52006DC0690

[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 14.11.2006

COM(2006) 690 final

COMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT

First progress report on the strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment

{COM(2006) 689 final}{COM(2006) 691 final}

COMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT

First progress report on the strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment

Executive summary

The present Commission Working Document is a direct follow-up to the October 2005 Communication COM(2005) 535: Implementing the Community Lisbon programme: A strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment. It also complements the Communication on the “Strategic review of Better Regulation in the European Union”.

Simplification of EU legislation can make a significant contribution to improve the regulatory environment, update and modernize rules as well as reduce administrative burden in order to enhance the state of the European economy, taking into account developments in technologies, markets and the international context. This is the reason why the Commission has identified simplification as one of the key political priorities through the Better Regulation agenda.

In line with this orientation, the Commission Working Document takes stock of progress achieved in the implementation of the October 2005 simplification, addresses ongoing work in the pipeline and presents brand new initiatives which will enhance the simplification rolling programme covering the period 2006-2009. One of the key achievements of simplification is the progressive coverage of all EC regulatory areas. The Commission Working Document will also present a state of play in terms of codification.

In parallel, this first progress report addresses the success factors for achieving the simplification goals, in particular a solid set of methodologies, improved inter institutional cooperation with the European Parliament and the Council to take the work to the final stages, increased use of self-regulation and co-regulation as well as simplification at national level to ensure that the EU simplification benefits are not cancelled out by new national rules or technical barriers.

INTRODUCTION

In line with the political priorities of its Better Regulation policy set out in March 2005, the Commission adopted a new strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment[1] in October 2005. The overarching objective of the strategy is to improve the quality and effectiveness of the acquis and remove unnecessary burdens for operators, thereby contributing to the goal of enhancing competitiveness of the European economy.

The European Parliament[2] broadly welcomed the Commission's programme to simplify the acquis whilst the European Council[3] called on the Council to prioritise the progress of simplification proposals through the legislative system. Cooperation with the co-legislators is crucial to the delivery of simplification proposals.

As a complement to the “Strategic review of Better Regulation in the European Union”[4], the present Commission Working Document reports for the first time on achievements since the launch of the strategy in October 2005 and presents new developments in the realisation of Simplification strategy goals. In particular it will:

- present the “state of play” in the implementation of the Simplification Strategy and the codification process, focusing on:

- completed actions in the rolling programme,

- action in progress requiring further work and,

- new actions identified by the Commission;

- address the key success factors for achieving a genuinely simplified regulatory environment, in particular a solid set of methodologies, close cooperation between EU institutions, increased use of self-regulation and co-regulation, as well as simplification at national level.

The updated rolling programme covering the period 2006-2009 integrates the simplification initiatives earmarked in the Commission Legislative and Working Programme 2007 and provides an overview of the Commission’s efforts to simplify the current regulatory environment in a multi-annual perspective. The fact that simplification initiatives are included in the Commission’s legislative and work programme for 2007 for the first time, clearly demonstrates the political priority given to the simplification strategy.

A change in regulatory culture is taking place. Indeed, for the first time, the Commission has adapted its working methods, priorities and resources to the simplification goals. One of the key achievements is the progressive coverage of all policy fields.

In the future, the ongoing work on the reduction of administrative burden will feed into the simplification exercise which will, in his turn, contribute to an overall 25% joint reduction target for EU and national legislation to be achieved by 2012, as indicated in the “Strategic Review of Better Regulation”.

In line with this, the benefits of extensive consultations of stakeholders and impact assessments will help improve the quality of the Commission's new proposals and will better enable legislators to produce a regulatory environment that is in full compliance with the subsidiarity principle and is more conducive to competitiveness, innovation and growth. This is likely to alleviate the future simplification workload.

Progress reports will be launched on a regular basis.

1. STATE OF PLAY

1.1. State of play – simplification rolling programme

In the Simplification Strategy of October 2005 a range of simplification methods is covered, providing for a three-year rolling programme, initially listing for the period 2005-2008 about 100 initiatives covering 220 basic legislative instruments that the Commission intends to simplify, based on extensive consultations with Member States, businesses and citizens.

In view of the importance of the continuous re-examination of the acquis , the Commission has now identified a further 43 additional initiatives with a potential simplification dimension for the period 2006-2009. These are included in the updated rolling programme, which is presented in Annex 1. The programme confirms the Commission’s determination to target the reduction of administrative burden generated by the regulatory framework and to update and modernise rules, taking into account developments in technologies, markets and the international context.

1.1.1. Progress achieved by the Commission

12 out of 14[5] initiatives scheduled for 2005 have been completed. As far as 2006 is concerned, no less than 54 initiatives were planned in the October 2005 Communication, three initiatives are newly identified, one is carried over from 2005 and one is brought forward from 2008. Of these, 15 initiatives have been adopted to date[6]. In addition, 24 simplification proposals have been confirmed for adoption before the end of this year and are presented in Annex 1. 15 will be postponed to 2007/2008. Thorough reviews and consultations with stakeholders have led to cancellation of five initiatives.

The Commission has adopted to date 27 initiatives out of 71 for 2005-2006 and more than half of the programme will have been adopted by the end of 2006. The rate of progress of the Simplification rolling programme in 2006 varies according to the complexity of the field concerned, and in some instances, has globally fallen behind schedule, even if some initiatives have been adopted earlier than initially planned. The delayed initiatives are however almost all confirmed for 2007.

It should be stressed that this programme is by far the most ambitious exercise on simplification ever launched by the Commission. Simplification exercise has proven to be challenging where the benefits for business and citizens have to be balanced against the effort and costs needed to adapt to a new regulatory environment. Simplification can indeed imply regulatory reform for some policy areas. To overcome the resistance to change that reform plans generate, more time is often needed to help demonstrate the overall macroeconomic net benefits of the proposed changes.

Moreover, impact assessments may highlight new elements of relevance for the policy maker when it comes to choosing the most appropriate policy option[7]. The implementation of the simplification programme is being developed taking into account the findings of these impact assessments.

Almost all simplification proposals tabled by the Commission are currently still pending before the Council and the European Parliament. These proposals are presented in Annex 3.

Some examples of achievements are presented below and show that major areas for business and citizens have been already addressed by the Commission’s simplification programme.

Examples of proposals adopted by the Commission are presented below:

- Modernised Customs Code and e-customs [8] : recast of Community customs legislation and creation of pan-European electronic systems for data exchange between public authorities and companies. International trade will be facilitated by streamlined and simplified customs procedures and rules, automated and interlinked customs systems, and the close cooperation of all authorities and agencies involved in the movement of goods across Community borders.

- Environment [9]: modernisation of the Waste Framework Directive:

- Simplifying waste legislation by clarifying definitions, streamlining provisions and integrating directives on hazardous waste and on waste oils;

- Improving the recycling market by setting environmental standards that specify the circumstances in which certain recycled waste is no longer considered waste.

- Free movement of workers [10]

- Modernisation of current provisions on the coordination of national social security systems;

- Facilitation of procedures for insured persons and reduction of the time needed for institutions in the various branches of social security (sickness, accidents at work, occupational diseases, invalidity, old age, unemployment, family benefits) to respond and to process cross-border cases.

- Food additives and flavouring [11]

- Simplification of food additive legislation by creating a single instrument for principles, procedures and approvals;

- Improvement of the procedure to update the Community list of authorised food additives.

- Small and medium sized enterprises in pharmaceuticals [12] : establishment of a simplified regulatory framework for micro-SMEs, including reduced fees, options for deferred payment of fees and administrative and regulatory assistance when submitting applications to the European Medicines Agency.

- Payment services [13] : Creation of a simplified regulatory framework for payment services for consumers and firms. The proposal provides for simplification of legislation (replacing three directives and three recommendations by one coherent set of rules), simplification of administrative procedures for public authorities (EC or national), and simplification of administrative procedures for private parties. The proposal introduces more transparency and clearer, more succinct information requirements for users of payment services and consumers.

- Accounting rules [14] : Amendment of existing accounting rules by giving Member States more room to exempt companies from certain disclosure requirements (by raising the thresholds for such disclosure). This will lead to administrative simplification for smaller firms.

- Structural business statistics [15] : the proposal simplifies the production of SBS data by deleting some 15 mandatory variables (on R&D, employment, energy, and financial leasing), by moving other variables from annual to multi-annual collection, and by deleting the optional variables. Furthermore, Eurostat is developing a programme for re-engineering business statistics, to help Member States with new methods that could reduce substantially the response burden through e.g. a more intensive use of administrative data, and the automatic electronic transmission of company accounts.

- Air transport market [16] : the revision of the so-called third package of air transport liberalisation should make the legislation more readable by combining three existing regulations into one new regulation. The legislation modernises and simplifies the legal framework, ensures a coherent application across member States and addresses potential distortions and limitations of competition in some segments of the market. This should contribute to more consumer choice, lower fares and more competition.

1.1.2. Ongoing work

A number of major simplification initiatives relevant for competitiveness are now confirmed for 2006/2007/2008 and are illustrated below:

- Agriculture : merging of the 21 Common Market Organisations into one single scheme to establish a streamlined horizontal legal framework that will provide a single set of harmonised rules in the various areas of market policy such as intervention, private storage, import tariff quotas, export refunds, safeguard measures, agricultural products, state aid rules, communications and data reporting.

- Environment : review of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC) and other related legislation on industrial emissions with a view to improving clarity and consistency (notably in terms of reporting) and streamlining requirements.

- Construction products Directive, with a view to clarifying and reducing the administrative burden, in particular for SMEs, through more flexibility in the formulation and use of technical specifications, lighter certification rules, and elimination of the implementation obstacles that so far have hampered the creation of a full internal market for construction products.

- Statistics : lighten statistical reporting by economic operators, in particular SMEs, taking into account the ongoing work on improving statistical governance of the Union and the final outcome of the ongoing pilot projects on the measurement and reduction of administrative burden.

- Food/Feed labelling : The modernisation of the legislation will clarify rules under which labelling will operate to enable consumers to make informed, safe, healthy and sustainable choices and contribute to a pro-competitive market environment in which operators can make efficient use of labelling to sell their products.

- Consumer protection : Rationalisation and simplification of the whole consumer protection acquis in order to remove possible inconsistencies, overlaps, internal market barriers and distortions of competition.

- Cosmetics : The cosmetics Directive was adopted 30 years ago and has been modified more than 40 times. A recast is needed to introduce more consistency and clarity in the text. This will help reduce the administrative cost of implementation and management of the Directive, while maintaining unchanged the actual regime on the progressive banning of animal testing.

- Accounting and financial reporting standards : Providing EU firms with an up-to-date set of Financial Reporting Standards by merging the current set of Regulation[17], amounting to over 2 000 pages, into one single and user-friendly Regulation.

- Automotive Regulatory Framework : The pending proposal for the revision of the framework Directive on type-approval of motor vehicles, when approved, will allow:

- the replacement of EC Directives by UN/ECE regulations. This simplification will streamline regulations and remove redundant requirements. Furthermore, it will help global industry to remove non-tariff barriers to trade, maintaining the EU's leading position as the developer of international standards and allowing industry to adapt faster to technical developments at international level;

- the introduction of necessary technical provisions for self-testing and virtual testing in 25 EC Directives and UN/ECE Regulations. It will permit the simplification of the type-approval procedure and allow the regulatory environment to be kept up to date with technological developments. Virtual and self-testing will speed up product development and reduce costs for both industry and consumers. In addition, the Commission is currently proposing a general provision in the Directive for the approval of motor vehicles, enabling manufacturers to act as testing laboratories provided that the type-approval authority has acknowledged the necessary competence.

- Access to the road transport market and profession : Recasting four regulations and one directive to clarify, simplify and make more enforceable the rules governing access to the profession and to the market, including cabotage of road haulage and passenger transport. The recast should allow for harmonised application and cost-effective enforcement of the rules, including in the trans-national context, thus limiting distortion of competition, protecting the right of establishment and improving service quality and road safety.

- Consolidation of the technical New Approach [18] Regulations/Directives for the marketing of products around consistent definitions, simplified certification procedures and streamlined administrative cooperation so as to facilitate the commercialisation of products while protecting manufacturers against non- conforming products.

1.1.3. New initiatives reinforcing the Simplification rolling programme

Based on the rolling programme launched last year, the Commission is reinforcing its simplification action with 43[19] new initiatives for the period 2006-2009 to:

- stimulate innovation and reduce administrative burden stemming from regulatory requirements;

- reduce the total volume of the Community acquis and promote the transition to more flexible regulatory approaches.

Some new major initiatives are presented below:

- Simplification of the rules concerning post-licensing changes to medicines (so-called ‘Variations’ Regulations). Administrative management of these rules currently mobilise more than 60% of the human resources and financial costs of companies’ regulatory departments. In some cases, this burden may hinder innovation by preventing the introduction of changes that are beneficial to patients and society. Procedures will be streamlined so that the Variations Regulations are made simpler, clearer and more flexible, without compromising public and animal health.

- Ensuring the mutual recognition [20] of goods not covered by harmonised Community rules. The Commission is currently working on a legislative proposal on the elimination of technical obstacles to the free movement of goods within the EU (“Mutual Recognition Proposal”). The instrument will define the rights and obligations of, on the one hand, national authorities and, on the other, enterprises wishing to sell in one Member State products already lawfully manufactured or marketed in another Member State.

- Clarification of the definition and the scope of safety assessment for novel/new foods and streamlining the authorisation procedure.

- Simplification of the management of administrative procedures in the agricultural field through the implementation of a series of technical simplifications. A rolling action plan has been set up to amend legal provisions that have an immediate impact on farmers, other economic operators and national administrations. The amendments concern for example obligations for farmers to keep documents available, the control obligations of Member States, the conditions for receiving support, etc.

- Simplification and improvement of the Common Fisheries Policy through the implementation of a legal and administrative simplification in accordance with the "2006-2008 Action Plan' adopted by the Commission in 2005[21]. The action plan covers certain regulatory provisions concerning management and control of fishing activities for example to promote legibility of the legislative framework and reduce the administrative burden to for fishermen and the administrators concerned.

- Revision of the regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services will reduce the needs for ex-ante regulation and facilitate flexibility and innovation, to the benefit of both the industry and citizens.

- Replacement of the textiles Directives by a single Regulation in order to simplify procedures on the adoption of new fibre names. Furthermore, quantitative methods for measuring fibre content will be transferred to the standardisation process.

- Simplification of the existing legislation on toys by clarifying essential safety requirements and by developing conditions for a better common approach by national market surveillance authorities.

- Limitation of the legislative acts on metrology and fertilizers to essential requirement through the "New Approach". Detailed technical descriptions will be replaced by standards.

- Revision of the Community eco-label award scheme , with the aim of:

- Creating a more business friendly system by involving stakeholders in the decision making process and including the needs of SMEs;

- Outsourcing the development of award criteria to a dedicated body and linking the eco-label closely with Green Procurement.

- Recasting of a Directive on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production.

- Addressing work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the context of a single instrument which would integrate various existing minimum health and safety requirements, such as those relating to the manual handling of loads or to working with display screens.

All Commission departments will complete the review of their acquis by 2009 to check the relevance of their instruments, the choice of regulatory technique and the scope for applying one of the simplification techniques set out in the simplification strategy of October 2005. This will lead where necessary and appropriate to the identification of new simplification initiatives and the updating of the rolling programme in the future.

1.2. State of play – codification

Codification is a key part of the European Commission's Better Regulation process. Codification is the processes that brings together the provisions of existing acts with all of their subsequent amendments into one law, thereby contributing to a reduction in the volume of the EU legislation and making it more transparent, readable and legally clear.

The codification rolling programme (in Annex 2) involves about 500 acts. A total of 52 acts have successfully gone through the codification process[22] and have been adopted and published in the OJ (38 Commission acts and 14 acts of the European Parliament and the Council). In addition 33 acts are pending before the legislative authority and 8 acts are currently in written procedure. In total, 85 acts have been finalised by the European Commission.

In order to meet the objective of finalising the codification programme by the middle of 2008, measures have been taken to accelerate the conversion of the backlog of master-copies into the new EU languages. This backlog is the result of delays in the supply of translations of the texts being codified in those languages.

Adequate measures have also to be taken to maximise the number of codified texts available in Bulgarian, Romanian, Irish and Maltese, by giving priority to the codification of acts where the relevant translations have been completed.

In addition, a programme for the adoption of the remaining acts to be codified has been prepared. The aim is to ensure the transparency of the process in order, in particular, to encourage minimal new amendment of the acts undergoing codification, thereby stabilizing the legislation involved and reducing delay. This programme remains indicative since the finalisation of the codification project depends on the availability of the acts to be codified in all languages. This will apply in particular to Bulgarian and Romanian. In addition, codification has to be postponed when new amendments of these acts are envisaged. The order of acts in the programme will change in the light of these two factors.

It should also be noted that adoption of codified acts by the legislative authority is subject to the rules set out in the Inter-institutional Agreement on an Accelerated Working Method for Official Codification of 20 December 1994.

2. SUCCESS FACTORS

The regulatory environment for European businesses and citizens consists of several layers of often intertwined laws and rules generated at different levels (international[23], Community, national, regional and local). None of these regulators can improve the quality of this legislative network decisively on its own. Concrete improvement in the quality of the overall regulatory framework requires a determined, consistent and co-ordinated effort at all regulatory level.

2.1. Simplification work based on solid methodological grounds

2.1.1. Consultation of all parties

Both the initial and the updated 2006-2009 simplification rolling programme have been developed on the basis of stakeholders’ and Member States’ contributions. Their experience is indispensable in establishing a meaningful simplification programme. In-depth stakeholder consultations, review of entire policy areas, ex-post evaluation of legislative act and expert reviews help policy makers to better identify the genuine problems on the ground. Such processes also facilitate stakeholders’ subsequent ownership of the proposed measure.

The October 2005 Simplification Communication[24] announced a series of specific initiatives:

- As announced in the “Communication from the Commission on Simplification and Better Regulation for the Common Agricultural Policy”, an Action plan was established and presented at the conference entitled: "A simple CAP for Europe, a challenge for all" which took place in October 2006. The Action plan presents 20 concrete projects for technical simplification (reduction of burden without changing the underlying policy), which are to be implemented by 2007. The Action plan begins a continuous simplification process. Stakeholders and Member States are therefore invited to present further simplification proposals.

- The "2006-2008 Action Plan for simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy" was adopted by the Commission in 2005 and fully supported by the Europeans institutions and the stakeholders consulted.

- The forthcoming Communication on the reduction of response burden, simplification and priority setting in the field of Community Statistics. This Communication sets out a strategic approach to continue reducing the statistical burden on enterprises through a combination of two elements: simplification of the requirements for statistics in selected priority areas and promotion of statistical tools and methods which will make it easier to meet statistical obligations. In particular, the Commission will propose a single flow system for Intrastat, a programme for re-engineering business statistics and actively pursue the simplification of the European system of agricultural statistics.

Furthermore, Article 138 of the Treaty provides for the consultation of European social partners on Community initiatives in the social policy field[25].

In some instances, the outcome of the consultation process has driven the Commission services to reconsider their initial intentions. For example, as regards the reviews of the Company Law and Copyright regulatory frameworks, which have resulted in further initiatives:

- Concerning company law, the Commission has planned to launch before end of this year a comprehensive initiative to measure the administrative costs originating from the company law directives with the view to identifying together with Member States and stakeholders the scope for reduction of these costs. The outcome of this exercise will be presented in a Communication in the second half of 2007.

- Concerning copyright the review resulted in several activities including an evaluation of the 2001 Copyright Directive which could, inter alia, identify exceptions to the application of this Directive. The outcome of this exercise could be envisaged by summer 2007.

2.1.2. Sector-specific analysis

In its previous Communication, the Commission identified the need for a sector-specific approach to simplification in order to better assess the impact of the regulatory framework on sectoral competitiveness.

For example, work is ongoing in the area of construction products. This includes an overall analysis of those factors influencing the competitiveness of stakeholders in the construction sector as well as specific action to simplify the construction product Directive (Directive 89/106/EEC). Stakeholder consultation is ongoing and contributions are being examined by the Commission.

In the area of motor vehicles, the CARS 21 High Level Group has examined the major policy areas which have an impact on the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and has produced a number of recommendations.

In parallel, the application of Better Regulation principles is currently being examined within the context of the new fora created in the follow-up to the Industrial Policy Communication[26]. Sectoral screening activities have started in groups such as the taskforce on ICT Competitiveness and the Mechanical Engineering Policy Dialogue.

2.1.3. Current work on administrative burden

In response to the June 2006 European Council conclusions and within the competitiveness framework of the re-launched Lisbon agenda, in early 2007 the Commission will launch a major Action Plan to measure and reduce administrative burden generated by existing legislation in the EU. The plan will build on the previous experience developed by four Member States (UK, NL, DK and CZ) that have already set reduction targets after completing large baseline measurements. The Commission working paper on “Measuring administrative costs and reducing administrative burdens in the European Union”[27] presents the results of a pilot project on administrative burden, carried out in 2006, that examines and builds on such previous experience In the medium term, this process should enable the EU legislator and the Member States to identify on the basis of quantified data the priority areas where there is scope for further simplification.

In this context it should be noted that, in the field of agriculture, a study is being conducted on administrative burden for farmers. The study concerns the implementation of the 2003 CAP Reform and its later amendments. First results will become available in 2007.

2.2. Close cooperation between the EU institutions

If high quality legislative proposals are delivered by the Commission, the responsibility of the Council and the Parliament is to take this simplification work to the final stage.

22 simplification proposals adopted by the Commission are pending before the Council and the European Parliament (Annex 3). Out of these, 7 simplification initiatives dated back to the previous simplification programmes of 2003[28] are still pending before the legislator. A list of pending proposals is presented in Annex 3 and includes texts of major importance for business such as the review of the 6th VAT Directive, modernization of the Customs Code, revision of waste legislation, simplification of type approval of motor vehicles, streamlining of structural business statistics and the repeal of the pre-packaging requirements. The adoption of the accounting directive[29] containing exemptions in favour of SMEs as well as the recent approval by the Council of the common position on pre-packaging illustrate the shared determination among the Institutions to simplify the regulatory framework.

Following the Commission’s invitation to the European Parliament to react to its October 2005 simplification strategy, the European Parliament responded in April 2006. The positions, taken by Parliamentary Committees on the multi-annual simplification programme show significant convergence with Commission priorities on what needs to be simplified.

In May 2006, the European Parliament adopted a series of reports covering different aspects of Better Regulation including simplification[30]. The European Parliament proposes inter alia to identify a new type of instrument, alongside codification and recasting[31], for specific types of simplification proposals that could benefit from adapted working methods and faster adoption.

The Inter-institutional Agreement (IIA) on Better Lawmaking[32], in force since December 2003, established a platform to develop cooperation between the three institutions. The High Level Technical Group responsible for monitoring the implementation of the IIA has regularly examined progress such as the coordination and the programming of the legislative work, the quality of the legislation (impact assessment in particular), transposition and application of the Community legislation and simplification. Identification by the co-legislators of concrete action to prioritise simplification and speed-up the legislative process has proved difficult.

The agreement reached between the institutions in December 2005 on an Inter-institutional Common Approach for Impact Assessment[33] proves that if there is political will, the Inter-institutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking can produce concrete improvements in the inter-institutional implementation of better regulation. At the occasion of the review of the Common Approach in 2008, the institutions should agree that Member States initiatives in the area of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters be accompanied by impact assessments.

The Commission has announced that it intends to facilitate the inter-institutional decision-making process by improving the programming and the visibility of simplification initiatives through:

- Integrating simplification proposals in the Annual Commission Legislative and Work Programme. This has now been achieved in the context of the 2007 CLWP;

- Fully exploiting the explanatory memorandum to better explain the simplification objectives pursued in its proposals. In the simplification proposals subject to impact assessment, the Commission will also strive to assess the simplification impacts, including administrative burden;

- Identifying some pilot cases of simplification proposals to test the possibilities to establish improved inter-institutional working methods for simplification.

2.3. Increased use of co-regulation and self regulation

Co-regulation and self-regulation are examples of tools which can be used in certain circumstances to achieve policy objectives with a limited intervention of the legislator.

For example, the European Standardisation bodies and the Commission are currently collaborating in order to propose new standard initiatives in the services sector which would focus specifically on the internal market. Standards allow users to freely compare products and prices, thus strengthening competition and enhancing intra-EU trade in services. Following wide consultations, the definition of a standardisation action plan aimed at promoting industrial competitiveness, as well as the approval of a decision for Community financing, will energise the standardisation activities.

In the area of self regulation, the social partners at European level have a specific role to play in that they have the possibility of concluding agreements[34] that are made binding through a legislative proposal or that are implemented on an autonomous basis. Self-regulation is consistent with the Commission’s policy to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR). Voluntary initiatives carried out under the umbrella of the European Alliance on CSR could conceivably result in new agreements on self-regulation. Such initiatives, taken by EU enterprises in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, should also contribute to a much wider take-up of CSR practices in Europe and globally. In order to better inform private parties wishing to set up or improve self-regulatory schemes, as well as regulators responsible for co-regulatory design, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission have set up a database of almost 100 EU schemes. Due to be launched in November 2006, this database details among other things the types of problem which led to the development of EU self or co-regulation schemes, their objectives and organisational settings. Identifying good and bad practices will therefore be much easier.

2.4. Simplification at national level

2.4.1. Simplified EU legislation must also be reflected at national level

The EU Simplification exercise will need to be fully supported by Member States to ensure that the advantages of a lighter Community regulatory environment are not cancelled out by new national rules or technical barriers. This is already the case for an increasing number of Member States, although there is still room for improvement. The maintenance of statistical requirements at national level when Community law has been streamlined illustrates this.

Consequently, in some recent repeal proposals, the Commission has introduced a mutual recognition provision to ensure that no new obstacles to trade arise following the repeal of Community law. For example, the proposal on pre-packaging aims at preventing obstacles to trade because of the maintenance of national requirements.

Similarly, for the decision to repeal EU legislation on the classification of wood in the rough to be effective, there should be uniform follow-up across the EU. National laws referring to the Directive must be amended accordingly and Member States should ensure that technical changes are implemented swiftly and clearly.

Too often administrative controls and procedures are imposed on European companies wishing to operate in an other Member State. Where applicable, Treaty rules contribute to the simplification of the operations in the Internal Market. The Commission helps reducing such burdens by enforcing Article 28 of the EC Treaty on the free circulation of goods, notably through the monitoring of draft national legislation.

In 2007, the Commission will address the integration of the defence market with the objective of alleviating the excessive administrative burden that hinders the competitiveness of EU industry in this domain. Indeed, the annual costs associated with intra-community import/export licences for military goods are estimated at 238.90 million euros for industries and administrations. In practice, these requests for licences are hardly ever rejected[35].

2.4.2. Avoiding gold-plating

Examination of national implementing provisions transposing Community Directives provides abundant examples of technical requirements, labelling obligations, deadlines, authorisation procedures and other administrative requirements that are added on top of Community legislation by national regulators (‘gold plating’). The regulatory environment for EU companies can only be improved if initiatives taken at EU level are complemented by suitable action at national level.

This is confirmed by other sources, for example a recent study[36] conducted for a national federation of SMEs. This study suggests that extending the original scope of Directives in transposing measures may seriously hamper productivity for small businesses, thereby taking money away from key wealth and job creators. Furthermore, gold-plating may put national businesses at a competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis other countries.

This underpins the Commission’s intention, announced in the October 2005 Communication to better exploit the potential for simplification by using, wherever appropriate, regulations rather than directives. The replacement of Directive 91/414/EEC by a regulation on the placing of plant protection products on the market is one concrete example of this shift in regulatory practice.

2.4.3. National reform programmes

Regulatory requirements and implementation measures mainly originate at national level.

The national reform programmes (NRP) are part of the new governance structure of the growth and jobs strategy (Lisbon strategy) and set out the economic reform policies at national level on the basis of Community guidelines. They are, therefore, of key importance in creating a better business environment in the EU. All Member States have responded to the guidelines on Better Regulation and have included measures to promote Better Regulation in their National Reform Programmes.

At this stage, nine Member States have launched simplification programmes of varying degrees of ambition in the context of these NRPs. It is however essential that the EU simplification programme is complemented by a progress on simplification in all Member States and at all regulatory levels. The Note for the Economic Policy Committee “Promoting Better Regulation”[37] prepared by the European Commission and the Competitiveness Report 2006 set out the main conclusions regarding the implementation of Better Regulation at Member State level and describe in greater detail progress achieved so far in this area.

Examples of national initiatives include:

- Administrative cost reduction: 17 Member States are aware of the need to analyse administrative costs imposed on business and have launched measurement activities. Some have fixed quantitative targets for reducing administrative costs (e.g. 20 or 25% by 2010). Initiatives to support this exercise are, for example, e-government, one stop-shops[38] or central registration offices, reduction of fiscal legislation, simplification of administrative procedures linked to employment and self-employment or cross-government initiatives;

- e-government and ICT solutions to cut red tape in public administration: establishment of portals containing legislation and forms (requests, reporting tools, etc), increased broadband availability;

- Review of legislation: to ensure its objectives are still valid - simplification of labour law, dissemination of good regulatory practices throughout government, cost-benefit analysis of legislation, creation of a business regulation forum where stakeholders examine the burdens imposed on business, overarching principles of good regulation including necessity, proportionality, subsidiarity, transparency, accountability, accessibility and simplicity;

- Simplification of taxation obligations, administration or reporting: especially one-stop shops for companies, SMEs and citizens, reform of corporate and capital income taxes;

- Simplification of VAT obligations, for example elimination of tax obstacles in cross border activities by introducing rules to allow for tax relief for contributions to pensions schemes in EU Member States, helping both migrants and cross border service providers;

- Improvement of the implementation of the internal market law to maximise its benefits;

- SMEs: better access to finance, reduction in reporting requirements, creation of a web-based, one-stop agency for start-ups;

- Common Commencement Dates (CCDs)[39].

Exchanges of best practices between Member States and peer reviews are of crucial importance to improving the regulatory environment. The Commission is facilitating this work through the High Level Group on Better Regulation as well as through the Lisbon process.

Member States and regions should be encouraged to work together on the development of good practices, for example through the BEST initiative[40].

3. CONCLUSION

This simplification strategy, which is at the heart of the Better Regulation initiative, is showing its first results.

The European Commission is determined to move forward to deliver on its commitments to contributing to a strong regulatory environment through an enriched and ambitious rolling programme.

To achieve our common objective, Council and Parliament have to intensify their involvement to carry the Simplification work forward to the final stages.

Member states have also to do their part of the work. They should exchange best practices and implement simplification programmes.

Annex 1

Simplification Rolling programme (2006-2009)

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2006 |

1 | Single Common Market Organisation | Recast | Recast of 21 Regulations into 1 horizontal common market organisations instrument |

2 | Reform fruit and vegetable common market organisation | Revision | Revision of 1 Regulation to improve competitiveness in the Fruit & vegetable sector. |

3 | State aid in the agricultural sector | Revision | Reduction from 7 to 3 texts governing state aid in the agricultural sectors. |

4 | Parcel size of coupled payments (agricultural direct support) | Revision | Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 796/2004. The objective is to include landscape elements in the area eligible for support. | X |

5 | Use of set-aside land in case of exceptional climatic conditions | Revision | Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 to specify that Member States will have the possibility to decide themselves that there is an exceptional climatic condition which justifies the use of set aside land for grazing purposes. | X |

6 | Energy crops support conditions | Revision | Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 to ease the eligibility conditions and the administrative procedures to be followed to receive support for the production of energy crops. | X |

7 | Codification of 2 Directives on employee protection in the event of the insolvency of their employer | Codification | Codification |

8 | Recast of 1 Regulation on Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin | Recast | Recast to: - Reduce the number of lists of substances, - Enhance transparency in the assessment procedure, - Ensure compliance with international trade standards. It will provide incentives to ensure availability of veterinary medicinal products for food-producing animals, and ensure consistency with parallel review of the legislation on control of residues in foodstuffs of animal origin. |

9 | Revision of 1 regulation on fishing authorisation permits | Revision | Clarification and improvement of the management of fishing authorizations and to introduce IT tools (“fishing authorisations permits”). |

10 | Recast of 3 Regulations regarding the European fisheries fund | Recast | Recast into a single document. |

11 | Codification of the acquis related to the Community trade mark | Codification | Codification |

12 | Repeal of 1 Directive on freedom to provide services in respect to public procurement activities | Repeal | Repeal |

13 | Review of 2 Directives regulating the professions involved in the trade, distribution and use of toxic products | Review | Review of the 2 Directives. (consultations with stakeholders have confirmed the significant of the two Directives) |

14 | Codification of 7 Directives on securities (UCITS acquis) | Codification | Codification |

15 | Council Directive 69/335/EEC of 17 July 1969 concerning indirect taxes on the raising of capital | Recast | The proposal aims at simplifying and modernising the existing Community legislative framework in the area of indirect taxes on the raising of capital and to provide for a phasing out of capital duty. It also reinforces the prohibition on creating or levying other similar taxes. |

16 | Recast of 1 Regulation on radioprotection and agricultural products | Recast | Recast, notably to remove Annex 3 of this Regulation (list of customs offices in which products listed in Annexe 1 may be declared for free circulation in the Community). |

17 | Codification of 1 Regulation on radioactive contamination of feeding stuffs after a nuclear accident | Codification | Codification |

18 | Codification of 2 Regulations on imports of agricultural products following the Chernobyl accident | Codification | Codification |

20 | Codification of 1 Directive on maritime transport regarding seafarers training | Codification | Codification |

21 | Simplification of the Rail Safety Directive and extension of the competence of the European Railway Agency | Revision | The objective is to simplify the process of certification for railway undertakings and the rail industry. This will be achieved through an extension of the competences of the European Railway Agency – ERA. |

22 | Codification of 1 Directive on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and trailers | Codification | Codification of the basic act and its four Commission Directives adapting it technical progress, and possible simplification (pending the findings of an ongoing study to be completed by the end of 2006) |

23 | Recast of 2 Directives on the transport of dangerous goods by road | Recast | Recast: new directive or regulation and, at the same time, discontinue the translation and publication of the Annexes in all Community languages (± 900 pages per mode). |

24 | Repeal of 2 Directives on requirements for safety advisers for on the transport of dangerous goods | Repeal | Repeal: The corresponding provisions are already incorporated in existing international agreements |

25 | Recast of Statutes & Rules on nuclear energy supply contracts (Euratom Supply Agency) | Recast | Recast: Procedures for approving supply contracts will be simplified. |

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2007 |

27 | Proposal for a Council Regulation on common market organisation of wine | Revision | The reform of the common market organisation for wine aims mainly: - To increase the competitiveness of the EU's wine producers; - To create a wine regime that operates through clear, simple rules that ensure balance between supply and demand; and - To create a wine regime that preserves the best traditions of EU wine production and reinforces the social and environmental fabric of rural areas. |

28 | Cross compliance report and relevant legislative proposals for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy | Revision | Report with appropriate legislative proposals on the implementation of the cross compliance mechanisms of Council Regulation (EC) NO 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes |

29 | Council regulation on information and promotion actions for agricultural products | Recast | The objective of this initiative is to define the conditions, procedures and control methods in the co-financing of information programmes and the promotion of agricultural goods, both within the Internal Market and with regard to third countries. This initiative translates into a reduction of current regime on the promotion of agricultural products. The four Regulations (two of the Council and two of the Commission) will be halved into one Council Regulation and one Commission implementing measure. | X |

30 | Amendment of the rules concerning applications for export licenses (agricultural products) | Revision | Redrafting of Art 25 of Commission Regulation (EC) N° 1291/2000 will clarify that (for reasons of efficiency) the electronic versions of certificates referred to in Art. 19 may be submitted to the issuing body instead of to the importer / exporter. | X |

31 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 917/2004 on beekeeping | Revision | The objective is to give Member States greater flexibility to adapt financial allocations, allowing better realisation of the programme and benefiting production and marketing conditions in this sector. Commission autonomous act | X |

32 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 on proof of import for differentiated refunds(agricultural products) | Revision | The objective is to amend the rules concerning proof of import in the system of differentiated export refunds (Articles 16 and 17 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/1999). Commission autonomous act | X |

33 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2808/98 and implementing rules of Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 (operative events and exchange rates) | Revision | The proposal concerns the harmonisation of operative events and exchange rates in the different CAP sectors, relating to amounts, prices and aids to be converted in euros or in another national currency of Member States. The repeal of certain sectoral regulations and modification of Regulation (EC) NO 2808/98 in order to use a single exchange rate instead of an average rate for amounts are under consideration. Commission autonomous act | X |

34 | Simplification of standard periodic agricultural instruments | Revision | The objective is to replace multiple sectoral rules by horizontal ones and simplify management mechanisms through the modification of periodic agricultural instruments relating to: - Allocation of quantities for import tariff quotas; - Tendering procedures for export refunds; - Tendering procedures for public storage; - Fixing of export refunds (including respect of WTO commitments). Commission autonomous act | X |

35 | Horizontal rules for private storage of agricultural products | Revision | The aim is to replace multiple sectoral rules by horizontal ones and simplify management mechanisms relating to the private storage of agricultural products. It is planned to carry out a legal review of the existing sectoral provisions with a view to eliminating unnecessary provisions and to harmonising the system of private storage, and to adopt a horizontal regulation for the rules concerning private storage. Commission autonomous act | X |

36 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 on egg labelling | Revision | The existing implementing Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 will be redrafted to take into account the changes introduced by the new Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006. Commission autonomous act | X |

37 | Horizontal rules on tender procedures for export refunds for certain agricultural products | Revision | The aim is to replace multiple sectoral rules and simplify management mechanisms relating to tendering procedures concerning export refunds for certain agricultural products, through the adoption of a horizontal regulation for the tendering procedure concerning export refunds for certain agricultural products. Commission autonomous act | X |

38 | Horizontal rules on import tariff quotas managed through a system of import licences (agricultural products) | Revision | The aim is to replace multiple sectoral rules by horizontal ones and simplify management mechanisms relating to import tariff quotas managed by a system of import licences (excepted bananas) by means of a legal review of the existing sectoral provisions with a view to eliminating unnecessary provisions and to harmonising regulations opening the import tariff quotas. Commission autonomous act | X |

39 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 382/2005 on the Common organisation of the market in dried fodder | Revision | The objective is to amend the implementing Regulation to reduce obligations for non-processors (farmers and downstream sector) under the regulation and to remove obsolete provisions. Commission autonomous act | X |

40 | General block exemption Regulations on the application of Arts 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to regional aid, SME, R&D, environmental aid, employment, training | Revision | The new General block exemption Regulation (GBER) will cover areas already covered by existing block exemptions concerning training, employment, SME, and new areas like innovation, environment, risk capital and regional aid. State aid covered by this GBER will not have to be notified to the Commission. The GBER will gather all provisions concerning State aid exempted from the notification obligation in one single document and by increasing the number of cases exempted from prior notification, thereby reducing the administrative burden for MS. |

41 | Notice on the execution of recovery decisions | Revision | A more effective execution of recovery decisions by Member States has been identified as a priority objective in the State aid action plan This notice should provide guidance to Member States on how they should ensure that the Commission’s recovery decisions are properly executed | X |

42 | Implementing regulation, state aids procedural aspects | Recast | The implementing regulation provides guidance to Member States on a number of specific State aid procedural aspects (notification, calculation of recovery interests, reporting). The objective is to - Adapt the Regulation to accommodate the increased use of electronic exchanges between the Commission and the Member States; - Revise provisions regarding the recovery interests to bring them into line with economic reality; - Revise the annual reporting requirements for transparency and monitoring purposes. | X |

43 | Repeal of Council Decision 85/368/EEC on a system for the comparability of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications | Repeal | Following the adoption of the draft Recommendation of the Council and the EP on a European Qualifications Framework COM(2006)479, the Decision has become outdated and is no longer sustainable, notably because of the rapid development of qualifications. | X |

44 | Revision of Directive 2001/23/EC 'Transfer of Undertakings' | Revision | The objective is to clarify the application of the Directive to cross border operations and to introduce any amendments that are justified, after consulting Member States and social partners, on the basis of the Commission report of 2006. | X |

45 | Codification of Directive 89/655/CEE and its amendments, Directives 95/63/EC and 2001/45/EC, concerning the health and safety minimum requirements for the use of work equipment at work | Codification | Codification. |

46 | Revision of Directive 88/378/EC on the safety of toys | Revision | The main policy objectives are the simplification of the current legislation, the improvement on the safety of toys by clarifying essential safety requirements, the improvement in the functioning of the Internal Market by developing conditions for a better common approach by national market surveillance authorities in the implementation of the legislation in force. | X |

47 | Proposal for Regulation of EP and Council on type approval of heavy-duty vehicles and engines with respect to their emissions (Euro VI proposal) | Revision and repeal | The proper functioning of the single market in the European Union requires common standards limiting the emission of atmospheric pollutants from motor vehicles. The proposal will apply to heavy-duty vehicles. The main objective of the proposal is to lay down the Euro VI limits for pollutant emissions. The proposal will repeal four directives. | X |

48 | Simplification of Council Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic Products | Recast | The purpose of this proposal is to recast legislation on cosmetics products, as part of a more general simplification strategy concerning goods. |

49 | Recast of Directive 89/106/EEC on Construction Products | Recast | The purpose of this proposal is to clarify the scope and the objectives of the existing Directive and to simplify the implementing mechanisms, ensuring proper functioning of the internal market for construction products, while avoiding constraints and obligations, e.g. administrative costs, which are disproportionate to the benefits to be expected. |

50 | Repeal of Directive 84/539/EEC on electro-medical equipment used in human or veterinary medicine | Repeal | This Directive has become obsolete. The applicable standard specified in the Annex dates back to 1979. It is intended to broaden the scope of Directive 93/42/EC on medical devices which currently only addresses medical devices for human beings to veterinary devices. | X |

51 | Review of existing legislation on industrial emissions | Recast | The objectives is to improve the current legal framework related to industrial emissions, and to streamline the interaction between the various legislation, while not altering the underlying principles and the level of ambition of the present legal framework. As regards the scope of the present initiative, it includes reviewing the Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) and related industrial emissions legislation (Directive 2001/80/EC on large combustion plants, Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste, Directive 1999/13/EC on the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations). |

52 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme | Recast | The objective is to create a more business friendly system by involvement of key stakeholders in the decision making process, outsource routine criteria development to a dedicated body, link Eco-label closely with Green Procurement and reduce the procedural burden for the Commission. The changes will focus on the substance with special attention for the needs of SMEs, the institutional set up and the links to other policy instruments in particular Green Public Procurement. | X |

53 | Revision of the Regulation (EC) 761/2001 allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) | Recast | The objective is to raise attractiveness for SMEs by reduction of the administrative burden for companies, simplify access to EMAS for company-clusters and reduce procedural requirements by cutting red tape. The changes will focus on the substance with special attention for the needs of SMEs, the institutional set up and the links to other policy instruments in particular Green Public Procurement |

54 | Review of the Directives on waste from the titanium dioxide industry | Recast | The objective is to simplify the current legislation related to the waste from the titanium dioxide industry (78/176/EEC, 82/883/EEC, 92/112/EEC) based on other existing legislation, deleting obsolete provisions, while keeping the same level of environmental protection. This initiative includes reviewing and clarifying the interaction with Directive 96/61/EC (IPPC). | X |

55 | Development of the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) | Communication Recast/revision | Communication outlining the vision, objectives, actions and timetable for the development of the Shared Environmental Information System. It will be accompanied or followed by appropriate legislative proposals to streamline the environmental reporting. | X |

56 | Recast of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 and its modifications (8) for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms | Recast | Major revision of current technical measures in order to reduce their complexity and number, reinforce consistency and provide for simpler procedures for later updating and revision. More enforceable technical measures will be established in close cooperation with stakeholders. |

57 | New legislative proposals amending the regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services | Revision | The main objective of the legislative proposals is to enhance the ability of the current framework to deliver on its initial objectives by proposing adaptations that take account of experience to date and expected market and technological changes in the future. The creation of a competitive single market for electronic communications services and networks in Europe with corresponding benefits for citizens is the ultimate aim. | X |

58 | Repeal of Decision 2003/548/EC on Leased Lines | Repeal | There is no need or justification for mandating specific retail services. In the public consultation on the 2006 review, it is proposed that the concept be removed altogether by legislative amendment of the Universal Service Directive. | X |

59 | Repeal of Directive 87/372/EC on the frequency bands to be reserved for cellular digital band-based mobile communications | Repeal | Policy initiative linked to previous actions in radio spectrum policy. Directive 87/372 is reaching obsolescence. A new Commission Decision pursuant to Decision 676/2002/EC will regulate the use of the 900 MHz band in the EU. | X |

60 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 2195/2002 on the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) | Revision | The objective is to update and revision of the existing Commission Regulation (following targeted and wide stakeholder consultations). The update of the CPV Regulation is necessary to maintain an efficient and simple procurement system that is easily applied for both suppliers and bidders |

61 | Proposal for a directive on the solvency of insurance companies (Solvency II) | Recast | In line with similar developments in the banking sector and following international developments in solvency, risk management and accounting, the new solvency regime aims at the protection of policyholders and beneficiaries. It will improve the competitiveness of EU insurers and provide for a better allocation of capital resources, without causing significant market disruptions and impeding innovation in the insurance industry. |

62 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 on novel foods | Recast | Revision of the Novel Food Regulation is needed to clarify the legislation after removal of GM food from the scope, create a more favourable environment for innovation for the food industry and facilitate internal and external trade. This will: -Tighten and streamline the authorisation procedure for novel/new foods and thus make it more predictable for the applicants. -Tailor the safety assessment to different types of foods allowing foods with safe history of use outside the EU to enter the EU more easily than is presently the case. -Take into account new technologies with an impact on food (e.g. nanotechnology, animal cloning). | X |

63 | Revision of the existing legislation on feed labelling and authorisation/withdrawal procedure of feed materials (Directives 79/373/EEC, 96/25/EC, 82/471/EEC and 93/74/EEC) | Recast | Recast, modernisation and replacement of the directives to amend the existing feed labelling requirements, to extend the non-exclusive list of feed materials and to align the authorisation procedures with principles and provisions set out in the General Food Law. |

64 | Revision of existing Regulation on general food labelling and nutrition labelling | Revision and repeal | The key objective is to update the current rules on general food and nutrition labelling, taking into account the experience gained in applying Directives 2000/13/EC and 1990/496/CEC. There is a need to ensure that there is legislation that meets consumers’ needs, is not too burdensome for the industry, and that can adapt to a continually changing market. This requires a new approach that strikes a balance between flexibility and prescription and between action at the national and EU level. The proposed Regulation will repeal the above mentioned Directives and will clarify and simplify the laws on general food and nutrition labelling. |

65 | Revision of Directive 92/34/EEC on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production | Recast | Amendments concern inter alia a new definition of marketing, as well as technical measures which will be adopted based on an appropriate evaluation and on technical and scientific progress. Two objectives can be identified: - To clarify and simplify the regulatory framework in which business operates; - To improve the legislation based on technical and scientific progress and to the new marketing environment in line with the new CAP. | X |

66 | Review of the Timeshare Directive (94/47/EC) | Revision | The objective is to enhance legal certainty for consumers. Level playing field for business as traders marketing and selling the new products in the market will have to comply with the same rules as “traditional timeshare”. Update of the list of requirements for the prospectus and the contract will provide for modernisation. The scope is extended to bring under the Directive other long-term holiday products which have been developed since the adoption of the current directive. | X |

67 | Rules of Origin (based on the Community Customs Code) | Recast | The objective is to simplify the rules of origin by proposing new rules which will determine the position in negotiation on GSP as well as in the context of the new Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries. |

68 | Modernisation of VAT provisions relating to financial services including insurance | Revision | The current provisions are out of date and at the very least need to be modernised. The overall legal and regulatory environment in which the industry operates does not keep pace with the evolution of the industry and conflicts with the bias towards vertical integration. Companies are thus prevented from further refining their economic and legal structures to increase their competitiveness. Changes should be directed towards modernising the rules, ensuring their consistency with established policy objectives and reducing the need to seek clarification through litigation. |

69 | Revision of Directive 92/12/EEC on general arrangements for products subject to excise duty and holding, movement and monitoring of such products | Recast | Simplification and modernisation of requirements and computerisation of the procedures by: - modernizing and simplifying the provisions of the directive wherever possible - integrating into the directive judgements of the ECJ as well as guidelines of the excise committee - adapting the directive to support the computerisation of procedures for the movement of excise products under suspension of excise duty (the EMCS project). |

70 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000 setting up a Community regime for the control of dual-use items and technology | Recast | The proposal provides for enlarging the scope of controls by extending them, under specific circumstances, to transit and brokering of dual use items. This enlargement of the scope of controls is compensated by the creation of a level playing field for exporters aiming at reducing the current distortions of competition between EU exporters which originate from MS different practices. A number of measures will simplify the work for: – Community administrations (for example improved system of sharing denials using a template provided by the Commission, a comitology procedure for changes to the annexes and for the adoption of guidelines for the implementation of the Recast Regulation); – private entities (harmonisation of the conditions of use of export authorisations and their format, e-systems for the management of licence applications, replacement of intra-Community transfer authorisations by pre-notification of transfers by EU suppliers of those dual use goods whose intra-EC trade is currently under control ). | X |

71 | Recast of Directives 96/26/EC and 98/76/EC on the conditions of admission to the occupation of road haulage and road passenger transport operators | Recast | The objective is to ensure a harmonised application of the rules, a clear understanding of what is required, maintain mutual recognition of qualifications, protect the right of establishment, rationalise the market, improve service quality and road safety. The amendment of existing rules will strengthen, clarify and simplify the application of the three qualitative criteria of good repute, financial standing and professional competence, by which operators gain admission to the occupation. |

72 | Recast of conditions of access to road transport market (Regulations (EC) No 881/92, 684/92, 3118/93, 12/98 and 484/2002) | Recast | The objective is to ensure a harmonised application of the rules, a clear understanding of what is required, protect the right of establishment, rationalise the market, improve service quality and road safety. The amendment of existing rules to strengthen, clarify and simplify the access to the market, conditions for cabotage and the applicability of driver attestation to EU drivers. |

73 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 2299/89 on a code of conduct for computerised reservation systems | Revision | Regulation (EC) No 2299/89 was adopted in a market context where almost all airline bookings were made via computerised reservation systems (CRS) and where most CRS were owned and controlled by airlines. With the divestment of most airlines and the development of alternative distribution channels, the market context has changed and the regulation now seems to be standing in the way of an efficient functioning of the market. The main policy objective is to increase market efficiency by giving more room to market forces. Increased competition in the sector should allow to improve the quality of services offered and to reduce the distribution costs in the air transport sector. |

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2008 |

74 | Direct Payments Health Check in the Common Agricultural Policy | Revision | Report with appropriate legislative proposals on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 |

75 | Proposal to simplify Directives on information and consultation of workers (conditional) | Recast | Scope and objectives to be refined in light of 2007 report on Directive 2002/14 and further discussions with Member States. |

76 | Community initiative on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (follow-up of the second phase of consultation of the social partners) | Recast | The objective is to integrate the provisions of both Council Directive 90/269/EEC on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads and Council Directive 90/270/EEC on the minimum health and safety requirements for work with display screen equipment into a new legislative instrument. (depending on the result of the consultation of the social partners a proposal for a new Directive) | X |

77 | Proposal for a Council Regulation extending the provisions of EC Regulation n° 883/2004 and its implementing Regulation to nationals of third countries (who are not already covered by those provisions on the basis of their nationality) | Revision and repeal | EC Regulation 883/2004 modernises and simplifies the coordination of social security systems. Its predecessor, Regulation 1408/71, was extended to third country nationals through Regulation 859/03. The proposed Regulation will achieve the same aim and replace Regulation 859/03. This Regulation will result in fewer administrative costs for Member States. | X |

78 | Revision of Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council completing the Annexes of EC Regulation n°883/2004 | Revision | The objective of the proposal is to complete the Annexes of Regulation 883/2004. EC Regulation 883/2004 modernises and simplifies the coordination of social security systems. It is necessary for these Annexes to be completed for Regulation 883/2004 to apply. | X |

79 | Codification of Directive 83/477/CEE and its amendments, directives 91/382/CEE and 2003/18/CE into a single text (protection of workers against the risks of exposure to asbestos at work) | Codification | Codification |

80 | Recast of two directives concerning Medical Devices and human blood and human plasma | Recast | The purpose is to recast into a Regulation:: - Directive 2000/70/EC on medical devices incorporating stable derivates of human blood or human plasma, - and Directive 2001/104/EC on medical devices. |

81 | Recast and adapt market authorisation procedures of directives concerning Medical Devices and active implantable medical devices | Recast | The purpose is to recast into a Regulation: - Directive 90/385/EEC relating to active implantable medical devices; - and Directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices. This is part of a more general simplification strategy concerning goods. |

82 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1085/2003 concerning the examination of variations to the terms of a marketing authorisation for medicinal products for human use and veterinary medicinal products falling within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 2309/93 | Revision | The objective is to reduce the administrative burden for industry by streamlining the circumstances obliging industry to file applications for variations of human and veterinary medicinal products. | X |

83 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1084/2003 concerning the examination of variations to the terms of a marketing authorisation for medicinal products for human use and veterinary medicinal products granted by a competent authority of a Member State | Revision | The objective is to reduce the administrative burden for industry by streamlining the circumstances obliging industry to file applications for variations of human and veterinary medicinal products. | X |

84 | Moving towards the UN/ECE system of vehicle approval legislation | Recast | Replacing the Community acquis in the field of motor vehicles with international regulations at UN_ECE level This will be followed by the repeal of numerous EU Directives. |

85 | Revision of 3 Directives on textiles | Revision | The objective is to replace these Directives by a Regulation and simplify procedures for Member States, companies and the Commission. It will provide for shorter period of time for adoption of new fibre names. Quantitative methods will be transferred to the standardisation process Commission autonomous act | X |

86 | Extension of the scope of Directive 2004/22/EC on measuring instruments and repeal 8 “old approach” metrology Directives (75/33/EEC, 76/765/EEC, 76/766/EEC, 71/317/EEC, 74/148/EEC, 86/217/EEC, 71/347/EEC, 71/349/EEC) | Repeal | The objective is to provide for a coherent legal framework for legal metrology. Commission autonomous act | X |

87 | Recast of 4 Directives on Pressure vessels and equipments | Recast | The objective is to recast these Directives into one legal instrument by implementing the revised regulatory approach to technical harmonisation. |

88 | Legal instrument setting sector-specific adaptations to New Approach revision | Recast | This instrument is meant to adapt sectoral Directives to the horizontal instrument to be adopted in 2006 and would cover sectors not already specifically addressed in the simplification programme. |

89 | Commission Directive relating to self testing and to virtual testing, with a view to simplify the type-approval procedure with respect to ten separate directives. The list of Directive is published as Annex I to the CARS 21 Final Report | Recast | The introduction of virtual / self testing will reduce costs and administrative burden of present producers. Virtual and self testing will speed up product development and reduce costs for both industry and consumers. The recast of Directive 70/156/EEC will empower the Commission to adopt the necessary modifications via comitology. |

90 | Review of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer | Recast | Simplification as part of an overall assessment of the effectiveness of the present framework in the light of new technical and scientific developments which might require new issues to be addressed or possibly strengthened.. |

91 | Revision of both Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) | Revision | Review based on the experience of the application of the Directives and based on the development of the state of technology, experience gained environmental requirements and the functioning of the internal market. The review shall, as appropriate, be accompanied by proposals for revision of relevant provisions of these Directives. |

92 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States | Revision | Simplification of Intrastat with a view to alleviate the statistical reporting of economic operators, in particular SMEs, taking into account the outcome of the ongoing pilot project of administrative costs and a future feasibility study to analyse workability of a collection system limited to one flow. |

93 | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy | Recast | The objective is to modernise the procedures and facilitate a better enforcement by alleviating the burden and constraints for the industry and public administrations and increasing the use of IT tools to reduce reporting obligations. All aspects related to the control and monitoring of fisheries activities (declaration of catches, tolerance margins, landing declaration, transport, localisation of the fleet, etc.) will be simplified |

94 | Codification or recast of company law Directives | Codification Reduction of administrative costs | Codification Report on outcome of measurement of administrative costs originating from company law directives. Could lead to simplification and recast |

95 | Revision of the accounting acquis | Reduction of administrative costs Revision | Revision of the accounting acquis to: – simplify and update accounting rules under fourth and seventh CLD’s for SME’s. – consolidate all Commission Regulations on IAS/IFRS/SIC/IFRIC in force in the EU (this could lead to the abrogation of six Regulations) |

96 | Revision of the Consumer Protection acquis (8 Consumer Protection Directives) | Codification | The overall aim of the revision of the acquis, is to simplify and improve the coherence of the consumer regulatory framework and thus enhance legal certainty both for consumers and business. The legal instrument will be a combination of codification and repeal of parts of existing directives and enactment of new rules. The most likely regulatory action, depending on the final outcome of the review, will be a mixed approach to the revision of the acquis. This will consist of a horizontal instrument, underpinned whenever required by vertical solutions. |

97 | Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 77/388/CEE as regards the VAT treatment of public authorities and the exemptions for certain activities in the public interest | Revision | The proposal aims at ensuring a more harmonised and neutral VAT system. Harmonisation is necessary as, due to certain options and vague definitions, the practical application of the provisions related to public authorities varies widely among Member States creating differences in the VAT treatment of public authorities between Member States. Neutrality has to be achieved as distortions of competition between the public and the private sector and several economic inefficiencies as well as tax avoidance schemes are the main disadvantages of the current rules. |

98 | Council Directive 2003/49/EC on a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different Member States as amended | Codification | Consolidation of the legal text and adoption of simplified procedures relating to exemption from withholding tax. |

99 | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport | Recast | Recast |

100 | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 on ship and port facility security | Recast | Recast |

101 | Review of the "first railway package" following the 2006 report on its implementation (Communication accompanied by a proposal to modify/recast existing acts, notably Directives 91/440/CEE and 2001/14/CE) | Recast | In the light of the above-mentioned report, it is necessary to take on board, where possible in the form of a "railway code", the totality of the relevant legislation with the aim to improve its readability and clarify certain points (notably with regard to the independence of vital functions) | X |

102 | Revision of Council Directive 94/56/EC establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents and of Directive 2003/42/EC on occurrence reporting in civil aviation | Revision | The objective is to modernise Directive 94/56/EC following the advice of the Group of Experts established by EC Decision 2003/425. In addition it will build upon Directive 2003/42/EC in order to create a minimum set of centralised functions, including a data base to allow appropriate entities to carry out trend analysis or other studies. | X |

103 | Mutual acceptance of personnel licences and harmonisation of technical requirements in civil aviation | Recast | Potential repeal of: - Council Directive 91/670/EEC on mutual acceptance of personnel licences for the exercise of functions in civil aviation -Council Regulation (EC) No 3922/91 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation. |

104 | Recast of Directive 96/98 on marine equipment | Recast | To ensure the free movement of marine equipment within the Single Market while ensuring the highest level of safety and environment protection. The objectives are to: - Produce a consolidated text following the successive amendments of the Directive; - Improve the functioning of the Directive's system by addressing the existing shortcomings; - Adapt, if and as necessary, to the ongoing revision of the New Approach. |

105 | Revision of the Emergency Oil Stock Systems Recast of Directive 68/414/EEC to minimum stocks; repeal of 68/416/EEC Council Decision; recast of Directive 72/425/EEC; recast of Directive 73/238/EEC; repeal of 77/706/EEC Council Decision; repeal of 79/639/EEC Commission Decision and recast of Directive 98/93/EC | Revision and repeal | The objective of this revision is to achieve better security of oil supply by providing for an integrated EU emergency mechanism which will be able to secure the integrity of supplies of oil products in case of supply disruptions and to contribute to the transparency of oil markets by increasing the visibility of stocks. |

106 | Recast of the framework Directive 92/75/EC on the compulsory energy labelling of domestic appliances | Recast | Impact Assessment will be launched in October 2006 to evaluate the opportunity to extend the scope of the directive beyond domestic appliances. |

107 | Recast of the Community regulatory framework regarding the transport of radioactive material | Recast | Currently at Community level more than 30 Directives, Regulations, recommendations govern the transport of radioactive material. Based on the work of an expert group, harmonisation will lead to simplification of rules and procedures. | X |

108 | Revision of the basic safety standards (2006-2007) to reflect the new ICRP Recommendation (2007) and to strengthen the Community legislation Recast of 10 acts on radioprotection into a single Commission act: Euratom Council Directives 89/618, 90/641, 92/3, 96/29, 97/43, 2003/122 and 1493/93; Euratom Commission decision 93/552, and Commission recommendations 90/143 and C (2001)4580. | Recast | Once the International Commission on Radiological Protection will have issued new recommendations (mid-2007), Directive 96/29/Euratom will be revised taking into account operational experience and consolidating the existing acquis. |

109 | Commission Decision amending the Annex to Directive 90/377 concerning a Community procedure to improve the transparency of gas and electricity prices charged to industrial end-users | Revision | The draft Decision concerns the methodology for collecting statistics. There are also significant simplifications to the methodology including the removal of data submission at local level and a reduction in the number of categories of consumer. These will reduce the reporting burden without losing very much in terms of the comprehensiveness of coverage. | X |

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2009 |

110 | Commission Directive repealing 38 Directives on Motor Vehicles | Repeal | Once the recast of Council Directive 70/156/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers has been adopted, a set of UN/ECE Regulations on motor vehicles can be made mandatory (step 1) in view of repealing 38 parallel Directives (step 2). The list of Directives to be repealed is published as Annex 1 to the CARS 21 Final Report. The recast of Directive 70/156/EEC will also empower the Commission to proceed to the necessary repeals via comitology. |

111 | Simplification of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 on fertilizers | Revision | The purpose of the Fertiliser Regulation is to guarantee to the farmer the nutrient content of the fertiliser. For this purpose, the technical Annexes of the Regulation give detailed technical specifications of a larger number of nutrient test methods. The objective of the simplification is to: - Replace 150 pages of the Annexes containing detailed descriptions of text methods with standards - Have therefore greater compliance with WTO by use of international standards Commission autonomous act | X |

Annex 2

Codification rolling programme – SEC(2006) 1220

* Acts forming part of the Commission's Simplification Programme

1 The order of priority of the acts in the list will be subject to the availability of the texts in all languages, in particular Bulgarian and Romanian, and to amendments foreseen to the act being codified.

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 1: ACTS PENDING BEFORE THE COUNCIL OR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL |

Regulation 845/72 laying down special measures to encourage silkworm rearing |

Regulation 2730/75 on glucose and lactose | Art. 308 |

Regulation 2759/75 on the common organization of the market in pig meat | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 2075/92 on the common organization of the market in raw tobacco | Art. 36 and 37 |

Decision 2000/24 granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans for projects outside the Community | Art. 181a |

Directive 73/23 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits | Art. 95 |

Directive 93/31 on stands for two-wheel motor vehicles (amended proposal) | Art. 95 |

Directive 93/32 on passenger hand-holds on two or three-wheel motor vehicles (amended proposal) | Art. 95 |

Directive 93/94 relating to the space for mounting rear registration plate of two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Directive 78/659 on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life | Art. 175(1) |

Directive 79/923 on the quality required of shellfish waters | Art. 175(1) |

Directive 90/219 on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms | Art. 175(1) |

Directive 96/61* concerning integrated pollution prevention and control | Art. 175(1) |

Regulation 1588/90 on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the statistical Office of the European Communities | Art. 285 |

Decision 91/115 establishing a committee on monetary, financial and balance of payments statistics | The treaty: decision sui generis |

Regulation 3880/91 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States in the north-east Atlantic | Art. 285 |

Directive 92/100 * on rental right and on certain rights related to copyright in the field of intellectual property |

Directive 93/98 * harmonizing the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights |

Directive 69/466 on control of San José Scale | Art. 37 and 94 |

Directive 84/450 concerning misleading and comparative advertising | Art. 95 |

Directive 88/344 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients | Art. 95 |

Directive 89/398 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses | Art. 95 |

Decision 90/638 laying down Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases | Treaty and Dec. 90/424 (Art. 24) |

Directive 91/629 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves | Art. 37 |

European Parliament and Council Directive 98/27 on injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests | Art. 95 and 251 |

Directive 78/1035 on the exemption from taxes on imports of small consignments of goods of a non-commercial character from third countries | Art. 93 |

Regulation 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods | Art. 133 |

Decision 73/391 on consultation and information procedures in credit matters | Art.133 |

Regulation 2007/2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process | Art. 133 |

Directive 62/2005 on the establishment of common rules for international transport (carrying of goods by road for hire or reward) | Art. 71(1) and 251 |

Decision 62/403 instituting a procedure or prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States | Art. 71(1) and 251 |

Regulation 4060/89 on the elimination of controls performed at the frontiers of Member States in the field of road and inland waterway transport | Art. 251 |

Directive 92/14 on the limitation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation | Art. 80(2) |

Directive 95/18 on the licensing of railway undertakings | Art. 71 |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 2: ADOPTION BETWEEN 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 AND 31 DECEMBER 2006 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 1601/91 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatized wines | Art. 37 and 97 |

Directive 80/987 * on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer | Art. 251 |

Directive 83/477 * on the protection of employees against the risk of exposure to asbestos at the workplace | Art. 251 |

Directive 89/655 * on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of equipment | Art. 251 |

Directive 74/151 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to certain parts and characteristics of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 74/347 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the field of vision and windscreen wipers for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors |

Directive 93/29 on identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators for two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Regulation 837/90 concerning statistical information to be supplied by the Member States on cereals production | Art. 251 |

Regulation 2597/95 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the north Atlantic | Art. 285 |

Directive 85/611 * on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities – CITS | Art. 47(2) |

Directive 89/104* First Council Directive to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trademarks | Art. 95 |

Regulation 40/94 * on the Community trade mark | Art. 308 |

Directive 77/504 on pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species | Art. 37 and 94 |

Directive 91/630 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs | Art. 37 |

Directive 76/308 on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims resulting from operations forming part of the system of financing the EAGGF, and of the agricultural levies and customs duties | Art. 93 and 94 |

Directive 83/183 on tax exemptions applicable to permanent imports from a Member State of the personal property of individuals | Art. 93 |

Directive 90/377 concerning a Community procedure to improve the transparency of gas and electricity prices charged to industrial end-users | Art. 284 |

Directive 96/96 * on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers | Art. 71 |

(b) Commission acts |

Regulation 1054/73 on detailed rules for aid in respect of silkworms |

Regulation 109/80 on the application of the lowest rate of export refund for certain products in the eggs and poultryment sectors |

Regulation 2319/89 on minimum quality requirements for Williams and Rocha pears in syrup and in natural fruit juice eligible for the production aid scheme |

Regulation 2742/90 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 2204/90 |

Regulation 2825/93 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1766/92 as regards the fixing and granting of adjusted refunds in respect of cereals exported in the form of certain spirit drinks |

Regulation 1432/94 laying down detailed rules for the application in the pigmeat sector of the import arrangements provided for in Regulation 774/94 |

Regulation 562/2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1254/1999 |

Regulation 2723/87 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on cereals exported in the form of pasta products falling within heading No 19.03 of the CCT |

Decision 79/491 laying down a code and standard rules for the transcription into a machine-readable form of the data of the basic surveys of areas under vines |

Regulation 908/2000 laying down detailed rules for calculating aid granted by member States to producer organisations in the fisheries and aquaculture sector |

Regulation 1886/2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 104/2000 as regards the extension to non-members of certain rules adopted by producers’ organisations in the fisheries sector |

Directive 95/44 establishing the conditions under which certain harmful organisms, plants, plant products and other objects listed in Annexes I to V to Directive 77/93 may be introduced into or moved within the Community or certain protected zones thereof, for trial or scientific purposes and for work on varietal selections |

Directive 96/5 on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children |

Regulation 3954/87 * concerning maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs | Art. 31 Euratom |

Regulation 737/90 * concerning imports of agricultural products after the Chernobyl accident | Art. 133 |

Directive 2001/25 * concerning the minimum level of training of seafarers | Art. 80(2) |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 3 : ADOPTION BETWEEN 1 JANUARY 2007 AND 30 APRIL 2007 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 79/65 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings | Art. 37(2) |

Regulation 234/68 on the establishment of a common organization of the market in live trees and other plants, bulbs, roots and the like, cut flowers and ornamental foliage | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 315/68 fixing quality standards for flowering bulbs, corms and tubers | Treaty Council Regulation 234/68 |

Regulation 316/68 fixing quality standards for fresh cut flowers and fresh ornamental foliage | Treaty Council Regulation 234/69 |

Regulation 827/68 on the common organisation of the market in certain products listed in Annex II to the Treaty | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 2782/75 on the production and marketing of eggs for hatching and of farmyard poultry chicks | Art. 37 |

Regulation 1017/68 applying rules of competition to transport by rail, road and inland waterway | Art. 71, 83 and 251 |

Directive 75/321 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the steering equipment of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 77/536 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the roll-over protection structures of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 78/764 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the drivers seat on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 80/181 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to units of measurement | Art. 95 |

Regulation 959/93 concerning statistical information to be supplied by Member States on crop products other than cereals | Art. 251 |

Regulation 2018/93 on the submission of catch and activity statistics by Member States fishing in the north-west Atlantic | Art. 285 |

Directive 68/151 * on co-ordination of safeguards which, for the protection of the interests of members and others, are required by Member States of companies within the meaning of the second paragraph of Article 58 of the Treaty, with a view to making such safeguards equivalent throughout the Community | Art. 251 |

Directive 80/777 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters | Art. 95 |

Directive 90/539 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and imports from the third countries of poultry and hatching eggs | Art. 37 |

Directive 92/12 on general arrangements for products subject to excise duty | Art. 93 |

Regulation 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods | Art. 133 |

Regulation 519/94 on common rules for imports from third countries | Art. 133 |

Regulation 3285/94 on the common rules for imports | Art. 133 |

Directive 94/55 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States with regard to the transport of dangerous goods by road | Art. 71 |

Directive 96/49 relating to the transport of dangerous goods by rail | Art. 71 |

(b) Commission acts |

Decision 83/471 relating to the Community Inspection Committee on the application of the classification scale for carcases of adult bovine animals |

Regulation 2622/71 on procedures for the importation of rye from Turkey |

Regulation 2968/79 laying down detailed rules for the provision of administrative assistance in connection with the export of soft ripened cow's milk cheeses eligible for special treatment on import into a non-member country |

Regulation 2973/79 laying down detailed rules for the application of granting of assistance for the export of beef and veal products which may benefit from a special import treatment in a third country |

Regulation 32/82 laying down the conditions for granting special export refunds for beef and veal | amendment pending |

Regulation 563/82 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1208/81 for establishing the market prices of adult bovine animals on the basis of the Community scale for the classification of carcases |

Regulation 1964/82 laying down the conditions for granting special export refunds on certain cuts of boned meat of bovine animals | amendment pending |

Regulation 2213/83 laying down quality standards for onions and witloof chicory |

Regulation 2388/84 on special detailed rules for the application of export refunds in the case of certain preserved beef and veal products | amendment pending |

Regulation 1591/87 laying down quality standards for cabbages, Brussels sprouts, ribbed celery, spinach and plums |

Regulation 1677/88 laying down quality standards for cucumbers |

Regulation 1014/90 laying down detailed implementing rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks |

Regulation 2921/90 on aid for the production of casein and caseinates from skimmed milk |

Regulation 1538/91 introducing detailed rules for implementing Regulation 1906/90 |

Regulation 1518/95 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulations 1418/76 and 1766/92 as regards the import and export system for products processed from cereals and rice |

Regulation 2051/96 laying down certain detailed rules for granting of assistance for the export of beef and veal which may benefit from a special import treatment in Canada |

Regulation 936/97 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for high-quality fresh, chilled and frozen beef and for frozen buffalo meat |

Regulation 2288/97 laying down marketing standards for garlic |

Regulation 1396/98 laying down procedures for applying Regulation 779/98 in the poultrymeat sector | amendment pending |

Regulation 730/1999 laying down the marketing standard for carrots |

Regulation 1455/1999 laying down the marketing standard for sweet peppers |

Regulation 2377/1999 laying down the marketing standards for asparagus |

Regulation 2561/1999 laying down the marketing standard for peas |

Regulation 2789/1999 laying down the marketing standard for table grapes |

Regulation 851/2000 laying down the marketing standard for apricots |

Regulation 912/2001 laying down the marketing standard for beans |

Regulation 1508/2001 laying down the marketing standard for onions |

Regulation 1543/2001 laying down the marketing standard for lettuces and curled-leaved and broad-leaved (Batavian) endives |

Regulation 1615/2001 laying down the marketing standard for melons |

Regulation 1799/2001 laying down the marketing standard for citrusfruit |

Regulation 2396/2001 laying down the marketing standard applicable to leeks |

Regulation 843/2002 laying down the marketing standard for strawberries |

Regulation 1284/2002 laying down the marketing standard for hazelnuts in shell |

Directive 80/723 on the transparency of financial relations between Member States and public undertakings |

Regulation 4056/87 laying down the methods of analysis and other technical provisions necessary for the implementation of Regulation 3035/80 |

Regulation 4154/87 laying down the methods of analysis and other technical provisions necessary for the implementation of Regulation 3033/80 |

Directive 94/54 concerning the compulsory indication on the labelling of certain foodstuffs of particulars other than those provided for in Directive 2000/13 |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION: ADOPTION BETWEEN 1 MAY 2007 AND 31 AUGUST 2007 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 2729/75 on the import levies on mixtures of cereals, rice and broken rice |

Regulation 2783/75 on the common system of trade for ovalbumin and lactalbumin | Art. 26, 87, 88, 89 and following, 308 |

Regulation 3220/84 determining the Community scale for grading pig carcases | Treaty and Council Regulation 2759/75 |

Regulation 386/90 on the monitoring carried out at the time of export of agricultural products receiving refunds or other amounts | Art. 37 |

Regulation 2204/90 laying down additional general rules on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products as regards cheese |

Regulation 2137/92 concerning the Community scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals and determining the Community standard quality of fresh or chilled sheep carcases | Art. 37 |

Regulation 1254/1999 on the common organization of the market in beef and veal | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 3976/87 on the application of Article 85 (3) to agreements in the air transport sector | Art. 83 |

Regulation 479/92 on the application of Article 85 (3) of the Treaty to certain categories of agreements, decisions and concerted practices between liner shipping companies (consortia) | Art. 83 |

Directive 72/306 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in vehicles |

Directive 74/346 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to rear view mirrors for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 76/114 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to statutory plates and inscriptions for motor vehicles and their trailers, and their location and method of attachment | Art. 95 |

Directive 76/760 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the rear registration plate lamps for motor vehicles and their trailers | Art. 95 |

Directive 76/765 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to alcoholmeters and alcohol hydrometers | Art. 94 |

Directive 77/311 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the driver perceived noise level of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 78/933 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the installation of lighting and light signalling devices on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 79/533 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the coupling device and the reverse of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 79/622 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the roll-over protection structures of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 80/720 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the operating space, access to the driving position and the doors and windows of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 86/298 on rear-mounted roll-over protection structures of narrow track wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 87/402 on roll-over protection structures mounted in front drivers seat on narrow track wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 89/106 an the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to construction products | Art. 96 |

Directive 90/384 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to non-automatic weighting instruments | Art. 95 |

Directive 90/396 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to appliances burning gazeous fuels | Art.95 |

Directive 93/92 on the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds | Art. 175(1) |

Regulation 1210/90 on the establishment of the European Environment Agency and the European Environment Information and Observation Network | Art. 175 |

Regulation 3037/90 on the statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community | Art. 285 |

Decision 96/411 on improving Community agricultural statistics | Art. 251 |

Directive 72/166 * on the approximation of the laws of Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, and to the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability | Art. 251 |

Directive 78/855 * concerning mergers of public limited liability companies | Art. 251 |

Directive 84/5 * on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles | Art. 251 |

Directive 91/250 * on the legal protection of computer programs | Art. 95 |

Directive 91/496 laying down the principles governing the organization of veterinary checks on animals entering the Community from third countries | Art. 37 |

Directive 92/102 on the identification and registration of animals | Art.37 |

Directive 83/181 determining the scope of Article 14(1)(d) of Directive 77/388 as regards exemption from value added tax on the final importation of certain goods | Art. 93 and 94 |

Directive 90/434 on the common system of taxation applicable to mergers of companies of different Member States | Art. 94 |

Regulation 2603/69 establishing common rules for exports | Art. 133 |

Regulation 520/94 establishing a Community procedure for administering quantitative quotas | Art. 133 |

Directive 76/135 on reciprocal recognition of navigability licences for inland waterway vessels | Art. 71 |

(b) Commission acts |

Decision 88/566 listing the products referred to in the second subparagraph of Article 3(1) of Regulation 1898/87 |

Regulation 467/67 fixing the conversion rates, the processing costs and the values of the by-products for the various stages of rice processing |

Regulation 2237/77 on the form of farm return to be used for the purpose of determining incomes of agricultural holdings |

Regulation 1552/80 laying down detailed rules for the provision of administrative assistance in connection with the export of certain cheeses eligible for special treatment on import into Australia |

Regulation 1859/52 concerning the selection of returning holdings for the purpose of determining incomes of agricultural holdings |

Regulation 1898/87 on the protection of designations used in marketing of milk and milk products |

Regulation 344/91 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation 1186/90 to extend the scope of the Community scale for the classification of carcases of adult bovine animals |

Regulation 94/92 laying down detailed rules for implementing the arrangements for imports from third countries |

Regulation 2342/92 on imports of pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species from the third countries and the granting of export refunds thereon |

Regulation 461/93 laying down detailed rules for the Community scale for the classification of carcases of ovine animals |

Regulation 2131/93 laying down the procedure and conditions for the sale of cereals held by intervention agencies |

Regulation 1267/94 applying the agreements between the European Union and third countries on the mutual recognition of certain spirit drinks |

Regulation 2019/94 on imports of residues from the manufacture of starch from maize from the USA |

Regulation 1445/95 on rules of application for import and export licences | amendment pending |

Regulation 1501/95 laying down certain detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1766/92 on the granting of export refunds on cereals and the measures to be taken in the event of disturbance on the market in cereals |

Regulation 1598/95 laying down detailed rules for the application of the arrangements for additional import duties in the milk and milk products sector |

Regulation 1249/96 on the rules of application (cereal sector import duties) for Council Regulation 1784/2003 |

Regulation 2449/96 opening and providing for the administration of certain annual tariff quotas for products covered by CN codes 0714 10 91, 0714 10 99, 0714 90 11 and 0714 90 19 originating in certain third countries other than Thailand |

Regulation 2497/96 laying down procedures for applying in the poultrymeat sector the agreement with Israel | amendment pending |

Regulation 577/97 laying down certain detailed rules for the application of Regulations 2991/94 and 1898/87 |

Regulation 831/97 laying down marketing standards applicable to avocados |

Regulation 2331/97 on special conditions for granting export refunds on certain pigmeat products |

Regulation 790/2000 laying down the marketing standard for tomatoes |

Regulation 883/2001 laying down detailed rules for implementing Regulation 1493/1999 as regards trade with third countries in products in the wine sector |

Directive 88/301 on competition in the markets in telecommunications terminal equipment |

Regulation 80/2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 104/2000 as regards notifications concerning recognition of producer organisations, the fixing of prices and intervention within the scope of the common organisation of the market in fishery and aquaculture products |

Directive 93/10 relating to materials and articles made of regenerated cellulose film |

Decision 94/63 drawing up a provisional list of third countries from which Member States authorize imports of semen, ova and embryos of the ovine, caprine and equine species, ova and embryos of the porcine species |

Directive 94/39 establishing a list of intended uses of animal feedingstuffs for particular nutritional purposes |

Directive 95/31 laying down specific criteria of purity concerning sweeteners for use in foodstuffs |

Directive 96/77 laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners |

Decision 2001/106 establishing a model for the lists of units approved by Member States for intra-Community trade in live animals, semen and embryos |

Decision 2000/585 laying down animal and public health conditions and veterinary certifications for imports of wild and farmed game meat and rabbit meat from third countries | amendment pending |

Decision 2001/618 on additional guarantees in intra-Community trade of pigs relating to Aujeszky's disease and criteria to provide information on this disease |

Decision 2000/666 laying down the animal health requirements and the veterinary certification for the import of birds, other than poultry and the conditions for quarantine |

Regulation 752/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Regulation 3911/92 |

Regulation 805/1999 laying down certain measures for implementing Regulation 718/1999 on a Community-fleet capacity policy to promote inland waterway transport |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 5: ADOPTION BETWEEN 1 SEPTEMBER 2007 AND 31 DECEMBER 2007 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 2771/75 on the common organization of the market in eggs | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 2777/75 on the common organization of the market in poultry meat | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 1906/90 on certain marketing standards for poultry | Treaty and Council Regulation 2777/75 |

Regulation 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch | Art. 36 and 37 |

Directive 74/152 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the maximum design speed of and load platforms for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

Directive 71/316 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to common provisions for both measuring instruments and methods of metrological control | Art. 95 |

Directive 75/322 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the suppression of radio interference produced by sparkignition engines fitted to wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95. |

Directive 78/25 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the colouring matters which may be added to medicinal products | Art. 95 |

Directive 79/532 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the component type-approval of lighting and light signalling devices on wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 80/1268 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the fuel consumption of motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Directive 87/404 on simple pressure vessels | Art. 95 |

Directive 89/173 on certain components and characteristics of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 93/7 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State | Art. 251 |

Directive 93/34 on statutory markings for two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Regulation 3448/93 laying down the trade arrangements applicable to certain goods resulting from the processing of agricultural products | Art. 37 and 133 |

European Parliament and Council Directive 96/74 on textile names | Art. 95 |

Regulation 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein | Art. 175(1) |

Regulation 3605/93 on the application of the Protocol on the excessive deficit procedure to the treaty establishing the European Community | Art. 104(14) |

Directive 95/64 on statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea | Art. 285 |

Regulation 1172/95 on the statistics relating to the trading of goods by the Community and its Member States with non-member countries | Art. 285 |

Regulation 2223/96 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community | Art. 285 |

Regulation 1172/98 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road | Art. 285 |

Regulation 1683/95 on a uniform format for visas | Art. 62(2) |

Decision 90/424 on expenditure in the veterinary field | Art. 37 |

Directive 66/401 on the marketing of fodder plant seed (amended proposal) | Art. 37 |

Directive 66/402 on the marketing of cereal seed (amended proposal) | Art. 37 |

Directive 68/193 on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine | Art. 37 |

Directive 89/556 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species | Art. 37 |

Directive 90/426 on animal health conditions governing the movement and import from third countries of equidae | Art. 37 |

Directive 90/429 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species | Art. 37 |

Directive 91/68 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in ovine and caprine animals | Art. 37 |

Directive 92/35 laying down control rules and measures to combat African horse sickness | Art. 37 |

Directive 92/65 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements | Art. 80(2) and 251 |

Directive 92/118 laying down animal health and public health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of products not subject to the said requirements | Art. 37 |

Directive 2000/29 on protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants or plant products and against their spread within the Community | Art. 37 |

European Parliament and Council Regulation 2001/999 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies | Art. 152(4)(b) |

Directive 77/799 concerning mutual assistance by the competent authorities of the Member States in the field of direct taxation | Art. 94 |

Directive 95/50 on uniform procedures for checks on the transport of dangerous goods by road | Art. 71 and 251 |

Decision 96/1692 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network | Art. 156 |

Directive 98/18 on safety rules and standards for passenger ships | Art. 80(2) |

(b) Commission acts |

Regulation 1351/72 on the recognition of producer groups for hops |

Regulation 776/73 on registration of contracts and communication of data with respect to hops |

Regulation 584/75 laying down detailed rules for the application of the system of tendering for export refunds on rice |

Decision 85/377 establishing a Community typology for agricultural holdings |

Regulation 2220/85 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of securities for agricultural products |

Regulation 120/89 laying down common detailed rules for the application of export levies and charges on agricultural products |

Regulation 3444/90 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for pigmeat |

Regulation 3446/90 laying down detailed rules for granting private storage aid for sheepmeat and goatmeat |

Regulation 3447/90 on special conditions for the granting of private storage aid for sheepmeat and goatmeat |

Regulation 3002/92 laying down common detailed rules for verifying the use and/or destination of products from intervention |

Regulation 3515/92 laying down common detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1055/77 on the storage and movements of products brought in by an intervention agency |

Regulation 1756/93 fixing the operative events for the agricultural conversion rate applicable to milk and milk products |

Regulation 2273/93 determining the intervention centres for cereals |

Regulation 1429/95 on implementing rules for export refunds on products processed from fruit and vegetables other than those granted for added sugars |

Regulation 1591/95 laying down detailed rules for the application of export refunds to glucose and glucose syrup used in certain products processed from fruit and vegetables |

Regulation 1839/95 laying down detailed rules for the application of tariff quotas for imports of maize and sorghum into Spain and imports of maize into Portugal |

Regulation 996/97 on the opening and administration of an import tariff quota for frozen thin skirt of bovine animals falling within CN code 0206 29 91 |

Regulation 1081/1999 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas for imports of bulls, cows and heifers other than for slaughter of certain Alpine and mountain breeds |

Regulation 2771/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in butter and cream |

Regulation 2799/1999 laying down detailed rules for applying Regulation 1255/1999 as regards the grant of aid for skimmed milk and skimmed-milk powder intended for animal feed and the sale of such skimmed-milk powder |

Regulation 824/2000 establishing procedures for the taking-over of cereals by intervention agencies and laying down methods of analysis for determining the quality of cereals |

Regulation 1291/2000 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences and advance fixing certificates for agricultural products |

Regulation 1622/2000 on the Community code of oenological practices |

Regulation 2584/2000 establishing a system for the communication of information on certain supplies of beef, veal and pigmeat by road to the territory of the Russian Federation |

Regulation 2707/2000 laying down rules for applying Regulation 1255/1999 as regards Community aid for supplying milk and certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments |

Regulation 245/2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1673/2000 on the common organization of the markets in flax and hemp |

Decision 82/43 relating to the setting up of an Advisory Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men |

Decision 98/385 on rules for implementing Directive 95/64 on statistical returns in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea |

Decision 86/109 limiting the marketing of seed of certain species of fodder plants and oil and fibre plants to seed which has been officially certified as 'basic seed' or 'certified seed' |

Decision 94/467 laying down health guarantees for the transport of equidae from one third country to another in accordance with Article 9 (1) (c) of Directive 91/496 |

Directive 95/45 laying down specific purity criteria concerning colours for use in foodstuffs | amendment pending |

Decision 97/10 on additional guarantees in relation to the temporary admission and imports into the Community of registered horses from South Africa |

Directive 95/12 implementing Directive 92/75 with regard to energy labelling of household washing machines |

Directive 97/17 implementing Directive 92/75 with regard to energy labelling of household dishwashers |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 6 : ADOPTION DURING FIRST HALF OF 2008 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 1784/77 concerning the certification of hops | Treaty + Regulation 1952/2005 |

Regulation 1883/78 laying down general rules for the financing of interventions by the EAGGF | Legal base unclear |

Regulation 4045/89 on scrutiny by Member States of transactions forming part of the system of financing by the EAGGF | Art. 37 |

Regulation 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products |

Regulation 1673/2000 on the common organisation of the markets in flax and hemp grown for fibre | Art. 36 and 37 - amendment pending |

Decision 77/270/Euratom empowering the Commission to issue Euratom loans for the purpose of contributing to the financing of nuclear power stations | amendment pending |

Decision 77/271/Euratom on the implementation of Decision 77/270/Euratom empowering the Commission to issue Euratom loans for the purpose of contributing to the financing of nuclear power stations | amendment pending |

Regulation 2728/94 establishing a Guarantee Fund for external actions | amendment pending |

Directive 76/763 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to passenger seats for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractor | Art. 95 |

Directive 77/537 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the measures to be taken against the emission of pollutants from diesel engines for use in wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

Directive 86/297 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to power take-offs of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors and their protection | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

Directive 86/415 on the installation, location operation and identification of the controls of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

Directive 89/686 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to personal protective equipment | Art. 95 |

Directive 90/385 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to active implantable medical devices | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

Regulation 1768/92 concerning the creation of a supplementary protection certificate for medicinal products | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

Directive 97/24 on certain components and characteristics of two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

European Parliament and Council Directive 2002/24 relating to the type-approval of two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 - amendment pending |

Regulation 2150/2002 on waste statistics | Art. 285 |

Directive 77/91 * on coordination of safeguards which, for the protection of the interests of members and others, are required by Member States of companies within the meaning of the second paragraph of Article 58 of the Treaty, in respect of the formation of public limited liability companies and the maintenance and alteration of their capital | Art. 251 |

Directive 89/667 * on single-member private limited-liability companies | Art. 251 |

Directive 88/407 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of deep-frozen semen of domestic animals of the bovine species | Art. 37 - amendment pending |

Directive 89/662 concerning veterinary checks in intra-Community trade with a view to the completion of the internal market | Art. 37 |

Directive 92/119 introducing general Community measures for the control of certain animal diseases and specific measures relating to swine vesicular disease | Art. 37 |

Directive 93/53 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases | Art. 37 - amendment pending |

Directive 97/7 on the protection of consumers in respect of distance contracts | Art. 95 |

Directive 2002/56 on the marketing of seed potatoes | Art. 37 |

Directive 90/435 common system of taxation applicable to parent companies and subsidiaries of different Member States | Art. 94 |

Directive 92/79 on the approximation of taxes on cigarettes | Art.93 |

Directive 92/80 on the approximation of taxes on manufactured tobacco other than cigarettes | Art. 93 |

Directive 95/59 on taxes other than turnover taxes which affect the consumption of manufactured tobacco | Art. 93 |

Regulation 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport | Art. 71 |

Regulation 3922/91 on the harmonization of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation | Art. 80(2) |

Directive 96/53 laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorized dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorized weights in international traffic | Art. 71 and 251 |

Directive 96/98 on marine equipment | Art. 80(2) |

(b) Commission acts |

Regulation 821/68 on the definition, applicable to the granting of export refunds, of hulled grains and pearled grains of cereals |

Regulation 100/72 laying down detailed rules on the denaturing of sugar for animal feed |

Regulation 890/78 laying down detailed rules for the certification of hops |

Regulation 3076/78 on the importation of hops from non-member countries |

Regulation 3077/78 on the equivalence with Community certificates of attestations accompanying hops imported from non-member countries |

Regulation 2248/85 on detailed rules for administrative assistance with the exportation of certain cheeses subject to quota restrictions that qualifies for special treatment on importation into the USA |

Regulation 2967/85 laying down detailed rules for the application of the Community scale for grading pig carcases | amendment pending |

Regulation 2145/92 redefining the destination zones for export refunds, export levies and certain export licences for cereals and rice |

Regulation 1713/93 establishing special detailed rules for applying the agricultural conversion rate in the sugar sector |

Regulation 1431/94 laying down detailed rules for the application in the poultrymeat sector of the import arrangements provided for in Regulation 774/94 | amendment pending |

Regulation 1251/96 on administration of tariff quotas in the poultry meat sector | amendment pending |

Regulation 327/98 opening and providing for the administration of certain tariff quotas for imports of rice and broken rice |

Regulation 800/1999 laying down common detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on agricultural products |

Regulation 1788/2001 laying down detailed rules for implementing the provisions concerning the certificate of inspection for imports from third countries under Article 11 of Regulation 2092/91 |

Regulation 2375/2002 opening and providing for the administration of Community tariff quotas for common wheat of a quality other than high quality from third countries |

Regulation 2377/2002 opening and providing for the administration of a Community tariff quota for malting barley from third countries |

Decision 92/260 on animal health conditions and veterinary certification for temporary admission of registered horses | amendment pending |

Decision 93/195 on animal health conditions and veterinary certification for the re-entry of registered horses for racing, competition and cultural events after temporary export |

Decision 93/196 on animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of equidae for slaughter |

Decision 93/197 on animal health conditions and veterinary certification for imports of registered equidae and equidae for breeding and production |

Decision 93/342 laying down the criteria for classifying third countries with regard to avian influenza and Newcastle disease | amendment pending |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 7 : ADOPTION DURING FIRST HALF OF 2008 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 404/93 on the common organization of the market in bananas | Art. 36 and 37 - amendment pending |

Regulation 1103/97 on certain provisions relating to the introduction of the euro | Art. 123(5) |

Regulation 974/98 on the introduction of the euro | Art. 123(5) |

Regulation 975/98 on denominations and technical specifications of euro coins intended for circulation | Art. 106(2) |

Regulation 357/79 on statistical surveys of areas under vines | Art. 285 |

Regulation 539/2001 listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders | Art. 62(2) |

Directive 92/33 on the marketing of vegetable propagating and planting material, other than seed | Art. 37 |

Regulation 384/96 on protection against dumped imports | Art.133 |

Regulation 2236/95 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European networks | Art. 156(1) |

(b) Commission acts |

Regulation 2659/94 on detailed rules for the granting of private storage aid for Grana Padano, Parmigiano-Reggiano and Provolone cheeses |

Regulation 214/2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in skimmed-milk powder |

Regulation 2700/98 concerning the definitions of characteristics for structural business statistics |

Regulation 2701/98 concerning the series of data to be produced for structural business statistics |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 8 : PROPOSALS CONVERTED FROM CODIFICATION TO RECAST, TO BE ADOPTED BEFORE THE END OF 2008 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 2092/91 on the organic production of agricultural products |

Regulation 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organization of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk |

Directive 72/245 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the suppression of radio interference produced by sparkignition engines fitted to motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Directive 76/115 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to anchorages for motor vehicle safety belts | Art. 95 |

Directive 76/432 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the braking devices of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 88/378 on safety of toys |

European Parliament and Council Directive 98/34 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical standards and regulations | Art. 37, 95, 284 |

Directive 92/34 on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production | Art. 37 |

Directive 67/227 on the harmonization of legislation of Member States concerning turnover taxes | Art. 93 and 94 |

Directive 69/335 concerning indirect taxes on the raising of capital | Art. 93 and 94 |

Regulation 1192/69 on common rules for the normalisation of the accounts of railway undertakings | Art. 71, 89 and 251 |

Directive 82/714 laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels | Art. 71(1) and 251 |

Directive 91/440 on the development of the Community's railways | Art. 71 and 251 |

Regulation 684/92 on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus | Art. 71 and 251 |

Regulation 3118/93 laying down the conditions under which non-resident carriers may operate national road haulage services within a Member State |

Directive 94/57 on common rules and standards for ship inspection and survey organisations and for the relevant activities of maritime administrations |

Directive 95/21 concerning the enforcement, in respect of shipping using Community ports and sailing in the waters under the juridiction of the Member States, of international standards for ship safety, pollution prevention and shipboard living and working conditions (port State control) |

Directive 96/26 on admission to the occupation of road haulage operator and road passenger transport operator and mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications intended to facilitate for these operators the right to freedom of establishment in national and international transport operations |

(b) Commission acts |

Regulation 1868/77 laying down detailed rules of application of Regulation 2782/75 |

Directive 71/250 establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs |

Directive 71/393 establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs |

Directive 72/199 establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs |

Directive 73/46 establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs |

Directive 76/372 establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs |

Directive 78/633 establishing Community methods of analysis for the official control of feedingstuffs |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 9 : ACTS EXPECTED TO BE REPEALED BEFORE THE END OF 2008 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 565/80 on the advance payment of export refunds in respect of agricultural products |

Regulation 2019/93 introducing specific measures for the smaller Aegean islands concerning certain agricultural products |

Regulation 4056/86 laying down detailed rules for the application of Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty to maritime transport |

Regulation 1292/96 on food aid policy and food-aid management and special operations in support of food security |

Directive 73/361 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to the certification and marking of wireropes, chain and hooks |

Directive 75/439 on the disposal of waste oils |

Directive 91/157 on batteries and accumulators containing certain dangerous substances |

Decision 91/116 setting up the European Advisory Committee on statistical information in the economic and social spheres |

Regulation 1382/91 on the submission of data in the landings of fishery products in Member States | Art. 285 |

Directive 93/23 on the statistical surveys to be carried out on pig production |

Directive 93/24 on the statistical surveys to be carried out on bovine animal production |

Directive 93/25 on the statistical surveys to be carried out on sheep and goat stocks |

Regulation 2930/86 defining characteristics for fishing vessels |

Regulation 1956/88 adopting provisions for the application of the scheme of joint international inspection adopted by NAFO | Art. 37 |

Regulation 189/92 adopting provisions for the application of certain control measures adopted by NAFO | Art. 37 |

Regulation 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy |

Regulation 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean | Art. 37 |

Regulation 3069/95 establishing an EC observer scheme applicable to Community fishing vessels operating in the Regulatory Area of NAFO | Art. 37 |

Regulation 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms | Art. 37 |

Regulation 2791/99 laying down certain control measures applicable in the area covered by the Convention on future multilateral cooperation in the north-east Atlantic fisheries |

Regulation 2549/2000 establishing additional technical measures for the recovery of the stock of cod in the Irish Sea | Art. 37 |

Directive 79/117 prohibiting the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing certain active substances | Art. 94 |

Directive 79/373 on the circulation of compound feedingstuffs | Art. 37 and 94 |

Directive 89/396 on indications or marks identifying the lot to which a foodstuff belongs |

Directive 92/66 introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease |

European Parliament and Council Directive 94/35 on sweeteners for use in foodstuffs |

Directive 69/169 on the harmonisation of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action relating to exemption from turnover tax and excise duty on imports in international travel | Art. 93 |

Directive 79/1072 on arrangements for the refunds of VAT to taxable persons not established in the territyory of the country | Art. 93 |

Regulation 918/83 setting up a Community system of reliefs from customs duty | Art. 26, 37 and 308 |

Regulation 1420/1999 establishing common rules on the shipment of waste |

Regulation 1547/1999 determining the control procedures under Regulation 259/93 |

Regulation 1191/69 on action by Member States concerning the obligations inherent in the concept of a public service in transport by rail, road and inland waterway | co-decision |

Regulation 1107/70 on the granting of aids for transport by rail, road and inland waterway |

(b) Commission acts |

Regulation 2676/90 determining Community methods for the analysis of wines |

Regulation 1793/93 regarding the operative event for the agricultural conversion rates used in the hops sector |

Regulation 1848/93 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 2082/92 on certificates of specific character for agricultural products and foodstuffs |

Regulation 1858/93 laying down detailed rules for applying Regulation 404/93 as regards the aid scheme to compensate for loss of income from marketing in the banana sector |

Regulation 2037/93 laying down detailed rules of application of Regulation 2081/92 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs |

Regulation 2958/93 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 2019/93 as regards the specific arrangements for the supply of certain agricultural products |

Regulation 3063/93 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 2019/93 with regard to the aid scheme for the production of honey of specific quality |

Regulation 3393/93 laying down detailed rules governing the granting of private storage aid for certain cheeses manufactured on the smaller Aegean islands |

Regulation 919/94 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 404/93 as regards banana producers’ organizations |

Regulation 3175/94 laying down detailed rules of application for the specific arrangements for the supply of cereal products to the smaller Aegean islands and establishing the forecast supply balance |

Regulation 2898/95 concerning verification of compliance with quality standards for bananas |

Regulation 832/97 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 2275/96 introducing specific measures for live plants and floricultural products |

Regulation 1729/97 on the adjustment, following a change in prices or the storage levy in the sugar sector, of certain export refunds fixed in advance |

Regulation 2301/97 on the entry of certain names in the register of certificates of specific character provided for in Regulation 2082/92 |

Regulation 1623/2000 laying down detailed rules for implementing Regulation 1493/1999 |

Regulation 1554/2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1260/2001 as regards marketing sugar produced in the French overseas departments and equalising the price conditions with preferential raw sugar |

Regulation 2166/83 establishing a licensing system for certain fisheries in an area north of Scotland (Shetland area) |

Regulation 2807/83 laying down detailed rules for recording information on Member States’ catches of fish |

Regulation 3440/84 on the attachment of devices to trawls, Danish seines and similar nets |

Regulation 2868/88 laying down detailed rules for the application of the scheme of joint international inspection adopted by NAFO |

Decision 93/623 establishing the identification document (passport) accompanying registered equidae |

Decision 94/85 drawing up a provisional list of third countries from which Member States authorize imports of fresh poultry meat |

Decision 94/86 drawing up a provisional list of third countries from which Member States authorize imports of wild game meat |

Decision 96/367 concerning protection measures in relation to foot-and- mouth disease in Albania |

Decision 96/414 concerning protective measures with regard to imports of animals and animal products from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia due to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease |

Decision 96/482 laying down animal health conditions and veterinary certificates for the importation of poultry and hatching eggs other than ratites and eggs thereof from third countries including animal health measures to be applied after such importation |

Decision 96/539 on animal health requirements and veterinary certification for imports into the Community of semen of the equine species |

Decision 96/540 on animal health requirements and veterinary certification for imports into the Community of ova and embryos of the equine species |

Decision 96/659 on protective measures in relation to Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever in South Africa |

Decision 97/222 laying down the list of third countries from which the Member States authorize the importation of meat products |

Decision 1999/246 approving certain contingency plans for the control of classical swine fever |

Directive 2001/32 recognising protected zones exposed to particular plant health risks in the Community |

Regulation 2288/83 establishing the list of biological or chemical substances provided for in Article 60 (1) (b) of Regulation 918/83 |

Regulation 2289/83 laying down provisions for the implementation of Articles 70 to 78 of Regulation 918/83 |

Regulation 2290/83 laying down provisions for the implementation of Articles 50 to 59 and 63 of Regulation 918/83 |

Decision 96/587 on the publication of the list of recognized organizations which have been notified by Member States in accordance with Directive 94/57 |

Annex 3

Simplification proposals pending before the co legislators – state of play(as of 10 October 2006)

Regulatory area | Legal act(s) | Commission |

Organic farming | Simplified regime for organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs (revision of Council Regulation (EC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991) | 21 December 2005 COM(2005) 671 2005/0278/CNS 2005/0279/CNS |

Free movement of workers | Adaptation of the coordination of the national social security regimes (modifications to Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 of the Council) | 21 December 2005 COM(2005) 676 2005/0258/COD |

Free movement of workers | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems | 31 January 2006 COM(2006) 16 2006/0006/COD |

Health and safety at work | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament Directive on protection of the health and safety of workers at work with a view to simplifying and rationalising the reports on practical implementation | 14 July 2006 COM(2006) 390 2006/0127/COD |

Automotive construction sector | Simplified regime for type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers (modification of Directive 70/156/CEE) | 14 July 2003 COM(2003) 418 2003/0153/COD |

Chemicals (REACH) | Revision of the regime on marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (replacement of Council Directive 76/769/EEC of 27 July 1976 and subsequent modification) | 29 October 2003 COM(2003) 644 2003/0256/COD 2003/0257/COD |

Metrology & Packaging | Repeal of pre-packaging requirements. | 25 October 2004 COM(2004) 708 2004/0248/COD |

Public procurement | Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 89/665/EEC and 92/13/EEC with regard to improving the effectiveness of review procedures concerning the award of public contracts. | 14 June 2006 COM(2006) 195 2006/0066/COD |

Waste | Revision of the waste Directives (replaces and repeals Directives 75/439/EEC, 75/442/EEC and 91/689/EEC) | 21 December 2005 COM(2005) 667[41] 2005/0281/COD |

Business statistics | Streamlining of the structural business statistics (Council Regulation (EC / Euratom) NO58/97) | 20 February 2006 COM(2006) 66 2006/0020/COD |

Payment services | Revised regime on payment services (Revision of Directive 97/5/EC) | 1 December 2005 COM(2005) 603 2005/0245/COD |

Taxation | Revision of the Sixth VAT Directive (77/388/EEC- 28 acts and some 150 OJ pages). | 15 April 2004 COM(2004) 246 2004/0079/CNS |

Customs Union | Modernisation of the Community Customs Code | 30 November 2005 COM(2005) 608 2005/0246/COD |

Road safety | Recast of the regime on driving licences (to replace Council Dir. 91/439, Council Dir. 94/72, Council Dir. 96/47, Commission Decision 96/427, Council Dir. 97/26 and Commission Dir. 2000/56). | 21 October 2003 COM(2003) 621 2003/0252/COD |

Maritime Transport | Recast of the regime on port State control (Council Directive 95/21/EC) | 23 November 2005 COM(2005) 588 2005/0238/COD |

Maritime Transport | Recast of the regime for ship inspections and survey organisations (Directive 94/57/EC) | 23 November 2005 COM(2005) 587 2005/0237/COD |

Air Transport | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air transport services in the Community (recast) | 18 July 2006 COM(2006) 396 2006/0130/COD |

Plan Protection products | Proposal for a proposal on the placing of plant protection products on the market | 12 July 2006 COM(2006) 388 2006/0136/COD |

Food additives | Proposal for a regulation on food additives | 28 July 2006 COM(2006) 428 COM(2006) 425 COM(2006) 423 COM(2006) 427 2006/145/COD 2006/0144/COD 2006/0143/COD 2006/0147/COD |

Wood in the rough | Proposal for repealing Council Directive 68/89/EEC on classification of wood in the rough | 29 September 2006 COM(2006) 557 2006/0178/COD |

Energy-efficiency labelling programme for office equipment | Proposal for a Regulation on a Community energy-efficiency labelling programme for office equipment (Recast) | 10 October 2006 COM(2006) 576 2006/0187/COD |

Trans-European transport and energy networks | Amended proposal for a Regulation for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of trans-European transport and energy networks and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2236/95 | 24 May 2006 COM(2006) 245 2004/0154/COD |

[1] Communication COM(2005) 535: Implementing the Community Lisbon programme: A strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment. Simplification covers a broad range of instruments including repeal, codification, recast or modification of the regulatory approach. Definition of codification is presented in this document under point “1.2 State of play – Codification”. Recasting is the process whereby a new legally binding act repealing the acts which it replaces combines both the amendment of the substance of the legislation and the codification of the remainder which is intended to remain unchanged.

[2] European Parliament Resolution on a strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment (Rapporteur: MEP Giuseppe Gargani ref. A6-0080/2006 – PA_TA-PROV (2006)0205).

[3] European Council (15 and 16 December 2005): Conclusions of the Presidency.

[4] COM(2006) 689.

[5] The remaining two - the proposals the radio protection and agricultural products and the computerised air reservation system - have been respectively postponed to 2006 and 2007.

[6] As of 27 October 2006.

[7] Examples of delays encountered in the Simplification strategy include: (a) The initially planned repeal of the computer reservation systems legislation in the aviation sector is being reviewed and any action has been postponed, as the need arose to conduct further analysis in view of the reactions of both stakeholders and the European Parliament. Fully in line with Better Regulation principles, the Commission decided to launch an extended impact assessment to further examine the range of options, including the repeal or partial liberalisation of the existing regulation, and to consult stakeholders again. (b) Recent international developments in the energy field and the subsequent debate on energy security led the Commission to postpone, probably until 2008, its planned review of oils stocks legislation. The future policy of the Commission in this area will largely depend on the outcome of the consultation on the Green Paper on energy policy tabled by the Commission in March 2006.

[8] COM(2005) 608.

[9] COM(2005) 667.

[10] COM(2006) 16.

[11] COM(2006) 428.

[12] Commission Regulation (EC) No 2049/2005.

[13] COM(2005) 603.

[14] Directive 2006/46/EC, adopted 14 June 2006.

[15] COM(2006) 66.

[16] COM(2006) 396.

[17] Commission Regulations on the endorsement of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), International Accounting Standards (IAS) and interpretations.

[18] The New Approach Directives: lay down only the essential public interest requirements, with which products must comply, instead of fixing detailed product specific requirements. Manufacturers can choose different technical solutions and enjoy flexibility in demonstrating that these solutions comply with these requirements e.g. through standardisation.

[19] The figure of 43 new initiatives corresponds to 3 new initiatives in 2006, 28 in 2007, 11 in 2008 and 1 in 2009.

[20] This initiative is also contributing to the simplification strategy but is not included in the simplification rolling programme.

[21] COM(2005) 647.

[22] As at 27 October 2006.

[23] For instance in the areas of accounting, auditing, public procurement and intellectual property rights, some rules and standards are often agreed or adopted at international level.

[24] Communication COM(2005) 535: Implementing the Community Lisbon programme: A strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment.

[25] A recent example is the 2005 consultation of the social partners on the simplification of the Directives on "Health and Safety at work" concerning the reports and their practical implementation.

[26] Commission Communication "Implementing the Community Lisbon Programme: A Policy Framework to Strengthen EU Manufacturing - towards a more integrated approach for Industrial Policy" - COM(2005) 474, 5.10.2005.

[27] COM(2006) 691.

[28] The framework action to update and simplify the Community acquis (COM(2003) 71).

[29] Directive 2006/46/EC, adopted 14 June 2006.

[30] European Parliament Resolution on a strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment (Rapporteur: MEP Giuseppe Gargani ref. A6-0080/2006 – PA_TA-PROV (2006)0205). In parallel to the resolution, the European Parliament addressed also a contribution endorsed by the Conference of Presidents summarising the position of the Committees on the simplification rolling programme covering also the interinstitutional dimension of simplification.

[31] The European Parliament is now working to change internal rules of procedures for recasting and codification.

[32] OJ C 321, 31.12.2003, p. 1.

[33] Annex to Council document 2005/14901, 24 November 2005.

[34] The ‘ Agreement on workers health protection through the good handling and use of crystalline silica and products containing it ’, signed in April 2006, is a successful example of self-regulation. It is an autonomous agreement listing good practices to minimise the exposure of the workforce to crystalline silica dust. It should help to comply with the different national occupational limit values. This agreement negotiated by the social partners from the various industries concerned is the first multi-sectoral autonomous agreement concluded in the context of the European Social Dialogue.

[35] Final report from UNISYS on “Intra-Community circulation of defence related products”, February 2005.

[36] Federation of Small Businesses in UK: Burdened by Brussels or the UK? Improving the implementation of EU Directives. (Authors Sarah Schaefer, Edward Young). This project analyses the transposition of eight directives into British law. It identifies several examples of over-implementation, notably as far as the Money Laundering Directive or the Insurance Mediation Directive are concerned.

[37] Directorate General Enterprise and Industry, Brussels, 18 October 2006 .

[38] One-stop-shops: bringing together administrative arrangements into a single processing. It increases efficiency, benefits SMEs, is transferable and has quantified measurements of outcomes.

[39] The purpose of CCDs is to help the business plan for new regulation and to increase awareness of the introduction of new or changed requirements. By reducing to two dates, for example, on which new regulation may be started, it is hoped that increased awareness by businesses of new or changed obligations will result in improved compliance levels.

[40] The Business Environment Simplification Task Force (BEST) was set up in 1997: involving representatives from the business community and public authorities in the Member States, BEST’s brief was to prepare an independent report on ways of improving legislation and removing unnecessary hindrances to the development of European businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The BEST expert group has identified best practice initiatives (e.g. promoting one-stop-shops, risk-based regulation) undertaken in different countries with the aim that others can learn from their experiences. Risk-based regulation aims to focus the efforts of regulation (and the costs incurred by business) to those activities that pose the greater risks to health or the environment.

[41] Action identified by the Council in its priority list adopted on 25 November 2004.