The European Commission is apparently doing a U-turn on its new internal impact assessment policy. The
increased powers
Frans Timmermans wanted to confer upon the new Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB), which reviews the quality of impact assessments, have been watered down, according to a
new draft
of the Commission’s communication on better regulation, which will be unveiled alongside a larger package of measures on 19 May.
In previous leaked documents, the Commission gave the RSB the power to stop a…
REFIT
The main changes brought to the communication on better regulation relate to the methodology of the Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) programme. In this part, which was considerably fleshed out, the Commission amongst others announces new initiatives, such as the launch of a “broad review of reporting requirements” in the areas of agriculture, energy, environment and financial services. Work on a database destined to SMEs and providing a “comprehensive and reliable overview” of EU and national requirements for food labelling will also be finalised. The Commission also wants to keep up simplification efforts in the management of EU funds, for instance concerning the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Structural and Investment Funds
and Horizon 2020. Based on the evaluations and studies done under REFIT, the Commission commits to exploring alternative approaches “where regulatory costs are found to be disproportionate to the goals pursued”. In a separate communication, which is expected to be unveiled on 19 May, the Commission will outline new specific actions to be launched under the REFIT programme.
