Communication: Better regulation for better results – an EU agenda

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details (2015) 215 final (19.5.15)
Publication Date 19/05/2015
Content Type ,

The European Commission is determined to change both what the European Union does, and how it does it. The EU, its institutions, and its body of law, are there to serve citizens and businesses who must see this in their daily lives and operations. We must restore their confidence in our ability to deliver.

The Juncker Commission represents a new start. Our priority is to deliver solutions to the big issues that cannot be addressed by the Member States alone: an investment plan to leverage €315 billion to boost jobs and growth; an energy union to deliver secure, affordable and sustainable energy; an internal security agenda to tackle common threats like terrorism and organised crime; a digital single market to unlock online opportunities; and a migration agenda.

Our new initiatives flow from genuine political priorities. The Commission cannot, and should not, be involved in every issue in the EU. The Commission's first work programme reflects this change of approach. It includes just 23 major new initiatives all closely aligned with the agreed political priorities. The additional and routine actions that follow during the year will also reflect the same sense of focus and purpose. The 'EU Budget focused on results' initiative will also aim to demonstrate the added value of the EU budget for EU citizens.

Today we outline further measures to deliver better rules for better results. We will further open up policy-making and listen and interact better with those who implement and benefit from EU legislation. We will take a fresh look across all policy areas to see where existing measures need to be improved. We will continue as we have started: focusing on the things that really do need to be done by the EU and making sure they are done well. Applying the principles of better regulation will ensure that measures are evidence-based, well designed and deliver tangible and sustainable benefits for citizens, business and society as a whole.

Better regulation is not about "more" or "less" EU legislation; nor is it about deregulating or deprioritising certain policy areas or compromising the values that we hold dear: social and environmental protection, and fundamental rights including health - to name just a few examples. Better regulation is about making sure we actually deliver on the ambitious policy goals we have set ourselves.

Better regulation is not a bureaucratic exercise. Citizens, businesses and other stakeholders judge the EU on the impacts of its actions: not just new initiatives, but, even more importantly, the rules already in force. The Commission commits to taking political responsibility for applying better regulation principles and processes in its work and calls on the other EU institutions and the Member States to do likewise.

Source Link http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2015:215:FIN
Related Links
EUR-Lex: COM(2015)215: Follow the progress of this communication through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2015:215:FIN
EUR-Lex: SWD(2015)111: Better Regulation Guidelines http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2015:111:FIN
ESO: Background information: Better Regulation Agenda: Enhancing transparency and scrutiny for better EU law-making http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-better-regulation-agenda-enhancing-transparency-and-scrutiny-for-better-eu-law-making/
EUR-Lex: COM(2015)216: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council. Proposal for an interinstitutional agreement on better regulation http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM:2015:216:FIN

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