18.8.2010   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 223/6

COMMISSION DECISION

of 17 August 2010

amending Decision 2007/623/EC setting up the High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens

2010/C 223/03

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Whereas:

(1)

By Decision 2007/623/EC (1), the Commission created a High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens, hereinafter referred to as ‘the group’, for a fixed term of three years.

(2)

The reduction of administrative burdens and simplification of legislation remain priorities for the Commission, and the Action programme for reducing administrative burdens in the European Union is due to be completed by 2012.

(3)

The mandate of the group and its members should therefore be extended accordingly.

(4)

The group should continue to work closely both with external stakeholders and Commission services, and to have a regular and structured exchange of views and experience on administrative burden issues with the deputy Secretary-General and the Chair of the Impact Assessment Board,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Decision C(2007) 4063 is amended as follows:

1.

Article 2 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 2

The group’s task shall be to advise the Commission with regard to the Action programme for reducing administrative burdens in the European Union whose aim is to reduce administrative burdens on businesses arising from EU legislation by 25 % by 2012, as well as on the simplification initiatives identified in the Commission work programme.

In particular, the group shall:

—

provide advice on administrative burden reduction measures suggested by the consultants, through Internet consultation and local workshops in Member States,

—

advise the Commission, at its request, on methodological issues that may arise in the action programme,

—

suggest which additional pieces of existing legislation could be included in the reduction programme, as necessary,

—

advise the Commission on its Simplification rolling programme, in particular with regard to the acts with high potential for reducing administrative burdens,

—

assist the Commission in ensuring progress in adopting proposals on reducing administrative burden by the Council and Parliament,

—

prepare a report by November 2011 on best practice in Member States to implement EU legislation in the least burdensome way.

The mandate of the group is given until 31 December 2012’.

2.

Article 3(1) is replaced by the following:

‘Article 3

1.   The Commission may consult the group on any matter relating to the implementation of the Action programme for reducing administrative burdens in the European Union and on its Simplification rolling programme, as identified in the Commission work programme.’

3.

Article 4 is amended as follows:

Article 4

(a)

In paragraph 4, the first sentence is replaced by the following:

‘Members of the group are appointed until 31 December 2012.’

(b)

In paragraph 7, the first sentence is replaced by the following:

‘The names of members shall be published on the Internet site of the Secretariat-General of the European Commission.’

4.

In Article 5(4), the second sentence is replaced by the following:

‘The Secretariat-General of the European Commission shall provide secretarial services for the group.’

5.

Article 7 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7

Applicability

This Decision shall apply until 31 December 2012.’

Article 2

This Decision enters into force on 30 August 2010.

Done at Brussels, 17 August 2010.

For the Commission

The President

José Manuel BARROSO

(1)  OJ L 253, 28.9.2007, p. 40.