1. Introduction to Better Regulation
ESF Evaluation Partnership meeting
13 November, 2015
Jeannette Monier, DG EMPL G4

2. Content
Better Regulation Guidelines
Impact on ESF

3. Better Regulation Package 19 May 2015
Communication: COM(2015) 215 and related SWD
Replaces previous Commission guidelines on evaluation and impact assessment
Includes also stakeholder consultation guidelines

4. What is Better Regulation?
A collection of tools to support EU decision making
A process covering the entire policy cycle:
To ensure high-quality initiatives;
To ensure initiatives are evidence- based;
To ensure transparent participation of all stakeholders;
To avoid unnecessary burdens for business/public authorities;
To ensure that policies actually deliver as foreseen and remain fit for purpose: REINFORCED ROLE FOR EVALUATION!!

5. Some of the new elements
- Evaluation roadmap,
- Mandatory assessment criteria,
- Stakeholder consultation,
- Regulatory Scrutiny Board
- Staff Working Document.

6. 1. Evaluation roadmap - process
Each evaluation of the COM needs an evaluation roadmap
Published centrally
4-week feedback by stakeholders
Terms of Reference finalised after feedback from stakeholders

7. 2. Mandatory evaluation criteria
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Relevance
Coherence
EU Added Value
All criteria need to be assessed!

8. 3. Stakeholder consultation
Should cover the five mandatory evaluation criteria
Can be used to collect evidence, test or validate analysis
Can rely on a mix of various methods and tools – as identified in the consultation strategy
Includes a 12-week public internet consultation
A Synopsis Report must be published on the consultation website

9. – 4. Regulatory Scrutiny Board
6 Full time Members (internal and external)
Provides an opinion on completed:
Major MFF programme evaluations and REFIT evaluations
Any other evaluations selected by the RSB

10. 5. Staff Working Document for Evaluation
Summarizes the final results of the evaluation process (Draws on work conducted by external contractors and/or Commission services)
Presents the Commission's response to the findings and conclusions/recommendations of the evaluation
DG must take a position on the robustness of the process, findings and any disagreement and why
ISG is consulted, before and after RSB

11. Impact on ESF evaluations

12. Impact on ESF Evaluations
Future Evaluations organised by the COM should comply with these new requirements
Ongoing ex-post evaluation will include a public consultation (2016Q1) and main findings and lessons will be included in a staff working document by the Commission (eventually after opinion by RSB)

13. Impact on ESF Evaluations
While MA evaluations do not have to assess all evaluation criteria according to the ESF Regulation, we recommend to consider evaluating all criteria
Proper attention should be devoted to the involvement of stakeholders throughout the evaluation

14. Thank you!