1. 1 SG C Smart Regulation: Regulatory Fitness High Level Group on Administrative Burden 17 October 2013 Elizabeth Golberg, Secretariat-General, European Commission

2. Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme ("REFIT) Identify burdens, inconsistencies, gaps and ineffective measures across acquis (Mapping) Take action: withdraw, repeal, simplify Assess: Carry out REFIT evaluations and Fitness Checks Consult: Involve Stakeholders Track Progress: Scoreboarding SG*C 22.04.20132

3. Results … building on a strong foundation Impact Assessment (IA) for all proposals with significant impacts prepared through stakeholder consultation; Quality Control/Scrutiny through the Impact Assessment Board: More than 600 IAs, over 500 IAB opinions since 2007. Administrative Burden Reduction (ABR) by 26% (32.3 billion ) in 13 priority areas. ABR+ to explore results on the ground. 660 simplification initiatives and 5590 legal acts repealed since 2006. Focus on SMEs: micro-exemptions; 'think small first'; Top Ten and its follow-up.

4. REFIT RESULTS Simplification Proposals with Legislator: 21 New initiatives in preparation: 23 Evaluations and Fitness checks: 31 planned; 16 underway. 6 Withdrawals and 9 Repeals. 31.01.20134 SG C

6. Other REFIT Actions Working Within the Legislative Framework: Reducing fees, reporting, inspections etc; making more information available on the web (e.g. VAT) Methods: Strengthening Smart Regulation Tools Working in Partnership: EU Institutions, Member States, Stakeholders Scoreboarding: keeping track of progress. 31.01.20136 SG C

7. Strengthening Smart Regulation Tools 7 Evaluation Impact Assessment Stakeholder Consultation Implementation Support

8. Improving Evaluation Red tape reduction and simplification mainstreamed in evaluation "Evaluate First Principle" – Better Planning More attention to broader areas of legislation and cross-cutting issues (via Fitness Checks) Quality support and scrutiny Pilot joint evaluations with Member States Review of Evaluation Guidelines in 2014 COM (2013)686, Strengthening the foundations of Smart Regulation – improving evaluation 8 SG C

9. Improving the IA system Evaluation Impact Assessment Stakeholder Consultation Implementation Support Improve the ex-ante assessment of costs and benefits Include a 2-page summary sheet in IA reports Review IA guidelines in 2014 Strengthen user-friendliness Reinvigorating sustainable competitiveness and the integrated approach

10. Improving Stakeholder Consultation Extension to 12 weeks for open internet consultations Targeted conferences / Focus groups Rolling Calendar of planned consultations Better feedback Wider translation of consultation documents Up-date of minimum consultation standards and guidelines 10 SG C

11. Implementation Support Best practice exchange. Information exchange More systematic and risk-based approach to conformity assessment. More systematic preparation of implementation plans for Directives. 11 SG C

12. A Shared Mission Commission + Council + Parliament Better use of IA in the decision making process Member States National impact assessment and evaluation More active engagement in consultations/ evaluations – ABR+ and Joint evaluations Subsidiarity feedback from National Parliaments and stakeholders 12 SG C

13. Conclusions A cultural change – rolling programme integrated into the Commission Work Programme Need for commitment at all levels