1 SG C Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT) Meeting of Business Statistics Directors Group Presentation by Jonathon Stoodley, Secretariat-General, European Commission December 2014

Goal: Reduce regulatory burden! How? We started with: Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens Launched by the Commission January 2007 Endorsed by European Council of Heads of State and Government March 2007 The Council invited Member States ‘to set national targets of comparable ambition’

ABR programme Over 70 measures in 13 sectors Estimated saving of 25% of reporting requirements Company accounting, transport, food safety pharmaceuticals, statistics, etc.

Commission moved on to focus on key concerns of business / SMEs Consultation of SMEs on the TOP-10 most burdensome EU regulatory measures Statistics on trade within the EU registered strongly Commission follow-up on TOP-10 published in 2013 REFIT Communication of December 2013

European Council of Heads of State and Government October 2013 "Welcomes the recent Commission communication on regulatory fitness (REFIT)…" and "… calls on the Commission to make further substantial proposals in this field." SG C

European Council conclusions June 2014 "The European Council considers that regulatory fitness should remain a priority in the work of the institutions." "This requires a strong commitment to regulatory simplification and burden reduction in legislative work... throughout the legislative cycle, at the EU and national level." SG C

Commission follow-up European Council pressure for "more" results It is not easy in any sector: Chemicals regulation, VAT, accounting requirements for companies, etc Test whether regulators and administration in the EU can be higher performing than elsewhere in the world SG C

Main objectives A story we all know: Growth and jobs We need growth and jobs in an increasingly competitive world To have the most efficient economy in the world Benefit from the opportunities provided by minimum harmonisation and mutual recognition in the Single Market SG C

Key current areas of work Major work on VAT FRIBS / SIMSTAT Chemicals regulation Health and safety at work General food law We will be looking at the extent to which Member States have taken up options on accounting requirements for companies SG C

New Commission plans to strengthen Better regulation SG C