Better regulation: Joining forces to make better laws

Summary:

Communication published by the European Commission on 29 April 2021, setting out a plan for improving the European Union's law-making process.

Further information:

The Better Regulation Agenda was adopted by the European Commission in 2015, aimed at transforming its internal working methods and planning processes. In 2019, a stocktaking was carried out on the Agenda, confirming that the system functioned broadly well but also identifying the need for some improvements to reflect experience. As a result, this Communication suggests a number of improvements to the Agenda. It includes:

• Removing obstacles and red tape that slow down investments and infrastructure;
• Simplifying public consultations with the introduction of a single Call for Evidence;
• Introducing a One in, One out approach to minimise burdens;
• Mainstreaming the UN Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs);
• Improving the way in which Better Regulation addresses and supports sustainability and digital transformation;
• Integrating strategic foresight into policymaking.

The plenary of the European Parliament was scheduled a debate and vote on a resolution addressing this Communication in July 2022.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

Commentary and Analysis

European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC): ETUC and WWF statement in response to the European Commission’s ‘Better regulation: Joining forces to make better laws’ (3 May 2021) https://www.etuc.org/en/document/etuc-and-wwf-statement-response-european-commissions-better-regulation-joining-forces-make

EPRS: Briefing, May 2021: New European Commission communication on Better Regulation: Joining forces to make better laws https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_BRI(2021)662638

Forbes Magazine, 21/06/2021: The U.S. And Europe Are Embarking On Dramatically Different Paths To Better Regulation https://www.forbes.com/sites/susandudley/2021/06/21/the-us-and-europe-are-embarking-on-dramatically-different-paths-to-better-regulation/

Institute of International Affairs (IAI): Commentary, 15/07/2021: Improving the EU Policymaking Process: The Dos and the Don'ts https://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/improving-eu-policymaking-process-dos-and-donts

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Official

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Resolution on Better regulation: Joining forces to make better laws (2021/2166(INI)) https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?reference=2021/2166(INI)

European Commission: Better Regulation: why and how https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/law-making-process/planning-and-proposing-law/better-regulation-why-and-how_en

European Commission: Press Release, 29/04/2021: Better Regulation: Joining forces to make better EU laws and to prepare for the future https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_1901

European Commission: Questions and Answers on the Better Regulation Communication (29 April 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_1902

European Commission: Speech by Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, at the press conference on Better Regulation (29 April 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_21_2044

EPRS: At a Glance, June 2022: Better regulation: Joining forces to make better laws https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/EPRS_ATA(2022)733556

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