1. Impact Assessment Board Quality support and control European Commission Impact Assessment Discussion with Stakeholders 28 June 2007

2. IAB – what is it? Independent body to ensure good quality of the Commission impact assessments Launched by President Barroso on 14 November 2006 Main tasks: –Assess the quality of IA reports before the Commission adopts proposals they accompany –Give quality support for horizontal and methodological aspects –Advise if a Commission proposal should be accompanied by an impact assessment

3. Who are the IAB members? Members: Alexander Italianer (SG), Chair Jan Host Schmidt (ECFIN) Xavier Prats Monne (EMPL) Gert-Jan Koopman (ENTR) Timo Mäkelä (ENV) Alternates: Lars Mitek (SG) Manfred Bergmann (ECFIN) Georg Fischer (EMPL) Andrzej Rudka (ENTR) Robin Miège (ENV) Experienced in the 3 pillars (economic, environmental, social) Independent: acting on a personal basis, under no instruction from their services Experienced in the 3 pillars (economic, environmental, social) Independent: acting on a personal basis, under no instruction from their services

4. How does the IAB function? The author DG sends draft IA report to the IAB The IAB sends detailed comments to the DG DG answers to the comments either in writing or orally during an IAB meeting The IAB issues the opinion Critical opinion may lead to second review The IAB issues the opinion Critical opinion may lead to second review The IA report is revised The opinion accompanies proposal to the College The IA report is revised The opinion accompanies proposal to the College Opinion is published once the policy initiative is adopted by the Commission

5. IAB and technical expertise Board may draw on any available expertise that can support it in its work –internally from Commission departments and from existing internal networks and groups –externally with institutions, individuals and groups outside the Commission on horizontal and methodological issues on particularly complex or problematic issues in individual impact assessments

6. What does the IAB check when examining an IA? (examples) Have stakeholders been consulted? Is the problem well defined? Is the right of EU to act demonstrated? Do the actions correspond to the problems identified? Are the economic, social and environmental impacts appropriately assessed? Is the IA report proportionate? Is impact on administrative burden examined?

7. The main issues in the IAB opinions so far (based on a sample of 33 opinions) Top 5: 1.Policy options 2.Analysis of impacts 3.Connecting problem- objectives – measures (logic of intervention) 4.Defining the problem 5.Administrative burden Top 5: 1.Policy options 2.Analysis of impacts 3.Connecting problem- objectives – measures (logic of intervention) 4.Defining the problem 5.Administrative burden

8. Feedback from the Commission services (35 respondents) Overall opinion on the content of the IAB recommendations Useful suggestions for improvement56% Fair points, but no new insights27% None of the above11% Disproportionate, raising standards too high6% Too general, not operational 0% Did the IAB opinion lead to any changes? (multiple answers possible) Before the Inter-service consultation77% During the Inter-service consultation17% No changes11% After the Inter-service consultation9% The role of the IAB opinion in the internal Commission discussion It added value or helped prevent/solve trouble45% It played no visible role30% It caused additional trouble in a non-productive way13% Not applicable13% The nature of the IAB recommendations Strict but fair73% Fair and not particularly strict15% Too strict12% Lenient0%

9. Where can I find more information about the Board? The IAB website http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/iab_en.htm The impact assessment reports and the IAB opinions (11 published so far) http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/cia_2007_en.htm

10. The floor is yours… Relevance of the impact assessment reports? National experiences? Consultation? Sectoral interests?