agenda under the new Commission

9. Thank you for your attention !
Aleš Pecka
Phone: +32 (0)