IP/05/733

Brussels, 15 June 2005

[Figures and graphics available in PDF and WORD PROC!!D "
Better regulation: Commission strengthens rules for impact assessments
Today, the European Commission has underlined its commitment to Better
Regulation by up-dating its guidelines to better assess the impact of possible
Commission proposals. While maintaining the Commissions integrated
approach to impact assessment, the revised guidelines provide clearer
guidance on areas relating to economic and competitiveness concerns. They
also integrate an eamination of compatibility !ith the Charter of "undamental
Rights. #dditional advice is provided on ho! to ta$e into consideration the
potential administrative costs for citi%ens, businesses and public bodies
arising from action ta$en at the E& level. 'n line !ith the Commissions ne!
approach to Better Regulation, the revised guidelines ensure that services also
consider policy options that do not involve the use of (classical forms of
regulation. The importance of ensuring that the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality are fully ta$en into consideration is also underlined in the ne!
document.
Presiden# J$se %anuel Barr$s$ said& '(his C$))issi$n is seri$us ab$u# cu##ing*red
#ape and+ reducing unnecessar, regula#i$n+ Wi#h #$da,-s )$ve, #he C$))issi$n
delivers $n an$#her $. #he /e, ac#i$ns .$r be##er regula#i$n pr$)ised in %arch+0
1ice Presiden# 23n#er 1erheugen added& 'Be##er i)pac# assess)en#s 4ill bring )$re
c$herence and 5uali#, and sel.*res#rain# #$ #he C$))issi$n-s 4$r/+ We 4an# #$ be
able #$ sa, 4ha# $ur pr$p$sals )ean in prac#ice #$ have a s$und basis .$r p$lic,
)a/ers+0
(he C$))issi$n-s appr$ach #$ i)pac# assess)en# inv$lves #he .$ll$4ing /e, s#eps&
1. 6nal,sing #he issue7pr$ble), 4ha# causes i#, 4h$ i# a..ec#s, and i. #he 8 level is
#he appr$pria#e level #$ deal 4i#h i# 9in line 4i#h #he principle $. subsidiari#,:;
2. De.ining s$)e /e, $b<ec#ives #$ #ac/le #he pr$ble); and ensuring #ha# #hese are
c$nsis#en# 4i#h $#her 8 p$licies and s#ra#egies, such as #he !us#ainable
Devel$p)en# and =isb$n !#ra#egies;
3. =$$/ing a# p$ssible p$lic, $p#i$ns #$ )ee# #he $b<ec#ives, )a/ing sure #$ al4a,s
c$nsider #he $p#i$n $. #a/ing n$ ac#i$n a# all a# 8 level, and e>a)ining
al#erna#ive appr$aches #$ regula#$r, ac#i$ns;
4. 6ssessing #he p$ssible i)pac#s $. sh$r#*lis#ed p$lic, $p#i$ns, in#ended and
unin#ended, acr$ss #he s$cial, ec$n$)ic and envir$n)en#al di)ensi$ns; #he
anal,sis sh$uld als$ c$nsider i)pac#s #ha# .all $u#side #he 8;
5. ?n #he ligh# $. #he i)pac# anal,sis, #he $p#i$ns sh$uld #hen be c$)pared #$ see i. i#
is p$ssible #$ ran/ #he) and iden#i., a @pre.erred- $p#i$n+
. (he ne4 2uidelines als$, .$r #he .irs# #i)e, se# $u# a pr$cedure .$r c$)ple#ing an
?)pac# 6ssess)en# Rep$r# in #h$se cases 4here a decisi$n is #a/en, p$ssibl, as
a resul# $. #he i)pac# assess)en#, n$# #$ pr$ceed 4i#h #he pr$p$sal+
7. (hr$ugh$u# #he pr$cess, #here sh$uld be cl$se c$n#ac#s be#4een C$))issi$n
services #$ ensure #ha# all relevan# .ac#$rs are #a/en in#$ c$nsidera#i$n+ (he
re5uire)en# #$ c$nsul# 4i#h s#a/eh$lders als$ ensures #ha# a .ull pic#ure be
devel$ped $. p$#en#ial i)pac#s+
?)pac# assess)en#s are curren#l, re5uired .$r )a<$r legisla#ive and p$lic,*de.ining
pr$p$sals c$n#ained in #he C$))issi$n-s annual W$r/ Pr$gra))e+ !ince 200A, in
#he regi$n $. B0 i)pac# assess)en#s have been c$)ple#ed+ (hese are publicl,
available $n #he C$))issi$n-s ?)pac# 6ssess)en# page $n #he ur$pa 4ebsi#e&
h##p&77eur$pa+eu+in#7c$))7secre#aria#Cgeneral7i)pac#7inde>Cen+h#)