# EUR-Lex - 52009DC0017 - EN

Important legal notice

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# 52009DC0017

**Commission working document - Third progress report on the strategy for simplifying the regulatory environment {COM(2009) 15 final} {COM(2009) 16 final} /* COM/2009/0017 final */ **

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[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 28.1.2009

COM(2009) 17 final

COMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT

Third progress report on the strategy for simplifying the regulatory environment

{COM(2009) 15 final}{COM(2009) 16 final}

COMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT

Third progress report on the strategy for simplifying the regulatory environment

1. INTRODUCTION

Over the last half century, the EU has developed a large body of legislation (the acquis ) in response to the needs of citizens, businesses and public authorities. It has given new rights to citizens, opened markets for businesses, strengthened public interests, and in doing so, contributed to increased growth and welfare. Yet legislation can also entail costs. The challenge is to strike the right balance – also over time and under changing circumstances.

At the beginning of its mandate, this Commission therefore set out a firm commitment to review its acquis , ensuring the relevance, effectiveness and proportionality of the legislation in place.[1] Together with its twin programme for reducing administrative burdens, the strategy for simplifying the regulatory environment[2] set out an ambitious programme to update, modernise and simplify the EU regulatory framework. Four years later, it can point to convincing results. From being a set of dispersed actions simplification has developed to become inherent in any policy revision, covering all policy areas. The screening of the acquis , the results of which are published alongside this report, clearly illustrates this development.

This third progress report on the strategy for simplifying the regulatory environment complements the third strategic review of Better Regulation in the European Union[3] and the Commission Working Document on reducing administrative burden. It reviews the considerable ground covered since the launch of the strategy, highlights success stories and maps areas for future simplification action.

2. STATE OF PLAY

Using a wide range of consultation mechanisms, the Commission continuously collects and analyses suggestions from citizens, stakeholders and Member States for making Community legislation clearer, simpler and more effective.

On the basis of this input, the Commission drew up a “simplification rolling programme”, beginning with 100 simplification initiatives for the period 2005-2008. The programme uses the full set of tools identified in the simplification strategy. These include legislative techniques, notably repeal, codification and recasting, as well as other means of modernising the acquis , such as wider use of IT solutions.

Since 2007, the simplification programme has been integrated into the Commission legislative and work programme. It has been extended each year with new initiatives and now covers all policy areas. It now contains 185 initiatives and about 132 of these initiatives have already been adopted by the Commission, with a delivery rate of around 80 % in both 2007 and 2008. This shows the Commission’s determination to overcome all obstacles and deliver the benefits of this priority exercise on time. More than half of these adopted initiatives have now completed their legislative cycle and have become law following their publication in the Official Journal.

The Commission has already proposed about 800 legal acts for amendment or repeal under the simplification programme 2005-2009. Once adopted, the acquis will be reduced by about 600 legal acts or around 6,500 pages of the Official Journal. But simplification reaches further. It has become inherent in any policy revisions. In parallel, the Commission has also continued to codify the acquis with a view to making it more compact and readable whilst ensuring legal certainty. The Commission has already finalised the codification of 229 acts. 142 of these are already adopted by the co-legislator and have replaced 729 previous acts, corresponding to about 1,300 pages of the Official Journal.

Overall, this Commission has taken action since October 2005 which will reduce the acquis by almost 10% - about 1,300 legal acts and 7,800 pages of the Official Journal.

3. RESULTS

So far, some 75 out of the above-mentioned 132 simplification initiatives have finalised their legislative process – 36 by the Commission as autonomous acts (Annex 4) and 39 by the legislature (Annex 5).

The benefits of these and other simplification measures are becoming increasingly tangible for businesses, citizens and public authorities. The following sections present a number of examples, illustrating different complementary approaches to simplification.

3.1. A streamlined regulatory framework

Legislation takes shape over time as new building blocks are added to the legal foundation. To ensure that they fit together and form a coherent framework, the Commission continuously reviews existing legislation, looking for more efficient and more effective legislative solutions.

- The new General Block Exemption Regulation allows Member States to approve a range of aid measures without first notifying the Commission, enabling faster processing of cases. The Regulation, aimed to promote job creation and competitiveness, covers aid for SMEs, research, innovation, regional development, training, employment and risk capital. Companies may for example benefit from aid for fundamental research (up to 100 %), industrial research (up to 50/70 %) and for experimental development (25/45 %). It also harmonises and consolidates five legal acts into one text;

- The new rules concerning controls on direct payments to farmers provide a simpler and more effective framework for the selection of the control sample, the timing of controls, and procedures for on-the-spot checks[4];

- The new Regulation on structural business statistics reduces the number of information requirements and provides for annual rather than multi-annual collection of data. At the same time, a new statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community was introduced. It is expected to lead to a 17.5 % net reduction in data to be reported;

- Under the Thematic Strategies on Air Pollution and on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste , the framework legislation in these areas has been streamlined, clarified and simplified. The new Ambient Air Quality directive merges 5 separate directives and the new Waste Framework Directive integrates the previously separate directives on hazardous waste and waste oils;

- The new Water Framework Directive provides a single coherent policy framework for planning, executing and reporting to protect and restore clean water across Europe, and reduces the number of directives in the water sector from 18 to 10.

- A new Directive on health and safety at work simplifies and rationalises the reports from Member States on practical implementation of the framework Directive and its individual Directives. From now, Member States will only be required to present one report every 5 years.

3.2. Improved working methods and simplified procedures

The Commission actively promotes the wider use of IT as a way to improve working procedures.

- The new Common Procurement Vocabulary (a standard EU product description) facilitates the identification of public procurement opportunities anywhere in the EU, irrespective of the language of the country of procurement. The forms used by public authorities to publish notices in the EU Official Journal have been standardised and automated, reducing publication time from 12 to 5 days. Both developments will increase transparency in public procurement markets. Every day, business opportunities in the public sector worth more than € 1 billion appear on the EU website ‘Tenders Electronic Daily’ (TED);

- The simplification of the Community Customs Code includes the modernisation of the EU customs legislation and the creation of a paperless environment for customs authorities and traders. Electronic logging of customs declarations and accompanying documents will become the rule. Authorised traders will be able to declare goods electronically and pay their customs duties in the Member State where they are based, regardless of where the goods were brought in or taken out of the EU customs territory, or where they will be consumed. Once the integrated system is fully operational, it should generate benefits for traders estimated at € -2.5 billion/year;

- The amendment of Article 55 of the General Regulation for cohesion policy has simplified rules for small revenue-generating projects. The provision on proportionality in monitoring small operations (where the total cost is below € 200 000) has been replaced by an exemption from the application of the article for operations co-financed by the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund or Cohesion Fund where the total cost is less than € 1 000 000.

3.3. A well functioning Internal Market

The Internal Market has been and remains a driving force for simplification in the EU, allowing a vast set of national laws to be concentrated into a single piece of legislation.

- The common rules for the operation of air services in the Community revise the so-called ‘third package’ of air transport liberalisation. They should contribute to more consumer choice, lower fares and more competition. Stricter requirements and better supervision of start-up airlines will also reduce the risk of bankruptcy and the negative consequences for passengers. The average annual cost of bankruptcies to passengers, including repatriation costs and loss of advance bookings, is estimated at € -15.6 million. A 50 % reduction of the number of bankruptcies among air carriers with up to two years of operations would save consumers on average € 2.4 million annually;

- The revised Directive on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community modernises rules for the certification of vehicles. Savings on certification costs, have been estimated at € 200-280 million for railway undertakings and manufacturers over the next 15 years;

- The new Regulation on maximum residue levels (MRL) for pesticides in food and feed replaces approximately 500,000 national MRLs with 100,000 EU MRLs and helps operators, who no longer have to submit multiple applications in different Member States;

- The ‘VAT package’ introduces new rules for services which will mean that business-to-business services will be taxed in the Member State of the customer. This should act as an incentive for businesses to provide services throughout the Community. The package also includes a mini one-stop shop for telecom, broadcasting and e-commerce services for businesses established within the EU and a new procedure for claiming VAT refunds for businesses not established in the Member State in which the VAT was incurred;

- In the area of the Company law , the directive adopted by fast track in 2007 on mergers and divisions streamlines cross border mergers, thereby leading to a saving for public limited companies of € 17 million.

4. MORE RESULTS TO BE EXPECTED: PENDING PROPOSALS AND INTER-INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS

The number of simplification measures adopted by the Council and the European Parliament has gone up from 16 in January 2008 to 39 in January 2009. However, 50 simplification proposals are still pending before the Council and the European Parliament (Annex 3). It is important the institutions progress in their consideration of these proposals so that even more benefits are enjoyed by business, citizens and public administrations.

- The new EU directive on investment funds, known as ' UCITS ' (Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities) will provide consumers with access to professionally managed investments on affordable terms; allow UCITS managers to develop their cross-border activities and generate savings consolidation and economies of scale; enable investors to benefit from a greater choice of investment funds operating at lower costs; and protect retail investors by making sure that they receive clear, easily understandable and relevant information when investing in UCITS. The directive will replace 10 existing directives with a single text;

- Several important proposals have been made in the field of company law with a view to simplifying the conduct of business in the EU and making important savings. Amongst these measures are the proposal for a Council Regulation for a European Private Company Statute; the proposal to reduce the translation and publication requirements of companies which would lead to an estimated saving of € 600 million; and a further proposal on reporting and documentation requirements in the case of mergers and divisions ;

- The new cosmetic regulation will replace over 3,500 pages of legal text. While maintaining the same, high level of safety standards, the proposal reduces costs for businesses by at least 50 %. Product safety assessments procedures are clarified and notification rules for new cosmetics are simplified. This will have a significant effect as the European market for cosmetic products is worth approximately € 65 billion and creates, directly and indirectly, over 350,000 jobs;

- The revision of the pharmaceutical “Variations” Regulations will harmonise criteria for evaluating variations and timelines for review and approval. Data show that a typical generic company has to manage over 1,500 changes to medicines every year, while a larger pharmaceutical company has to handle more than 12,000. The proposal will strengthen companies’ competitiveness by reducing logistical problems, such as having to stock different versions of the same product for various national markets. The simplified framework will help companies, especially SMEs, to expand their activities into other EU markets;

- The new " Car Safety Package " proposal will simplify the existing regulatory environment by repealing 150 directives on the type-approval of vehicles; and introduce mandatory fitting of safety features and tyre pressure monitoring systems on passenger cars, dramatically improving vehicle safety and reducing CO2 emissions;

- The Directive on Consumer Rights will contribute to the better functioning of the business-to-consumer internal market by reducing business reluctance to trade across borders. It will decrease fragmentation and simplify the existing regulatory framework by repealing 4 directives. The Directive will tighten up the regulatory framework and a standard set of consumer contract terms will cut compliance costs substantially;

- The package of energy efficiency proposals aims to make energy savings in key areas, for example by reinforcing energy efficiency legislation on buildings and energy-using products. Average annual energy savings can easily amount to over € 1,000 per household;

- In the area of statistics on intra-Community trade in goods (Intrastat) , the reporting thresholds required by European legislation will exempt an estimated 370,000 companies from the obligation to report. This represents a reduction in the surveyed population of roughly 52 % over 6 years (from 720,000 in 2004 to 350,000 in 2010);

- The proposal on the placing on the market and use of feed will increase innovation and competitiveness for companies in this sector. The new Regulation will repeal 7 Directives, down to about 30 pages from more than 100. The prohibitive pre-market authorisation procedure for certain products (bio-proteins) will also be abolished (as it is not proportionate to the risk). To illustrate what this means in terms of cost reduction, the total costs for a new bio-protein authorisation for the industry are estimated at € 481,000;

- The proposal to recast the directive on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC ) will merge 7 directives on industrial emissions into one legislative instrument. It will delete obsolete parts of existing directives, simplify permit requirements, reduce reporting by operators and streamline reporting by Member States. The proposal will lead to significant administrative cost savings of an estimated € 32 million per annum and in addition will lead to an even more significant reduction of the administrative burden at Member State level (national or regional) in the order of € 150-300 million per annum;

- The " GSM package " aims to open up the 900 and the 1800 MHz spectrum (GSM bands) for more innovative use. This package will remove restrictive regulation that no longer reflects technological development and hampers widespread use of mobile broadband services;

- The "Health Check" of the Common Agricultural Policy will bring about a simplification of the single payment scheme. In particular it marks a move away from maintaining two parallel systems of coupled and decoupled support towards more decoupling. Decoupling is projected to provide a reduction of € 0.63 million in administrative burden to farmers in the UK alone. The simplification also abolishes the 10 % land set aside requirement. Farmers can use all of their land, no longer need to go through the associated procedures and Member States no longer need to control this measure. To illustrate the benefits, this is expected to lead to a reduction of € 4.4 million in administrative costs to farmers in England alone[5];

- All provisions relating to the control of fishing activities will be brought under the same regulatory framework with a special emphasis on the extended use of modern technologies and linkages to data bases;

- The reform of the Telecom Package will lead to a net reduction of administrative costs for the industry by reducing the number of relevant markets susceptible to ex ante competition regulation, simplifying market review procedures, setting up a European regulatory body and reforming spectrum management. Electronic communications services and infrastructure provide the foundations for the economy as a whole, and improvements in this sector will feed through to benefit the rest of the EU;

- The proposal to improve the implementation of regional policy programmes aims to facilitate the financial management and accelerate the release of the necessary Community financial resources in favour of both operational programmes and projects. In particular, the Commission has proposed that overhead costs of the projects will be reimbursed on the lump sum basis and that state aid advances paid to the beneficiaries could be reimbursed fully by the EU to public authorities. These changes will be of particular help for SMEs; ;

- The modernisation of the coordination of national social security schemes will facilitate the free movement of workers and their families across the EU. It will also benefit the 173 million holders of the European Health Insurance Card who can have access to health care during a temporary stay in a Member State in the same way as nationals of that State.

The number of pending proposals before the Council and the European Parliament is increasing. It is therefore essential that means to accelerate their adoption are examined and every effort made to reach agreement, if possible, on first reading in the co-decision process. The Commission welcomes the European Parliament’s intention to establish specific structures to encourage simplification, as stated in the recently adopted report by Mr Medina Ortega.

The European Parliament has confirmed its wish that the Commission use recasting as an ordinary legislative technique, even when ‘revision’ of the current text is being proposed. However, it is important that the Council and the European Parliament align with the principles and spirit of the simplification exercise by keeping the adopted proposals as simple as possible and by speeding-up the decision-making process so that the benefits can be enjoyed by business, citizens and public administrations.

5. CODIFICATION

As well as simplifying legislation, the Commission also codifies it, combining the basic law and all subsequent amendments into one text. This makes legal acts clearer and reduces the size of the Community acquis .

The Commission has finalised a total of 229 codification acts so far. Of these, 142 acts have been codified, adopted and published in the Official Journal (102 Commission acts and 40 acts of the European Parliament and the Council). These 142 codified acts replace 729 previous acts, corresponding to about 1,300 pages of the Official Journal.

87 acts are still pending before the Council and the European Parliament.

Most of the translation backlog of legislation for codification in the new languages has been eliminated. The remaining proposals for the completion of the codification programme, which was revised in 2006, will be presented in 2009 with a report detailing the achievements of the programme as a whole. 21 new pieces of legislation have been selected for codification in 2009 (Annex 6).

6. NEXT STEPS

6.1. Initiatives in the pipeline for 2009

The Commission has included 33 simplification initiatives in its Legislative and Work Programme for 2009[6] (Annex 7).

For example:

- Revision of Directive 2000/35/EC on combating late payment in commercial transactions that will discourage public authorities and businesses from delaying payment to suppliers and will provide incentives for creditors to seek damages for late payment. This initiative is part of the “ Small Business Act for Europe ” and the " European Economic Recovery plan ";

- Simplification of EC legislation on agricultural and forestry tractors by replacing 24 Directives with one Regulation;

- Amendment and modernisation of Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 to adapt Regulation to new international instruments and to ensure recognition and enforcement of judgements in civil and commercial matters, by getting rid of intermediary steps which citizens must to go through ( exequatur ) to have a judicial decision recognised and enforced abroad;

- Reform of the common organisation of the markets in the fishery and aquaculture sector, focusing on sustainable fishing and marketing activities. This covers adaptation to market developments, strengthening coherence with other elements of the Common Fisheries Policy as well as related Community policies (trade, health and consumer protection, environment) and will promote extended use of electronic means.

Furthermore, the Commission is continuing its work with Member States to further indentify ways to simplify the regulations on cohesion policy and reduce the administrative burden for beneficiaries.

6.2. Screening of the acquis and future simplification activities

As announced in the Second Strategic Review of Better Regulation in the EU, the Commission has carried out a comprehensive screening of the acquis .

As a first step, a systematic review of the acquis was carried out to identify the most important regulatory instruments. As a result of this review about 3,600 acts were selected. For these acts, a more detailed screening was undertaken to assess whether they are up to date or whether there is scope for simplification.

The complete series of results by policy area will be published on the Europa simplification website[7] to provide a clear overview of the Commission’s simplification efforts to date.

The outcome of the screening shows to what extent:

- simplification has already taken place;

- simplification is planned for 2009;

- there is scope for simplification during the next Commission; or

- simplification is not planned, i.e. the text is clear, up to date and proportionate to its policy objectives. In some of these cases, changes to the legislation might produce benefits, but they would be outweighed by costs and burdens for businesses and public administrations, notably in terms of transposition.

The emerging picture is one of significant progress. About two thirds of the acts, which primarily cover agriculture, the internal market, transport, enterprises, health and the environment, have been simplified under the simplification rolling programme, the codification programme or other Commission initiatives, or are now included in the forthcoming simplification proposals for 2009 (Annex 2).

This stocktaking also prepares the ground for further simplification activities. By examining existing acts in their sectoral context, the Commission is moving towards an integrated approach to simplification. A further 81 actions (Annex 1) could be incorporated in future simplification initiatives.

For example:

- Alignment of 15 technical harmonisation Directives with the Decision setting out a common framework for the marketing of products . The latter sets out elements commonly used in technical harmonisation legislation in a standardised format which should be introduced into future legislation. The rationale is to ensure more consistency of the legal environment and to establish a common “culture” of legislating. This will improve the quality of our legislation and reduce administrative burdens;

- Simplification of implementing rules under the Common agricultural policy, following adoption of the “Health Check” with regard to the intervention management mechanism;

- Revision of the legislation on health threats (communicable diseases and chemical, biological and radio-nuclear threats) and animal health, welfare and feed ;

- Further burden reduction in the statistical area thanks to the MEETS (Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics) programme. This will improve the methods of data collection in Member States through more use of administrative and accounting data and improved sampling schemes and also better and more intensive use of available sources.

7. CONCLUDING REMARKS

Since the launch of the strategy for simplifying the regulatory environment in 2005, simplification has been mainstreamed into the work of the Commission. Through a range of coordinated activities, the Commission has built up a political and practical framework of action delivering tangible benefits for citizens, businesses and public administrations. In an effort to make legislation more clear and understandable, some 1,300 acts, representing around 10 % of the acquis , have been proposed for removal from the EU statute book.

Simplification is a continuous process. The snapshot provided by the screening of the acquis prepares the ground for future work. A programme which started with a limited number of dispersed initiatives now covers all policy areas and is taking an increasingly sectoral approach. This means examining the entire body of legislation that affects a given policy area to identify overlaps, gaps, inconsistencies and excessive regulatory burdens. The aim is to assess the overall effectiveness of the regulatory framework sector by sector.

In driving forward the simplification agenda, the Commission will require political support from the other EU institutions and the Member States. The European Parliament and the Council are invited to do their utmost to adopt pending proposals as soon as possible and to preserve their simplification content during the decision-making process. The Member States are encouraged to carry forward their own simplification programmes and to apply EU law in a spirit of simplification, without adding unnecessary measures on the back of EU law.

On a daily basis, European citizens and businesses are confronted with a mix of EU, national and regional legislation. Only a coordinated simplification effort at all these levels can ensure that this regulatory framework serves its purpose in the best possible way – safeguarding growth and welfare, while keeping burdens to the minimum necessary.

Annex 1

Results of the screening of the acquis

Scope for simplification activities during the next Commission

Annex 2

Visualisation of the screening of the acquis

Annex 3

Simplification proposals pending before the Council and the European Parliament – state of play

Annex 4

Commission autonomous acts & other initiatives adopted since 2005

Annex 5

Simplification proposals adopted by the legislature since 2005

Annex 6

Codification programme (2009)

Annex 7

Simplification rolling programme (2009)

Annex 1

Results of the screening of the acquis

Scope for s implification activities during the next Commission

Policy area | Title of legal instruments | Scope and potential objectives of simplification |

1. | Health and safety at work | Commission Directive 91/322/EEC of 29 May 1991 on establishing indicative limit values by implementing Council Directive 80/1107/EEC on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to chemical, physical and biological agents at work | Following adoption of a new Commission Directive establishing a third list of indicative occupational exposure limit values in implementation of Council Directive 98/24/EC, the intention is to review the scientific values contained in Directive 91/322/EEC and examine the possibility of its review in the future. |

2. | Labour Law / European Cooperative society / European Company Statute / Information and consultation of employees | Council Directive 2003/72/EC of 22 July 2003 supplementing the Statute for a European Cooperative Society with regard to the involvement of employees Council Directive 2001/86/EC of 8 October 2001 supplementing the Statute for a European company with regard to the involvement of employees | Taking into account the views of Member States, the Commission has decided to examine possible simplification of the provisions on information and consultation of employees once the full evaluation report on Regulation (EC) No 1435/2003 (European Cooperative Society Statute) has been completed in 2011. Taking into account the views of Member States, the Commission has decided to examine the possible simplification of provisions on information and consultation of employees once the full evaluation report on Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 (European Company Statute) has been completed (foreseen for 2010). |

3. | Internal market for products / Common framework for the marketing of products | Directive 93/15/EC on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses, Directive 90/384/EC relating to non-automatic weighting instruments, Directive 73/23/EC to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits, Directive 2004/108/EC relating to electromagnetic compatibility, Directive 94/9/EC concerning equipment and protective systems intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres and Directive 2007/23/EC on the placing on the market of pyrotechnic articles | Alignment of the existing harmonised acquis with the Decision setting out a common framework for the marketing of products[8] |

4. | Internal market for products | Directive 97/68/EC on the emissions of gaseous and particulates pollutants of non road machinery | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

5. | Internal market for products | Directive 95/16/EC on lifts | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

6. | Internal market for products | Directive 2000/14/EC on noise emission in the environment by equipment for use outdoors | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

7. | Internal market for products | Directive 89/686/EC on personal protective equipment | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

8. | Internal market for products | Directive 90/396/EC relating to appliances burning gaseous fuels | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

9. | Internal market for products | Directive 2000/9/EC relating to cableway installations designed to carry persons | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

10. | Internal market for products | Directive 94/25/EC on recreational craft | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

11. | Internal market for products | Directive 1999/5/EC on Telecommunications | Review and alignment with the new legal framework for the marketing of products |

12. | Nature protection / Trade of wild fauna and flora | Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 of 9 December 1996 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein + 12 amendments Commission Regulation (EC) No 865/2006 of 4 May 2006 laying down detailed rules concerning the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein | While the stakeholder consultation and a study concluded that the Regulation was generally effective, a number of areas have been identified where the Implementing Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 865/2006) could be simplified, and clearer and more transparent guidance provided on the interpretation and implementation of the Regulations. A full revision of Commission Regulation (EC) No. 865/2006 will be prepared in 2009 |

13. | Waste | Decision 2000/532/EC establishing a list of wastes + 3 amendments | Waste legislation will be simplified further. In particular, the Commission is currently reviewing the waste list and may come forward with a proposal for revision in 2009 |

14. | Specific waste streams | European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste + 6 Commission implementing Decisions (on the identification system for packaging materials, on formats relating to the database system, on derogation and on national measures in 3 Member States) + 3 amendments | Scope to simplify further is under review. This Directive will be part of a full screening ("review") of the EU recycling Directives during the next Commission. Preparatory studies are under way. Expected results include clearer definitions in line with the revised Waste Framework Directive. Results are not expected before 2012 |

15. | Council Directive 96/59/EC on the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls (PCB/PCT) | Scope to simplify further is under review. The implementation of the deadline for decontamination and/or disposal of PCB containing equipment will have to be evaluated ("reviewed") in 2011. If results are positive, a further simplification could be envisaged as from 2011 |

16. | Directive 2000/53/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on end-of life vehicles + 4 Commission implementing Decisions (on questionnaires, certificates of destruction, exemptions and the Dutch scheme) + 6 amendments | Scope to simplify further is under review. The ELV Directive will be part of an overall screening (to examine the possibility of revision) of the recycling directives during the next Commission. Preparatory studies are under way. Expected results include clearer definitions in line with the new Waste Framework Directive). Results are not expected before 2012 |

17. | Water protection and management / River basin management | Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy + 2 amendments (notably Decision No 2455/2001/EC establishing the list of priority substances in the field of water policy) + Commission Decision 2005/646/EC (intercalibration network) Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks | Possible scope to simplify further by codifying the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, Floods Directive 2007/60/EC, Directive on environmental quality standards 2008/105/EC and of Directive 2006/118/EC into one legal instrument. |

18. | Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks | Possible scope for further simplification through codification of the Floods Directive 2007/60/EC, the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, Directive 2008/105/EC on environmental quality standards and Directive 2006/118/EC |

19. | Groundwater | Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration | Possible scope to simplify further by codifying the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC, Floods Directive 2007/60/EC, Directive on environmental quality standards 2008/105/EC and of Directive 2006/118/EC into one legal instrument. |

20. | Drinking water | Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption + comitology Regulation (EC) No 1882/2003 + transitional measures for new Member States | The potential to simplify further is under review, both with legislative and non-legislative measures. The revision process began in 2008 and is expected to finish in 2009. |

21. | Air quality / Standards | Directive 2004/107/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 December 2004 relating to arsenic, cadmium, mercury, nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air | There is scope to simplify further. The Directive was due for transposition in 2007. It is envisaged to include this Directive in the general review of Directive 2008/50/EC in 2013 with the objective of merging those two Directives. This merger would ensure that all ambient air quality objectives are contained in one legal instrument. No reporting obligations for business under current Directive, only for Member States. |

22. | Air quality / Standards | Directive 98/70/EC on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Directive 93/12/EC | Codification could be considered once the amending legislative proposal COM(2007) 18 becomes law |

23. | Air quality / Standards | Directive 1999/32/EC on the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels | Codification could be considered as part of the review of the directive currently underway (proposal expected in 2010). |

24. | VOC / Storage of petrol | Directive 94/63/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions resulting from the storage of petrol and its distribution from terminals to service stations | Consultants have been instructed to assess potential to simplify technical provisions in light of previous stakeholder views and new information that may be available. Report expected spring 2009. No reporting obligations for business in current directive only for MSs. |

25. | Climate change / Monitoring and reporting on green house gazes | Decision No 280/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning a mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol + Commission Decision 2005/166/EC laying down rules implementing Decision No 280/2004/EC | Further simplification is under review, depending on agreement on climate and energy package, and international agreement in Copenhagen. |

26. | Industrial emissions / Paints | Directive 2004/42/CE of the European Parliament and of the Council on the limitation of emissions of volatile organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain paints and varnishes and vehicle refinishing products | Review of the directive is ongoing with a proposal expected in 2010. There is scope to improve the clarity and implementation of the Directive following the review and consultation with stakeholders and impact assessment. |

27. | Asbestos | Council Directive 87/217/EEC on the prevention and reduction of environmental pollution by asbestos | Simplification is envisaged for 2010. The Directive 87/217/EEC could be simplified by amending or repealing it, depending on the results of an impact assessment to be carried out in 2009. |

28. | Civil protection and industrial accidents | Council Directive 96/82/EC on the control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances + 2 amendments 1 Commission implementing decision | Review of directive underway with view to proposals at end 2009/early 2010. Possible simplification will be considered as part of review. |

29. | Chemicals and Biocides / Laboratory animals | Council Directive 86/609/EEC regarding the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes + 1 amendment (Directive 2003/65/EC) | There is scope to simplify further: The Commission is currently discussing the revision of the Directive. The main objective of the revision is to create a level playing field for researchers and industry. In line with the Animal Welfare Protocol annexed to the EC Treaty, the proposal aims to increase the level of welfare and protection of animals used in experiments. By promoting the use of test methods alternative to animal testing, the Directive will result in costs savings for the EU industry, as the in vitro and computer based tests are less expensive than those using animals. It will also strive to simplify the regulatory environment and ensure the competitiveness of EU research and industry. |

30. | Horizontal Instruments / Impact Assessment | Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment + 2 amendments | Scope to simplify further is under review: The Commission is preparing the report on the application and effectiveness of the EIA Directive and how it has been implemented by the Member States. The directive could be simplified by clarifying certain provisions following the accession of the new Member States, probably by recasting the legislation |

31. | Energy and environment statistics | Regulation (EC) No 2150/2002 on waste statistics | This revision aims: to increase the usability of waste statistics, to simplify the provisions of the Regulation as far as possible, to align the Regulation with other reporting obligations included in Community waste legislation, and to take into account user needs. |

32. | Intrastat | Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 March 2004 on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 3330/91 The Regulation will be amended by 2008/0026(COD) which will enter into force from 2009. | By means of a reduced minimum trade coverage ratio for arrival flows, the number of enterprises filing Intrastat declarations can potentially be reduced from 540,000 to an estimated 350,000. The MEETS (Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics) programme aims at further reducing burdens by improving data collection methods in Member States through greater use of administrative and accounting data and improved sampling schemes and by making better and more intensive use of available sources Eurostat continues its work on long term solutions such as single flow reporting and better use of administrative data, in particular the integration of Intrastat and VIES (VAT information exchange system) declarations |

33. | Short term statistics | Council Regulation (EC) No 1165/98 of 19 May 1998 concerning short-term statistics | In this area, a cost and burden measurement was undertaken in the framework of providing a Report to the European Parliament and the Council in August 2008. The same measurement will be repeated for the next Report to Council and European Parliament due in three years and this will be an opportunity to obtain information on the reduction of burdens over time. STS are also covered by the MEETS (Modernisation of European Enterprise and Trade Statistics) exercise |

34. | European System of Accounts | Council Regulation (EC) No 2223/96 of 25 June 1996 on the European system of national and regional accounts in the Community Regulation (EC) No 1221/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 June 2002 on quarterly non-financial accounts for general government | All regulations related to the European System of Accounts will be incorporated in the new regulation on ESA. The possibilities to simplify will be studied when preparing this new regulation. The provisional planning for the regulation foresees adoption by the EP and the Council in 2011/2012 |

35. | Economy and finance statistics / Prices | Council Regulation (EC) No 2494/95 of 23 October 1995 concerning harmonized indices of consumer prices | Discussions ongoing within the Commission to decide how to simplify the regulation. This work can only be completed once the Commission has adopted all the implementing measures planned (adoption foreseen: 2nd half of 2009). |

36. | Transport statistics / Road | Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 of 25 May 1998 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road | ESTAT plans to simplify the requirements of Commission Regulation (EC) No 642/2004 for data collected in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1172/98, for example, by redefining variables and thresholds. |

37. | Transport statistics / Sea | Council Directive 95/64/EC of 8 December 1995 on statistical return in respect of carriage of goods and passengers by sea | This directive will be simplified and codified. |

38. | Information society / electronic signatures | Revision of the regulatory framework for e-signature/e-identification following an action plan seeking EU-wide solutions in cross-border use of online public services; Directive 1999/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on a Community framework for electronic signatures | The Commission adopted an eSignature / eIdentification Action Plan in November 2008. The Action Plan seeks an EU-wide solution to cross-border use of online public services. A progress report on the Action Plan will be submitted to the Council in 2010. On the basis of this Report, the Commission will assess whether further horizontal and/or sectoral initiatives are needed. |

39. | Police and criminal justice cooperation | Third pillar instruments notably framework Decisions of the Schengen acquis in the field of police and criminal justice cooperation | Revision or repeal of a number of third pillar instruments notably framework Decisions on the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty in the Justice, Freedom and security acquis (shift to the 1st pillar). This concerns the Schengen acquis in the field of police and criminal justice cooperation. The full acquis will be revised to improve transparency and to establish which articles continue to apply and which have been replaced |

40. | Asylum / Minimum standards Refugee status | Council directive 2005/85/EC on minimum standards on procedures in Member states for granting and withdrawing refugee status and Council Directive 2004/83/EC on minimum standards for the qualification and status of third country nationals or stateless persons as refugees or as persons who otherwise need international protection and the content of the protection granted | The Commission will put forward a proposal amending this Directive in spring 2009. Room for simplification of the present text could be found in this context The possibility of a recast will be considered |

41. | External borders | Consolidation of Council Directive 2007/2004/EC establishing a European agency for management external borders | In the framework of the forthcoming proposal to amend the Regulation, a consolidation could be envisaged |

42. | Immigration / Admission third-country nationals | Simplification of Council Directive 2005/71/EC on a specific procedures for admitting third-country nationals for scientific research and Council Directive 2004/114/EC on the conditions of admission of third-country nationals for the purposes of studies, pupil exchange, unremunerated training or voluntary services | In 2009/2010, the Commission will have to put forward a first application report which may lead to proposals to amend these Directives. Room for simplification of the present text could be found in this context |

43. | Immigration / Residence | Revision of Council Directive 2003/109/EC on status of third-country nationals who are long term residents | In 2011, the Commission will put forward a first application report which may lead to proposals amending this Directive. Room for simplification of the present text could be found in this context |

44. | Immigration / Family reunification | Council Directive 2003/86/EC on the right to family reunification | Following its first application report of October 2008, the Commission will put forward a Green Paper on family reunification in March 2009. Room for simplification of the present text of Directive 2003/86/EC could be found in this context |

45. | Information Network | Council Decision 2005/267/EC establishing a secure web-based information and coordination network for MS’s migration management services | Review of the functionality of the ICONet will take place in the context of the planned FRONTEX evaluation in 2009-2010 |

46. | Expulsion | Enhancement of Council Directive 2001/40/EC on the mutual recognition of decision on the expulsion of third country nationals | In the light of the first evaluation of the adopted Return Directive in 2014, the issue of mutual recognition of return decisions and the weaknesses of Directive 2001/40/EC will be reconsidered. |

47. | Smuggling | Revision of Council directive 2004/81/EC on the residence permit issued to third-country national who are victim of trafficking in human beings | In 2009, the Commission will put forward a first application report which may lead to proposals amending this Directive. Room for simplification of the present text could be found in this context |

48. | Citizenship and freedom to travel / Schengen acquis | 1999/436/EC: Council Decision of determining, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Treaty establishing , the legal basis for each of the provisions or decisions which constitute the Schengen acquis + 55 related Decision of the Executive Committee | Part of the Schengen acquis in the field of police and criminal justice cooperation has been repealed by other instruments. The full acquis will be revised to create transparency and establish which articles continue to apply and which have to be replaced |

49. | Organised crime | 2000/642/JHA Council decision on arrangements for cooperation between financial intelligence units of the Member States in respect of exchanging information | On December 2007 the Commission issued a report on the implementation of this Decision. The report shows good legal compliance by MS but underlines a lack of legal clarity on how data protection rules may affect the exchange of information between MS Financial Intelligence Units and highlights the need for possible complementary measures. These aspects are now being discussed with the MS. This may lead to a complete revision of the decision |

50. | Organised crime / Drugs | Simplification of Decision 2004/757/JHA laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking | The Decision calls for the Commission to submit a Report to the Council and the Parliament by 12 May 2009 to assess measures taken by MS to comply with the Decision. Possibilities of simplification can also be assessed at the same occasion |

51. | Judicial cooperation / Data protection | Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data | An on-going study will identify whether the Directive should be modified to take into account technological progress and the globalisation of data movement. Furthermore, the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon would provide additional possibilities, such as a single instrument, in respect of shaping the future of data protection |

52. | Financial services and financial markets / Banking and financial conglomerates | Council Directive 89/117/EEC of 13 February 1989 on the obligations of branches established in a Member State of credit institutions and financial institutions having their head offices outside that Member State regarding the publication of annual accounting documents Directive 2002/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2002 on the supplementary supervision of credit institutions, insurance undertakings and investment firms in a financial conglomerate and amending Council Directives 73/239/EEC, 79/267/EEC, 92/49/EEC, 92/96/EEC, 93/6/EEC and 93/22/EEC, and Directives 98/78/EC and 2000/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council | Reviews of the branch accounts and financial conglomerates directives are taking place with a view to simplifying them. |

53. | Public health / Communicable diseases | Decision No 2119/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the Community Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Centre for disease prevention and control | Review of the health threats legislation scheduled for adoption by the Commission by the end of 2010 including in particular review of Regulation (EC) No 851/2004 and Decision No 2119/98/EC. Implementing measures of Decision No 2119/98/EC will be amended accordingly |

54. | Public health / Blood | - Directive 2002/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council setting standards of quality and safety for the collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution of human blood and blood components and amending Directive 2001/83/EC - Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use - Directive 2000/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 93/42 as regards medical devices incorporating stable derivates of human blood or human plasma - 3 Commission Directives implementing Directive 2002/98/EC | Overall review of blood/tissues and cells legislation will take place in 4-5 years; simplification in common reporting mechanisms could be extended and Commission directives regrouped |

55. | Public health / Tissues and Cells | Directive 2004/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on setting standards of quality and safety for the donation, procurement, testing, processing, preservation, storage and distribution of human tissues and cells Commission Directive 2006/17/EC implementing Directive 2004/23/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards certain technical requirements for the donation, procurement and testing of human tissues and cells | Overall review of blood/tissues and cells legislation will take place in 4-5 years; simplification in common reporting mechanisms could be extended and Commission directives regrouped |

56. | Public health / Tobacco products | Directive 2001/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products | Any simplification can be envisaged in the context of the report undertaken in 2007. Proposal to revise the tobacco products directive is scheduled for 2010 |

57. | Public health / Food and feed safety | Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on genetically modified food and feed Council Directive 90/167/EC laying down the conditions governing the preparation, placing on the market and use of medicated feeding stuffs in the Community | Evaluation is planned end of 2008/2009 including for simplification and administrative burden reduction |

58. | Chemical safety of foods / Fraudulent practices | Commission Decision No 2005/402/EC on emergency measures regarding chilli, chilli products, curcuma and palm oil | A first step to alleviate controls has been taken in the framework of implementing measures of Regulation (EC) No 882/2004. If the control results are favourable, it can be expected that the measures will be completely lifted. |

59. | Animal health and welfare | Animal health measures on disease eradication and control, intra-community trade and imports | Action plan on animal health (including certain welfare and feed aspects) has been adopted in 2008; final proposal for the new Animal Health Law is planned in 2010. Revision of some 50 Council and EP/Council acts to replace existing policy actions with a single simplified regulatory framework. The foreseen Animal Health Law will seek to converge with international standards and will establish legal basis for implementation of IT tools and for possible changes in regulatory practice (e.g. use of guidelines in certain areas). |

60. | Phytosanitary legislation / Harmful organisms | Legislation on protective measures against harmful organisms (including intra-trade, plant passports, third country imports, control measures) Legislation on protected zones (including particular plant health risks, surveys and movement of certain plants) | Evaluation of the Community plant health regime to be launched in 2009 including for simplification and administrative burden reduction |

61. | Seed and plant propagating material | Council Directive 66/401/EC on the marketing of fodder plant seed Council Directive 66/402/EC on the marketing of cereal seed Council Directive 2002/53/EC on the common catalogue of varieties of agricultural plant species Council Directive 2002/54/EC on the marketing of beet seed Council Directive 2002/55/EC on the marketing of vegetable seed Council Directive 2002/56/EC on the marketing of seed potatoes Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed of oil and fibre plants Council Directive 68/193/EC on the marketing of material for the vegetative propagation of the vine Council Directive 1998/56/EC on the marketing of propagating material of ornamental plants Council Directive 92/33/EC on the marketing of vegetable propagating and planting material, other than seed Council Directive 92/34/EC on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production Council Directive 1999/105/EC on the marketing of forest reproductive material | Evaluation of the whole acquis on seed and plant propagating material in the framework of Better Regulation aiming to simplify and reduce administrative burdens finalised in November 2008. Action plan to be prepared by 2009. |

62. | Consumer policies / Rights | Council Directive 90/314/EEC on package travel, package holidays and package tours | The outcome of a public consultation has shown that a majority of stakeholders believe that there is a need to simplify, clarify and modernise the Directive. A consumer detriment study has been initiated in 2008. The Impact Assessment will be launched in 2009. Possible proposal in 2010 |

63. | Consumer policies / Distance marketing in financial services | Distance Marketing of Financial Services Directive 2002/65/EC | A report on the application of the Directive is scheduled for 2009, on the basis of which the possibility of amending the Directive will be considered |

64. | Consumer policies Enforcement | Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 on Consumer Protection Cooperation | The application of the Regulation is reviewed and assessed biennially. Scope for further simplification may be identified in this context. The first such report is due in 2009 and covers the period 2007-2008. |

65. | Direct taxation | Proposal for a Council Directive on a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different Member States (recast version) | To extend the scope of the Directive by reducing the participation thresholds, the inclusion of indirect holdings and by updating the annex(types of companies) |

66. | Indirect taxation / Excise duties | Directive 68/297/EC on the standardisation of provisions regarding the duty-free admission of fuel contained in the fuel tanks of commercial motor vehicles | Repeal of Directive is being envisaged |

67. | Indirect taxation / Excise duties | Directive 92/83/EC on the harmonisation of the structures of excise duty on alcohol and alcoholic beverage | Currently being reviewed by the Commission Services with a view to identifying areas that require modernisation. Simplification opportunities will be sought where appropriate |

68. | Customs / General legislation | Regulation (EC) No 1889/2005/EC on controls of cash entering or leaving the Community | Evaluation report being prepared on the implementation of the regulation, which may lead to amendments to simplify it |

69. | Customs / Specific legislation | Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 on rules for the monitoring of trade between the Community and third countries in drug precursors | A study is underway on the implementation of this legislation. It may identify areas to be simplified |

70. | Maritime transport | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 on enhancing ship and port facility security and repeal of Directive 2005/65/EC on enhancing port security | Avec cinq années de recul par rapport à la mise en œuvre des premières mesures de sûreté maritime, regrouper en un seul règlement l'ensemble des prescriptions relatives à la sûreté des navires et des ports, en veillant à leur adéquation vis à vis de l'évolution des instruments internationaux de référence. |

71. | Air transport | Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/91 of 16 December 1991 on the harmonization of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation, and its amendments | Potential repeal of Council Regulation 3922/91 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation. |

72. | Air transport / Accidents | Directive 2003/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2003 on occurrence reporting in civil aviation Council Directive 94/56/EC of 21 November 1994 establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents | Recast of Directive 2003/42/EC and Council Directive 94/56/EC under review |

73. | Road transport | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport | There is an urgent need to fix a number of technical issues for tachographs (to guard against fraud). In order to have new rules operational quickly, this will be done by comitology in 2009 (included in our catalogue). Later a recast will cover other aspects (such as integration of satellite signals) |

74. | Road transport | Council Directive 96/53/EC of 25 July 1996 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. | Need to amend the directive currently being examined. If amendment is necessary, it could be done in the form of a recast. |

75. | Inland waterway | Council Directive 96/50/EC on the harmonisation of the conditions for obtaining national boat masters’ certificates for the carriage of goods and passengers by inland waterway in the Community | It is planned to revisit the Directive with a view to facilitating the conditions for obtaining the national boat masters' certificates and to achieve mutual recognition on the Rhine |

76. | Trans-European Transport Networks "TEN-T" | Decision No 1692/96/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 1996 on Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, as amended by Decisions 1346/2001/EC, 884/2004/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006/EC | Review envisaged, pending the outcome of a Green Paper discussion to be launched early 2009. It is, among other things, envisaged to simplify Member State's reporting requirements. |

77. | Intermodal transport | Regulation (EC) No 1692/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 2006 establishing the second Marco Polo programme for the granting of Community financial assistance to improve the environmental performance of the freight transport system (Marco Polo II) and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1382/2003 | Simplification measures will be proposed (December 2008) in the context of a mid-term revision of the Regulation. Eligibility thresholds are lowered, applications can be presented by single undertakings, conditions for financing of infrastructure are simplified, project duration is allowed to be extended and administrative procedures streamlined. |

78. | Energy / Oil | 1999/280/EC: Council Decision of 22 April 1999 regarding a Community procedure for information and consultation on crude oil supply costs and the consumer prices of petroleum products and implementing measure (1999/566/EC: Commission Decision of 26 July 1999 regarding a Community procedure for information and consultation on crude oil supply costs and the consumer prices of petroleum products) Council Regulation (EC) No 2964/95 of 20 December 1995 introducing registration for crude oil imports and deliveries in the Community | As from end 2008, a new data transmission system is used by national authorities to communicate data to the Commission. The Market Observatory for energy carried out in 2008 a user survey to better understand the needs and to identify possible improvements of the oil bulletin. An additional survey on national data collection methods including administrative cost involved is ongoing with a view to exchange best practice. Possible modifications of the EC instrument may be envisaged thereafter (2010). |

79. | Electricity and Gas | 2003/796/EC: Commission Decision of 11 November 2003 on establishing the European Regulators Group for Electricity and Gas | Likely to be repealed following the creation of an agency for the co-operation of regulators proposed by the Commission and currently dealt with by the co-legislator |

80. | Trans-European Energy Networks / Guidelines | Decision No 1364/2006/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down guidelines for trans-European energy networks and repealing Decision No 96/391/EC and Decision No 1229/2003/EC | Review envisaged, following a discussion on the basis of a Green Paper, adopted in November 2008 |

81. | Nuclear safety | Recast of basic safety standards legislation for the protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation | Recast into a single Council Directive establishing the Basic Safety Standards for the protection against dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation. This recast concerns 5 Directives on radioprotection: Euratom Council Directives 89/618, 90/641, 96/29, 97/43 and 2003/122. The objective is: (a) to reflect the new Recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) issued in December 2007, and (b) to revise and consolidate existing legislation taking into account operational experience. |

Annex 2

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Annex 3

Simplification proposals pending before the Council and the European Parliament – state of play (28 January 2009)

Regulatory area | Legal act(s) | Commission |

1. Maritime Transport 2005/TREN/060 | Recast of the regime for ship inspections and survey organisations (Directive 94/57/EC) | COM(2005) 587 23 November 2005 2005/0237/COD |

2. Maritime Transport 2004/TREN/053 | Recast of the regime on port State control (Council Directive 95/21/EC) | COM(2005) 588 23 November 2005 2005/0238/COD |

3. Free movement of workers 2004/EMPL/022 | 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 | COM(2006)16 31 January 2006 2006/0006/COD |

4. Plant Protection products 2003/SANCO/61 | Proposal for a Regulation on the placing of plant protection products on the market | COM(2006)388 12 July 2006 2006/0136/COD |

5. Social affairs Health and safety 2006/SJ+/105 | Proposal of Council Directive concerning the minimum safety and health requirements for the use of work equipment by workers at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16 (1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) (codified version) | COM(2006)652 3 November 2006 2006/0214/COD [amended prop: COM(2008)111] |

6. Social affairs Health and safety 2006/SJ+/101 | Proposal of Council Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to asbestos at work (second individual Directive within the meaning of Article 8 of Directive 80/1107/EEC) (codified version) | COM(2006)664 10 November 2006 2006/0222/COD |

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7. Trade of dual use items 2006/TRADE/025 | Proposal for a Council Regulation setting up a Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use items and technology | COM(2006)829 18 December 2006 2006/0266/ACC SEC(2006)1696 |

8. Trade mark 2006/SJ+/099 | Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Community trade mark (Codified version) | COM(2006)830 16 December 2006 2006/0267/CNS |

9. Residue limits of veterinary medicinal products. 2006/ENTR/042 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down Community procedures for the establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin, and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 | COM(2007)194 17 April 2007 2007/0064 (COD) SEC(2007)484-SEC(2007)485) |

10. Admission to the occupation of transport operators 2006/TREN/001 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing common rules concerning the conditions to be complied with to pursue the occupation of road transport operator (recast) | COM(2007)263 23 May 2007 20070097(COD) SEC(2007)635-636 |

11. Access to passenger transport market 2006/TREN/042 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the international carriage of passengers by coach and bus (recast) | COM(2007)264 23 May 2007 20070098(COD) SEC(2007)635-636 |

Access to goods' transport market | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on access to the market in the carriage of goods by road within the Community to or from the territory of a Member State or passing across the territory of one or more Member States (recast) | COM(2007)265 23 May 2007 20070099(COD) SEC(2007)635-636 |

12. Radiation protection 2006/SJ+/106 | Codification of Regulation (Euratom) 1987R3954 laying down maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs and of feeding stuffs following a nuclear accident | COM(2007)302 2006/SJ+/106 2007/0103CNS |

13. Consumer Protection acquis 2006/SANCO/038 | Review of the Timeshare Directive (94/47/EC) | COM(2007)303 7 June 2007 2007/0113COD |

14. Financial services – Insurance 2005/MARKT/006 | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the taking-up and pursuit of the business of insurance and reinsurance (SOLVENCY II) (recast) | COM(2007)361 10 July 2007 2007/0143/COD [amended prop: COM(2008)119] |

15. Public pan-European cellular digital land-based mobile communications 2007/INFSO/016 | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council repealing Council Directive 87/372/EEC on the frequency bands to be reserved for the coordinated introduction of public pan-European cellular digital land-based mobile communications in the Community (GSM Directive) | COM (2007) 367 25 July 2007 2007/0126/COD |

16. Coordination of social security systems 2008/EMPL/005 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending the annexes to Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems | COM (2007) 376 03 July 2007 2007/0129/COD |

17. Coordination of social security systems 2008/EMPL/004 | Proposal for a Council Regulation extending the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No [...] to nationals of third countries who are not already covered by these provisions solely on the ground of their nationality | COM (2007) 439 23 July 2007 2007/0152/CNS |

18. Information society 2007/INFSO/001 | Revision of the regulatory framework for electronic communications and services | COM(2007)697-9 13 November 2007 2007/0247-9/COD |

19. Air Transport 2002/TREN/29 | Revision of the regulatory framework for computerised reservation systems | COM(2007)709 15 November 2007 2007/0243/COD |

20. Modernisation of VAT rules relating to financial services including insurance 2007/TAXUD/001 | Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down implementing measures for Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of value added tax, as regards the treatment of insurance and financial services | COM(2007)746 28 November 2007 |

21. IPPC 2007/ENV/002 | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on industrial emissions (integrated pollution prevention and control) | COM(2007)844 21 December 2007 2007/0286/COD |

22. Emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) 2007/ENTR/009 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of motor vehicles and engines with respect to emissions from heavy duty vehicles (Euro VI) and on access to vehicle repair and maintenance information | COM(2007) 851 21 December 2007 2007/0295/COD |

23. Foodstuffs 2007/SANCO/006 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on novel foods and amending Regulation (EC) No XXX/XXXX establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings | COM (2007)872 2008/002/COD 14 January 2008 |

24. Toys 2006/ENTR/004 | Revision of Council Directive 88/378/EEC of 3 May 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the safety of toys | COM(2008)9 25 January 2008 |

25. Foodstuffs 2006/SANCO/001 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the provision of food information to consumers | COM(2008)40 30 January 2008 |

26. Cosmetics 2007/ENTR/002 | Revision of Council Directive 76/768/EEC of 27 July 1976 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to cosmetic products | COM (2008) 49 31 January 2008 |

27. Community statistics 2008/ESTAT/001 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States (intrastat) | COM (2008) 58 07 February 2008 |

28. Civil liability insurance -motor vehicles 2007/SJ+/036 | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, and the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability (Codified version) | COM(2008)98 27 February 2008 2008/0037(COD) |

29. Roadworthiness for motor vehicles & their trailers 2006//SJ+/001 | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers (recast of Directive 96/96/EC) | COM(2008)100 29 February 2008 2008/0044 (COD) |

30. Pharmaceutical Variations 2008/ENTR/016 | Revision of the pharmaceutical "variations" Regulations and the legal basis in Directives 2001/83/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use and Directive 2001/82/EC on the Community code relating to medicinal products for veterinary use | COM(2008)123 4 March 2008 2008/0045/COD |

31. Revision of feed labelling legislation 2007/SANCO/2004 | Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the placing on the market and use of feed | COM(2008)124; SEC(2008)275-6 3 March 2008 2008/0050(COD) |

32. CAP Health check 2008/AGRI/016 | Package of proposals following arising from the ‘Health Check’, notably a proposal for a Council regulation establishing common rules for direct support schemes for farmers under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers | COM (2008)306 20 May 2008 |

33. Construction products 2007/ENTR/001 | Proposal for a regulation laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of the construction products (review of Directive 89/106/EEC on Construction Products) | COM (2008) 311 23 May 2008 |

34. General safety of motor vehicles 2008/ENTR/004 | Proposal for a regulation on type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles | COM (2008) 316 23 May 2008 |

35. Protection of marine juveniles 2006/MARE/004 | Recast of Council Regulation No. 850/98 on technical measures for the protection of marine juveniles | COM(2008)324 4 June 2008 2008/0112/CNS |

36. Eco-label award scheme 2007/ENV/011 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1980/200 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme | COM(2008)401 16 July 2008 |

37. EMAS 2006/ENV/053 | Regulation amending the Regulation 761/2001 of 19 March 2001 allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS). | COM(2008)402 16 July 2008 |

38. UCITS 2007/MARKT/005 | Recast of Directive 85/611 on Units in Collective Investments in Transferable Securities (UCITS) | COM(2008)458 16 July 2008 |

39. single CMO 2008/AGRI/012 | Amendment to the single CMO regulation (Council Regulation (EC) n° 1234/2007) to include provisions concerning the wine sector | COM(2008) 489 29 July 2008 2008/0156/CNS |

40. Ozone depleting substances 2008/ENV/001 | Review of Regulation (EC) n° 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer | COM(2008)505 01 August 2008 2008/0165/COD |

41. Company law – mergers & divisions 2006/MARKT/44 | Further revision of the Company law Directives as regards reporting and documentation requirements in the case of merger and divisions | COM(2008)576 24 Septembre 2008 2008/0182/COD |

Proposal for a Directive amending Council Directives 68/151/EEC and 89/666/EEC as regards publication and translation obligations of certain types of companies | COM(2008) 194 17 April 2008 2008/0083 (COD) |

Proposal for a Directive amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC and 83/349/EEC as regards certain disclosure requirements for medium-sized companies and obligation to draw up consolidated accounts | COM(2008) 195 17 April 2008 2008/0084 (COD) |

42. Consumer protection 2008/SANCO/001 | Directive on Consumer Rights (Follow up of Revision of the Consumer Protection acquis) | COM(2008)614 8 October 2008 2008/0196(COD) |

43. Control system for ensuring compliance with CFP 2008/MARE/001 | Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Community control system for ensuring compliance with the rules of the Common Fisheries Policy | COM(2008) 721 final 14 November 2008 2008/0216 (CNS) COM(2008) 718 final 14.11.2008 |

44. Household appliances 2007/TREN/002 | Recast of 1 Directive 92/75 on energy consumption labelling of household appliances | COM(2008)778 13 November 2008 2008/0222(COD) |

45. Emergency oil stock system 2008/TREN/001 | Proposal for a Directive revising the Emergency Oil Stock System | COM(2008)775 13 November 2008 2008/0220(CNS) |

46. Building directive 2008/TREN/048 | Recast of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive | COM(2008)780 13 November 2008 2008/0223(COD) |

47. Metrology ENTR/015 | Extension of the scope of Directive 2004/22/EC on measuring instruments and repeal of 8 "old approach" Directives | COM(2008)801 3 December 2008 2008/0227(COD) |

48. Hazardous substances 2008/ENV/001 | Revision Directive 2002/95/EC (hazardous substances in electronic equipments) | COM(2008) 809; SEC(2008) 2930; SEC(2008) 2931 |

49. Waste electrical and electronic equipm 2008/ENV/002 | Revision of Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) | COM(2008) 810; SEC(2008) 2933; SEC(2008) 2934 |

50. Textiles | Proposal for a Regulation .../.../EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of [...] on textile names and related labelling of textile products | COM(2009)31 |

Other initiatives pending before the legislature, contributing to the simplification but not part of the rolling programme

Regulatory area | Legal act(s) | Commission |

Regional Policy 2008/REGIO/017 | Proposal for a Council Regulation (EC) amending Regulation (EC) 1083/2006 on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund concerning certain provisions relating to financial management | COM(2008)803 26 November 2008 |

Internal market/ banking and financial conglomerate | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC as regards banks affiliated to central institutions, certain own funds items, large exposures, supervisory arrangements, and crisis management | COM(2008) 602 1 October 2008 2008/0191 (COD) |

Internal market/ settlement systems and financial collateral arrangements | Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 98/26/EC on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems and Directive 2002/47/EC on financial collateral arrangements as regards linked systems and credit claims | COM(2008)213 23 April 2008 |

Internal market/ European private company | Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Statute for a European private company | COM(2008) 396/3 25 June 2008 2008/xxxx (CNS) |

Social affairs / labour law 2008/EMPL/027 | Recast of Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees | COM(2008) 419 7 February 2008 2008/0141/COD/801 |

Annex 4

Commission autonomous acts & other initiatives adopted since 2005

Regulatory area | Legal act(s) | Official Journal |

1. Public procurement 2005/MARKT/057 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1564/2005 establishing standard forms for the publication of notices in the framework of public procurement procedures pursuant to Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council Commission Directive 2005/51/EC of 7 September 2005 amending Annex XX to Directive 2004/17/EC and Annex VIII to Directive 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on public procurement | O.J. L 257 of 01.10.2005, p. 1 & p. 127. |

2. Pharmaceutical products 2005/ENTR/061 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2049/2005 of 15 December 2005 laying down, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council, rules regarding the payment of fees to, and the receipt of administrative assistance from, the European Medicines Agency by micro, small and medium-sized enterprises | O.J. L 329 of 16.12.2005, p. 4 |

3. Quality policy 2006/SANCO/032 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 217/2006 of 8 February 2006 laying down rules for the application of Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC and 2002/57/EC as regards the authorisation of Member States to permit temporarily the marketing of seed not satisfying the requirements in respect of the minimum germination | O.J. L 38 of 09.02.2006, p. 17 |

4. Trade in agricultural products 2007/AGRI/019 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1301/2006 of 31 August 2006 laying down common rules for the administration of import tariff quotas for agricultural products managed by a system of import licences | O.J. L 238 of 01.09.2006, p. 13 |

5. Customs and trade 2006/TAXUD/021 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1549/2006 of 17 October 2006 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87 on the tariff and statistical nomenclature and on the Common Customs Tariff | O.J. L 301 of 31.10.2006, p. 1 |

6. Trade in agricultural products 2006/TREN/078 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1635/2006 of 6 November 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EEC) No 737/90 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power-station | O.J. L 306 of 07.11.2006, p. 3 |

7. State aid 2006/AGRI/036 | Commission Communication on Community guidelines for state aid in the agriculture and forestry sector 2007-2013 | O.J. C 319 of 27.12.2006, p. 1 |

8. Common organisation of agricultural markets 2007/AGRI/013 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1913/2006 of 20 December 2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of the agrimonetary system for the euro in agriculture and amending certain regulations | O.J. L 365 of 21.12.2006, p. 52 |

9. Agriculture – Direct Payments 2007/AGRI/024 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2002/2006 of 21 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the single payment scheme provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers | O.J. L 379 of 28.12.2006, p. 47 |

10. Agriculture – Direct Payments 2006/AGRI/053 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2025/2006 of 22 December 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 796/2004 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers | O.J. L 384 of 29.12.2006, p. 81 |

11. Agriculture – Direct Payments 2007/AGRI/024 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 270/2007 of 13 March 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards the support schemes provided for in Titles IV and IVa of that Regulation and the use of land set aside for the production of raw materials | O.J. L 75 of 15.03.2007, p. 8 |

12. Common fisheries policy 2006/FISH/041 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 498/2007 of 26 March 2007 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1198/2006 on the European Fisheries Fund | O.J. L 120 of 10.05.2007 |

13. Agricultural products 2007/AGRI/012 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 557/2007 of 23 May 2007 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006 on marketing standards for eggs | O.J. L 132 of 24.05.2007, p. 5 |

14. Trans-European transport and energy networks 2007/TREN/036 | Commission Decision 2007/394/EC of 7 June 2007 amending Council Directive 90/377/EEC with regard to the methodology to be applied for the collection of gas and electricity prices charged to industrial end-users | O.J. L 148 of 09.06.2007, p. 11 |

15. Agricultural products 2007/AGRI/011 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/2007 of 7 August 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 917/2004 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 797/2004 on measures improving general conditions for the production and marketing of apiculture products | O.J. L 207 of 08.08.2007, p. 3 |

16. Trade in agricultural products 2007/AGRI/021 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1001/2007 of 29 August 2007 amending Regulations (EC) No 800/1999 and (EC) No 2090/2002 as regards controls in the framework of export refunds on agricultural products | O.J. L 226 of 30.08.2007, p. 9 |

17. Common organisation of agricultural markets 2007/AGRI/018 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1388/2007 of 27 November 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 382/2005 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1786/2003 on the common organisation of the market in dried fodder | O.J. L 310 of 28.11.2007, p. 3 |

18. Trade in agricultural products 2007/AGRI/015 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1423/2007 of 4 December 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 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 | O.J. L 317 of 05.12.2007, p. 36 |

19. Trade in agricultural products 2007/AGRI/014 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1454/2007 of 10 December 2007 laying down common rules for establishing a tender procedure for fixing export refunds for certain agricultural products | O.J. L 325 of 11.12.2007, p. 69 |

20. State aid 2007/COMP/007 | Notice from the Commission on the execution of recovery decisions: “Towards an effective implementation of Commission decisions ordering Member States to recover unlawful and incompatible State aid” | Communication C(2007)5116 (not published in the O.J.) |

21. Public procurement 2006/MARKT/042 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 213/2008 of 28 November 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 2195/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) and Directives 2004/17/EC and 2004/18/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on procedures for the award of public contracts | O.J. L 74 of 15.03.2008, p. 1 |

22. State aid 2007/COMP/002 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 271/2008 of 30 January 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 794/2004 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 659/1999 laying down detailed rules for the application of Article 93 of the EC Treaty | O.J. L 82 of 25.03.2008 |

23. Rules of origin 2006/TAXUD/020 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 214/2007 of 28 February 2007 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code | O.J. L 62, 1.3.2007, p. 6 |

24. Leased lines 2007/INFSO/015 | 2008/60/EC: Commission Decision of 21 December 2007 amending Decision 2003/548/EC as regards the deletion of specific types of leased line from the Minimum Set of Leased Lines | O.J. L 15, 18.1.2008, p. 32 |

25. Controls in the framework of export refunds 2008/AGRI/011 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 159/2008 of 21 February 2008 amending Regulations (EC) No 800/1999 and (EC) No 2090/2002 as regards physical checks carried out when agricultural products qualifying for refunds are exported. | O.J. L 48, 22.2.2008, p. 21 |

26. Streamline Controls 2008/AGRI/007 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 319/2008 of 7 April 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of the single payment scheme provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers, and Regulation (EC) No 796/2004 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 | O.J. L 95, 8.4.2008, p. 63 |

27. Production refunds in the cereals sector 2008/AGRI/010 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 491/2008 of 3 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 concerning production refunds in the cereals sector | O.J. L 144, 4.6.2008, p. 3–13 |

28. Information provision and promotion measures for agriculture products 2007/AGRI/020 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 501/2008 of 5 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries. | O.J. L 147, 6.6.2008, p. 3–34 |

29. Collection and management of data needed to conduct the CFP 2008/MARE/020 | Commission Regulation No. 665/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) N° 199/2008 concerning the establishment of a Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy. | O.J. L 186, 15.7.2008, p. 3–5 |

30. General Block Exemption (GBE) 2005/COMP/005 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2008 of 6 August 2008 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the common market in application of Articles 87 and 88 of the Treaty (General block exemption Regulation) | O.J. L 214, 9.8.2008, p. 3–47 |

31. Private storage aid 2007/AGRI/016 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 826/2008 of 20 August 2008 laying down common rules for the granting of private storage aid for certain agricultural products | O.J. L 223, 21.8.2008, p. 3–22 |

32. Review total feed ban with regard to fish meal in the feeding of young ruminants | Commission Regulation (EC) No 956/2008 of 29 September 2008 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies | O.J. L 260, 30.9.2008, p. 8–11 |

33. Accounting standards 2008/MARKT/001 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1126/2008 of 3 November 2008 adopting certain international accounting standards in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1606/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council. It consolidates all IFRS accounting standards. | O.J. L 320, 29.11.2008, p. 1–481 |

34. Marketing standards 2008/AGRI/013 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1221/2008 of 5 December 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 laying down implementing rules of Council Regulations (EC) No 2200/96, (EC) No 2201/96 and (EC) No 1182/2007 in the fruit and vegetable sector as regards marketing standards | O.J. L 336, 13.12.2008, p. 1–80 |

35. Pharmaceutical variations 2008/ENTR/017 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1234/2008 of 24 November 2008 concerning the examination and variations to the terms of marketing authorisation for medicinal products for human use and veterinary medicinal | O.J. L 334, 12.12.2008, p. 7-24 |

36. Physical checks of exports of agricultural products receiving refunds 2008/AGRI/052 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 1276/2008of 17 December 2008 on the monitoring by physical checks of exports of agricultural products receiving refunds or other amounts | O.J. L 339, 18.12.2008, p.53-75 |

Other initiatives contributing to the simplification:

- Report from the Commission Evaluation report on the Settlement Finality Directive 98/26/EC [COM(2005)657 - O.J. C122 of 23.05.2006, p. 17]

- Report from the Commission to the Council on the application of the system of cross-compliance (under Article 8 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers) [COM(2007)147 – O.J. C 181 of 03.08.2007, p. 17] 2007/AGRI/001.

- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1566/2007 of 21 December 2007 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1966/2006 on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities and on means of remote sensing (not part of the simplification rolling programme).

- Commission Recommendation of 17 December 2007 on relevant product and service markets within the electronic communications sector susceptible to ex ante regulation in accordance with Directive 2002/21/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services

Annex 5

Simplification proposals adopted by the legislature since 2005

Regulatory area | Legal act(s) | Official Journal |

1. Common organisation of agricultural markets 2005/AGRI/015 | Council Regulation (EC) No 318/2006 of 20 February 2006 on the common organisation of the markets in the sugar sector Council Regulation (EC) No 319/2006 of 20 February 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers Council Regulation (EC) No 320/2006 of 20 February 2006 establishing a temporary scheme for the restructuring of the sugar industry in the Community and amending Regulation (EC) No 1290/2005 on the financing of the common agricultural policy | O.J. L 58 of 28.02.2006, p. 1-42 |

2. Quality policy 2005/AGRI/011 | Council Regulation (EC) No 509/2006 of 20 March 2006 on agricultural products and foodstuffs as traditional specialities guaranteed | O.J. L 93 of 31.03.2006, p. 1 |

3. Quality policy 2005/AGRI/012 | Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 of 20 March 2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin for agricultural products and foodstuffs | O.J. L 93 of 31.03.2006, p. 12 |

4. Agricultural product 2006/AGRI/024 | Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006 of 19 June 2006 on marketing standards for eggs | O.J. L 186 of 07.07.2006, p. 1 |

5. Quality policy 2005/AGRI/013 | Council Regulation (EC) No 1991/2006 of 21 December 2006 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 | O.J. L 27 of 02.02.2007, p. 11 O.J. L 189 of 20.07.2007, p. 1 |

6. Public procurement 2006/MARKT/046 | Directive 2007/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 May 2007 repealing Council Directive 71/304/EEC concerning the abolition of restrictions on freedom to provide services in respect of public works contracts and on the award of public works contracts to contractors acting through agencies or branches | O.J. L 154 of 14.06.2007, p. 22 |

7. Trans-European transport and energy networks 2006/TREN/019 | Regulation (EC) No 680/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 laying down general rules for the granting of Community financial aid in the field of the trans-European transport and energy networks | O.J. L 162 of 22.06.2007, p. 1 |

8. Forestry products 2006/ENTR/046 | Decision No 714/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 repealing Council Directive 68/89/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States concerning the classification of wood in the rough | O.J. L 163 of 23.06.2007, p. 16 |

9. Health and safety at work 2006/EMPL/033 | Directive 2007/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2007 amending Council Directive 89/391/EEC, its individual Directives and Council Directives 83/477/EEC, 91/383/EEC, 92/29/EEC and 94/33/EC with a view to simplifying and rationalising the reports on practical implementation | O.J. L 165 of 27.06.2007, p. 21 |

10. Agricultural product 2006/AGRI/002 | Council Regulation (EC) No 1182/2007 of 26 September 2007 laying down specific rules as regards the fruit and vegetable sector, amending Directives 2001/112/EC and 2001/113/EC and Regulations (EEC) No 827/68, (EC) No 2200/96, (EC) No 2201/96, (EC) No 2826/2000, (EC) No 1782/2003 and (EC) No 318/2006 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2202/96 | O.J. L 273 of 17.10.2007, p.1 |

11. Common organisation of agricultural markets 2006/AGRI/030 | Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 of 22 October 2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products (Single CMO Regulation) | O.J. L 299 of 16.11.2007, p.1 |

12. Services in the Internal market 2003/MARKT/22 | Directive 2007/64/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 November 2007 on payment services in the internal market amending Directives 97/7/EC, 2002/65/EC, 2005/60/EC and 2006/48/EC and repealing Directive 97/5/EC | O.J. L 319 of 05.12.2007, p.1 |

13. Common organisation of agricultural markets 2006/AGRI/012 | Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2006 of 19 December 2006 amending and correcting Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and establishing certain support schemes for farmers and amending Regulation (EC) No 1698/2005 on support for rural development by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) | O.J. L 384 of 29.12.2006, p. 8 |

14. Public procurement 2006/MARKT/002 | Directive 2007/66/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2007 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 | O.J. L 335 of 20.12.2007, p. 31 |

15. Energy-efficiency labelling programme for office equipment 2006/TREN/076 | Regulation (EC) 106/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community energy-efficiency labelling programme for office equipment (recast) | O.J. L 39 of 13.02.2008, p. 1 |

16. Information and promotion for agricultural products 2006/AGRI/048 | Council Regulation (EC) No 3/2008 of 17 December 2007 on information provision and promotion measures for agricultural products on the internal market and in third countries | O.J. L 003 of 05.01.2008, p. 1 |

17. Euratom Supply Agency 2006/TREN/084 | Council Decision of 12 February 2008 establishing Statutes for the Euratom Supply Agency | O.J. L 41 of 15.02.2008, p. 15 |

18. Taxation 2004/TAXUD/013 | Council Directive 2008/7/EC of 12. February 2008 concerning indirect taxes on the raising of capital | O.J. L 46 of 21.02.2008, p. 11 |

19. Veterinary medical devices 2007/ENTR/018 | Repeal of the Directive on electro-medical equipments used in veterinary medicine | O.J. L 73 of 19.03.2008 p. 1 |

20. Business statistics 2004/ESTAT/005 | Streamlining of the structural business statistics (Council Regulation (EC / Euratom) N°58/97) | O.J. L 97 of 09.04.2008, p. 13 |

21. Revised Single CMO Regulation 2008/AGRI/005 | Council Regulation (EC) n 361/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets and on specific provisions for certain agricultural products ("Single CMO Regulation") | O.J. L 121 of 07.05.2008 p. 1 |

22. Common organisation of the market in wine 2006/AGRI/008 | Council Regulation on the common organisation of the market in wine and amending certain Regulations Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 of 29 April 2008 on the common organisation of the market in wine, amending Regulations (EC) No 1493/1999, (EC) No 1782/2003, (EC) No 1290/2005, (EC) No 3/2008 and repealing Regulations (EEC) No 2392/86 and (EC) No 1493/1999 | O.J. L 148 of 06.06.2008, p. 1 |

23. Costums Union 2004/TAXUD/015 | Regulation (EC) No 450/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 laying down the Community Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code) | O.J. L 145 of 04.06.2008, p. 1 |

24. Rail safety (part of the package 2006/TREN/005) | Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 June 2008 on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community (Recast) | O.J. L 191 of 18.07.2008. |

25. Radiation protection (2006/SJ+/107) | Council Regulation (EC) No 733/2008 of 15 July 2008 on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in third countries following the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station (Codified version) | O.J. L 201 of 30.072008, p. 1 |

26. Veterinary and zootechnical fields 2007/SANCO/008 | Council Directive 2008/73/EC of 15 July 2008 simplifying procedures of listing and publishing information in the veterinary and zootechnical fields and amending Directives 64/432/EEC, 77/504/EEC, 88/407/EEC, 88/661/EEC, 89/361/EEC, 89/556/EEC, 90/426/EEC, 90/427/EEC, 90/428/EEC, 90/429/EEC, 90/539/EEC, 91/68/EEC, 91/496/EEC, 92/35/EEC, 92/65/EEC, 92/66/EEC, 92/119/EEC, 94/28/EC, 2000/75/EC, Decision 2000/258/EC and Directives 2001/89/EC, 2002/60/EC and 2005/94/EC | O.J. L 219, Vol 51 14.08.2008, p. 40 |

27. Transport of dangerous good 2005/TREN/017 2005/TREN/001 | Directive 2008/68/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on the inland transport of dangerous goods | O.J. L 260 of 30 09 2008, p. 13 |

28. Employment Social Affairs 2006/SJ+/100 | Directive 2008/94/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 on the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer (Codified version) | O.J. L 283, Vol. 51 of 28.10.2008, p. 36 |

29. Fruit plants propagating material 2004/SANCO/008 | Council Directive 2008/90/EC of 29 September 2008 on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production (Recast version) | O.J. L 267, Vol 51 of 8.10.2008, p. 8 |

30. Authorisations for fishing activities 2005/FISH/010 | Council Regulation (EC) No 1006/2008 of 29 September 2008 concerning authorisations for fishing activities of Community fishing vessels outside Community waters and the access of third country vessels to Community waters, amending Regulations (EEC) No 2847/93 and (EC) No 1627/94 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 3317/94 | O.J. L 286, Vol 51 of 29.10.2008, p. 33 |

31. Free movement of workers | Decision No 1065/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2008 repealing Council Decision 85/368/EEC on the comparability of vocational training qualifications between the Member States of the European Community | O.J. L 288, Vol 51 of 30.10.2008, p. 4 |

32. Air Transport 2002/TREN/28 | Regulation(EC)N 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 September 2008 on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community | O.J. L 293 of 31 10 2008 p. 3 |

33. Maximum residue limits for pesticides 2008/SANCO/015 | Regulation (EC) No 299/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 March 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission | O.J. L 97 of 9.4.2008, p. 67 |

34. Waste | Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (Text with EEA relevance) | O.J. L 312 of 22 .11.2008, p. 3–30 |

35. Maritime Transport 2006/SJ+/108 | Directive 2008/106/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on the minimum level of training for seafarers | O.J. L 323 of 3.12.2008, p. 33 |

36. Rail safety | Directive 2008/110/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 amending Directive 2004/49/EC on safety on the Community’s railways (Railway Safety Directive) | O.J. L 345 of 23.12.2008, p. 62 |

37. Excise duty | Council Directive 2008/118/EC of 16 December 2008 concerning the general arrangements for excise duty and repealing Directive 92/12/EEC | O.J.L 9 of 14.01.2009, p. 12 |

38. Foodstuffs | Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings Regulation (EC) No 1332/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food enzymes and amending Council Directive 83/417/EEC, Council Regulation (EC) No 1493/1999, Directive 2000/13/EC, Council Directive 2001/112/EC and Regulation (EC) No 258/97 Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives (1) Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods and amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1601/91, Regulations (EC) No 2232/96 and (EC) No 110/2008 and Directive 2000/13/EC | O.J. L 354 of 31.12.2008, p. 1 O.J. L 354 of 31.12.2008, p. 7 O.J. L 354 of 31.12.2008, p. 16 O.J. L 354 of 31.12.2008, p. 34 |

39. Railway agency | Regulation (EC) No 1335/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 establishing a European Railway Agency | O.J. L 354 of 31.12.2008, p. 51 |

Other initiatives adopted by the legislature contributing to the simplification but not part of the rolling programme

Regulatory area | Legal act(s) | Official Journal |

Insurance undertakings | Directive 2006/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 amending Council Directives 78/660/EEC on the annual accounts of certain types of companies, 83/349/EEC on consolidated accounts, 86/635/EEC on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of banks and other financial institutions and 91/674/EEC on the annual accounts and consolidated accounts of insurance undertakings | O.J. L 224, 16.8.2006, p. 1-7 |

Employment and social affairs | Directive 2006/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the implementation of the principle of equal opportunities and equal treatment of men and women in matters of employment and occupation (recast) | O.J. L 204, 26.7.2006, p. 23–36 |

Electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities | Council Regulation (EC) No 1966/2006 of 21 December 2006 on electronic recording and reporting of fishing activities and on means of remote sensing | O.J. L 36 of 8.2.2007, p. 3 |

Export of agricultural products | Council Regulation (EC) No 14/2008 of 17 December 2007 amending Regulation (EEC) No 386/90 on the monitoring carried out at the time of export of agricultural products receiving refunds or other amounts. | O.J. L 8 of 11.01.2008, p. 1 |

eCustoms | Decision No 70/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a paperless environment for customs and trade. | O.J. L 23 of 26.01.2008, p. 21 |

Regional policy | Council Regulation (EC) No 1341/2008 of 18 December 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1083/2006 laying down general provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund and the Cohesion Fund, in respect of certain revenue generating Projects | O.J. L 348 of 24.12.2008, p. 19 |

Annex 6: Codification programme (2009)

Title | DG | Legal Base |

(a) EP/Council acts |

1. | Regulation 1612/68 on freedom of movement for workers within the Community | EMPL | Art. 40 and 251 |

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

3. | Directive 89/552 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by Law, Regulation or Administrative Action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities | INFSO | Art. 47(2) and 55 |

4. | Regulation 2160/2003 on the control of salmonella and other specified food-borne zoonotic agents | SANCO | Art. 152(4)(b) |

5. | Regulation 21/2004 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and Directives 92/102/EEC and 64/432/EEC | SANCO | Art. 37 |

6. | Regulation 178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety | SANCO | Art. 37, 95 and 133 |

7. | Regulation 95/93 on common rules for the allocation of slots at Community airports | TREN | Art. 80(2) |

8. | Regulation 417/2002 on the accelerated phasing-in of double hull or equivalent design requirements for single hull oil tankers and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 2978/94 | TREN | Art. 80(2) |

(b) Commission acts |

9. | Regulation 2568/91 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis | AGRI | Council Regulation 1234/2007 Art. 113(1)(a), 118 and 121(h) |

10. | Regulation 1019/2002 on marketing standards for olive oil | AGRI | Council Regulation 1234/2007 Art. 113(1)(a), 118 and 121(h) |

11. | Regulation 297/2003 laying down detailed rules for the application of the tariff quota for beef and veal originating in Chile | AGRI | Council Regulation 1234/2007 |

12. | Regulation 1342/2003 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of import and export licences for cereals and rice | AGRI | Council Regulation 1234/2007 and 3072/95 |

13. | Regulation 2236/2003 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1868/94 establishing a quota system in relation to the production of potato starch | AGRI | Council Regulation 1868/94 Art. 8 |

14. | Regulation 2402/96 opening and setting administrative rules for certain annual tariff quotas for sweet potatoes and manioc starch | AGRI | Council Regulation 1095/96 |

15. | Regulation 596/2004 laying down detailed rules for implementing the system of export licences in the egg sector | AGRI | Council Regulation (EC) 1234/2007 Articles 161(3), 170 and 192(2), in conjunction with Article 4 thereof; and Council Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 Article 3(1) |

16. | Regulation 633/2004 laying down detailed rules for implementing the system of export licences in the poultrymeat sector | AGRI | Council Regulation (EC) 1234/2007 Articles 161(3), 170 and 192(2), in conjunction with Article 4 thereof; and Council Regulation (EC) No 3290/94 Article 3(1) |

17. | Regulation 1438/2003 laying down implementing rules on the Community Fleet Policy as defined in Chapter III of Council Regulation (EC) No 2371/2002 | MARE | Council Regulation 2371/2002 Art. 11(7), 12(2), 13(2) and 14(2) |

18. | Regulation 930/2000 establishing implementing rules as to the suitability of the denominations of varieties of agricultural plant species and vegetable species | SANCO | Council Directive 2002/53 Art. 9(6) and Council Directive 2002/55 Art. 9(6) |

19. | Regulation 1239/95 establishing implementing rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 2100/94 as regards proceedings before the Community Plant Variety Office | SANCO | Council Regulation 2100/94 Art. 114 |

20. | Regulation 1702/2003 laying down implementing rules for the airworthiness and environmental certification of aircraft and related products, parts and appliances, as well as for the certification of design and production organisations | TREN | EP and Council Regulation 216/2008 |

21. | Regulation 2042/2003 on the continuing airworthiness of aircraft and aeronautical products, parts and appliances, and on the approval of organisations and personnel involved in these tasks | TREN | EP and Council Regulation 216/2008 |

Annex 7: Simplification Rolling programme 2009

(Extract from the Commission Legislative and Work Programme 2009 - COM (2008)712)

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives |

1. | Commission Regulation on physical checks on exported agricultural products subject to refunds | Revision | Following the 2007 Communication on the "Health Check" in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the legislative proposals will provide options aiming at making the Single Payment Scheme more effective, adapting the market support instruments and addressing the new challenges facing the sector. The "Health Check" is not a fundamental reform, rather it essentially aims to ensure that the CAP functions effectively and to simplify it where possible. This initiative arises from the review clauses regarding the Single Payment Scheme and certain agricultural markets that were included in 2003/04 CAP reforms. |

2. | Commission Communication establishing formal recognition that a certain number of acts of Community law in the field of agriculture have become obsolete | Repeal | The objective of the proposal is to declare obsolete Commission legal acts that are of no practical relevance or broader interest, thus contributing to the objectives of updating and simplifying the Community acquis. Their removal will clarify the "essential" acquis of acts that are active and generally applicable. |

3. | Commission Regulation on intervention on the market in skimmed milk powder | Revision | The purpose of the initiative is to amend the implementing rules due to the abolition of private storage aid for skimmed milk powder (SMP) as well as to implement newly introduced rules on the standardisation of protein content in SMP. Technical clarifications and simplification (e.g. concerning the security provisions) are being introduced. |

4. | Revision of Commission Regulation 1973/2004 implementing the Health Check as regards the support schemes provided for in Titles IV ('other aid schemes') and IVa of that Regulation | Recast | Council Regulation 1782/2003 is scheduled for replacement by a new Direct Payments Regulation in 2008. The objective of the recast is to do away with obsolete provisions linked to aid schemes to be abolished or decoupled pending the outcome of the Health Check. |

5. | Revision of Commission Regulation 796/2004 implementing the Health Check as regards cross-compliance, modulation and the integrated administration and control system (IACS) | Recast | Council Regulation 1782/2003 is scheduled for replacement by a new Direct Payments Regulation in 2008. The objective of the recast is to establish common rules for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy and certain support schemes for farmers. |

6. | Revision of Commission Regulation 795/2004 implementing the Health Check as regards the single payment scheme | Recast | Council Regulation 1782/2003 is scheduled for replacement by a new Direct Payments Regulation in 2008. The objective of the recast of Regulation 795/2004 is to do away with obsolete provisions linked to the setting up of the single payment scheme introduced by the 2003 CAP reform or temporary rules linked to subsequent integration of sectors into the single payment scheme. |

7. | Commission Regulation establishing common rules concerning buying-in under public intervention | Recast/Revision | The initiative is a consequence of the Health Check proposals. The project concerns simplification and harmonisation in a horizontal legal act of the detailed rules for intervention, in particular for cereals, dairy products and meat. |

8. | Council Regulation repealing a number of obsolete agricultural acts | Repeal | The objective of the Regulation is to repeal Council legal acts that are obsolete and of no practical relevance or broader interest, thus contributing to the objectives of updating and simplifying the Community acquis. Their removal will clarify the "essential" acquis of acts that are active and generally applicable. |

9. | Notice on the enforcement of State aid law by national courts | Revision | Review of the 1995 Notice on cooperation between national courts and the Commission in the State aid field. The new Notice will support and assist national courts faced with illegal aid, by setting out the applicable Community Case-law and decision-making practice. It will also update and reinforce the support mechanisms offered to national courts. By rationalising and improving existing guidance, the Notice will simplify the tasks of national courts in State aid enforcement. |

10. | Best Practices Code in State Aid | Revision | The Best Practices Code aims at establishing good practices on both the Commission's and Member States' sides with a view to increasing the efficiency, transparency and predictability of State aid procedures. Efficiency could be improved, for instance, by means of improved pre-notification contacts, incentives for more complete notifications by Member States, more standardised information exchange with Member States, as well as streamlined internal procedures. Predictability would be increased by means of quicker decision making. And Member States would obtain more transparency as regards procedural steps and foreseen deadlines. |

11. | Notice on a simplified procedure in State aid | Revision | The design of a simplified procedure in State aid aims at ensuring the quick adoption of decisions in straightforward notified aid cases including cases adopted on the basis of the standard assessment section of horizontal state aid instruments, as well as cases merely confirming precedents. The Notice should contribute to improving the efficiency of state aid procedures by simplifying the procedure for these types of cases. |

12. | Community initiative on work-related musculoskeletal disorders | Recast | Follow-up of the second phase of consultation of the social partners. The objective of this initiative is to integrate into a single legislative instrument the provisions on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks of musculo-skeletal disorders at work. These provisions are currently fragmented over different directives, namely Council Directive 90/269/EEC and Council Directive 90/270/EEC. A single legislative instrument would be more comprehensive, clearer and easier to apply. It will benefit employers in terms of legal clarity and workers in terms of providing better protection against the risks of musculo-skeletal disorders. |

13. | Revision of Directive 2000/35 of the European Parliament and Council on combating late payment in commercial transactions | Revision | Several key provisions of the current Directive are unclear or difficult to implement, thereby creating various hurdles for businesses to claim their rights in case of late payment. The overall objective is to discourage debtors from paying late and to provide creditors with measures that enable them to fully exercise all their rights when paid late. The simplification would entail a clarification of the calculation of the applicable interest rate, a better description of the nature and extent of “retention of title”, a new definition of the types of commercial transactions covered by the Directive and a clearer definition of “relevant recovery costs” to include internal administrative costs linked to late payment. |

14. | Regulation relating to the type-approval of agricultural and forestry vehicles | Recast | The proposal will simplify EC legislation on agricultural and forestry tractors by replacing existing legislation (including the present Framework Directive and the separate Directives) by one main Regulation. The proposal will repeal 24 Directives. It will introduce improved requirements for tractor brakes as well. |

15. | Amendment to Annex IV to Regulation 2003/2003 on fertilizers | Revision | The objective is to ensure that CEN Standards can be considered as official methods of analysis to be used as references for official controls. Their updated versions delivered by CEN will no longer be included in the legal act but will exist in the form of separate standards to which Community law will refer - the detailed descriptions of test methods currently contained in the Annex will be deleted. |

16. | Directive or Regulation concerning medical devices | Recast | The objective is to simplify and strengthen the rules in order to ensure a high level of health protection while at the same time ensuring the smooth functioning of the internal market. |

17. | Regulation on type approval of Two- or Three- Wheel motor vehicles | Recast | The proposal will simplify EC legislation on 2 and 3-wheel motor vehicles by replacing existing legislation (including the present Framework Directive and the separate Directives) into one main Regulation. The proposal will repeal 14 Directives. It will introduce modern emissions legislation, ABS and automatic emergency braking for two- and three-wheelers. |

18. | Proposal of a Legal Instrument to underpin development of the Shared Environmental Information System | Revision | The simplification objectives cover: - modernising and streamlining environmental reporting, to facilitate data availability in line with the principle that information should be managed as close as possible to its source and should be collected once and broadly shared; - timely availability of information / data, in particular by simplifying the current approach on reporting periods; - repealing / streamlining obsolete or overlapping reporting, based on a screening of legislation. |

19. | Council Regulation 1172/98 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road | Revision | The objective is to create an instrument within the European Statistical System (ESS) that allows to manage road freight statistics surveys by means of reporting requirements (thresholds of the number of vehicles per reporting country), scope of the surveys (types of vehicles included) and precision standard (already modifiable by comitology). In agreement with the ESS (Statistical Programme Committee), the population (focus on international operations and heavy vehicles) and sample (precision measures to be adapted to data needs) of road freight vehicles subject to reporting may be decreased. |

20. | Amendment to Regulation 44/2001 concerning jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters | Revision | The objective is to ensure free circulation of all judgments in the EU by the abolition of exequatur and to adapt the provisions of the Regulation to the new international instruments in the area concerned. It will also abolish intermediary steps which citizens have to go through in order to have a judicial decision recognised and enforced abroad. |

21. | Council Regulation on the reform of the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products | Revision | The common market organisation (CMO) was created to achieve the objectives laid down in Article 33 of the Treaty in the fishery sector, in particular to provide market stability and to guarantee a fair income for producers. More recent objectives focus on sustainability-supportive fishing and marketing activities. In place since 1971, the common market organisation has undergone many changes over time, and a reshaped CMO has been in operation since 1 January 2001. The effectiveness and efficiency of this policy is currently being evaluated. The proposal aims at taking account of market developments, changes in fishing activities and the shortcomings detected in the implementation of the provisions currently in force. |

22. | Commission implementation rules on the reformed control and enforcement framework | Revision | The new rules will modernize and simplify procedures for national administrations and stakeholders and will facilitate better enforcement. Administrative burden and constraints for the sector and public administrations are to be alleviated, with an increased use of IT tools to reduce reporting obligations. All aspects related to control and monitoring of fisheries activities (declaration of catches, tolerance margins, landing declarations, transport, localisation of the fleet, etc.) will be simplified. Also new elements to address the challenges of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing will be included. |

23. | Commission Communication on formal recognition of obsolescence and four proposals repealing obsolete legal instruments in the field of the Common Fisheries Policy | Repeal | Screening of the body of Community law relating to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) within the context of the "2006-2008 Action Plan for simplifying and improving the CFP" revealed that a number of Acts of Community law have exhausted their legal effects, though they have not been formally repealed or have no indication of a time limit as to their validity. To repeal acts still in force, the same enabling power should be used as that for the initial act. Where the legal basis for the act no longer exists, the Commission will publish a formal recognition of obsolescence through a Communication. |

24. | Recast of Decisions relating to checks on insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles | Recast | Over the past few years, the Commission has adopted a number of Decisions (2003/542/EC, 2004/332/EC, 2005/849/EC, and 2007/482/EC) on the abolition of insurance checks in respect of the countries acceding to the EU. The Recast aims at simplifying and clarifying the regime of these Decisions adopted under Article 2 of Directive 72/166/EC on motor insurance. |

25. | Recast of the Prospectus Directive | Recast | Areas where legislative changes are required to improve and simplify the application of the directive will be identified in order to reduce the administrative burden on issuers, without lowering the standard of investors' protection. Among them, the deletion of information requirements that duplicate the transparency directive (Article 10), the extension of the scope of the exemption for employees share schemes (Art. 4.1. e), and the clarification of the responsibilities in case of retail cascade (art. 3.2). |

26. | Recast of the Market Abuse Directive | Recast | In line with the Commission's Better Regulation approach, a review of the MAD (Market Abuse Directive) regime in the EU is taking place. Focus is on areas where improvements could be achieved in terms of: (i) rationalising/reducing administrative burdens concerning for example the disclosure duties on company executives, and the duty to draw up and maintain insider lists, (ii) facilitating and strengthening supervision exercised at the level of Member States. |

27. | Simplification of Accounting Directives | Revision | Objective is to allow Member States to exempt micro entities from the accounting requirements and to review the Accounting Directives (4th and 7th Company Law Directives) to take account of the interest of small businesses and reduce administrative burdens by over €5 billion. |

28. | Implementing Measures for the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) | Revision | The objective of the implementing measures is the uniform operation of the RASFF by all the members of the network by: defining the scope of the system; setting up contact points; defining the role of the Commission; elaboration and transmission of relevant notification; assessment and follow-up of a notification; defining rules for exchanging RASFF information with third countries; setting up confidentiality requirements. |

29. | Regulation on plastic food contact materials and articles | Recast | Recast of Directives on plastic food contact materials into one Regulation with the aim to speed up authorisation of new additives and monomers and to simplify, clarify and update rules on migration testing; repeal of obsolete rules, such as the analytical methods in Directives 80/766/EEC and 81/432/EEC; of certain parts of Directive 82/711/EEC which are not testing criteria but interpretations and explanations; and remove contradicting rules between 82/711/EEC and 2002/72/EC as regards applicability, and between 82/711/EEC and 85/572/EEC as regards the definition of some food stimulants. |

30. | Recast of Directive 1999/36/EC on Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive (TPED) | Recast | Certain clauses have become obsolete and certain issues are currently dealt with in the international agreements on the transport of dangerous goods. Need to eliminate contradictions stemming from these international agreements taking into account transitional agreements at intergovernmental organisations level (UN for road transport, OTIF for rail). Repeal of 4 Directives on Pressure Vessels (76/767/EEC, 84/525/EEC, 84/526/EEC and 84/527/EEC) and integration of the still relevant provisions into the revision of Directive 1999/36/EC. It is also necessary to bring the existing directive into line with the "New Approach" rules on the free movement of goods which is in the final stages of formal adoption, in line with the new legislative framework for the marketing of products. |

31. | Recast of First Railway Package legislation: simplification and modernisation of the legislative framework for access to the rail transport market | Recast | In order to simplify the legislation, the three Directives will be merged and restructured while eliminating cross-references across the legal acts. This will lead to improved readability and hence enable better and harmonised implementation in MSs thus potentially reducing administrative burdens. Furthermore, other legal provisions, in particular institutional arrangements, such as strengthening of the powers of regulatory bodies and a strengthened cooperation of rail infrastructure managers for international services, will be enhanced to promote the emergence of a genuine internal market and to eliminate barriers to the provisions of international rail transport services. Overall by enhancing the legal and institutional framework the Commission hopes to see market access cost of railway undertakings being reduced. |

32. | Marine Equipment Directive | Recast | Directive 96/98/EC has been technically amended three times since its adoption and a further two technical amendments are currently under preparation (respectively concerning the committee procedure and the technical annexes). Furthermore, the new legislative framework for the marketing of products will have a direct impact on a number of basic elements (notified bodies, market surveillance, and safeguard clause). Lastly, the current system of periodical technical updates is in need of an in-depth revision in order to keep pace with the legislative production of the International Maritime Organisation. It is intended to recast or to repeal the existing Directive and replace it with a new one. |

33. | Recast of the Community regulatory framework regarding transport of radioactive material | Recast | At Community level there are currently more than 30 directives, regulations and recommendations governing the transport of radioactive material. There are also non-binding international rules. Inconsistent transposition of these rules means that there is an unnecessary degree of complexity causing practical problems on the ground in Member States, including increased costs and delays. Simplification of rules and procedures would reduce this and an initial estimate puts the potential at a reduction of 50% in the labour costs and 30% in the costs to operators. |

(33 initiatives)

[1] Better Regulation for Growth and Jobs in the European Union – COM(2005) 97.

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

[3] Third strategic review of Better Regulation in the European Union – COM(2009) 15.

[4] Additional information on simplification initiatives in the agricultural sector will be presented in a Commission Progress Report in Spring 2009.

[5] UK Government booklet: "25 ideas for simplifying EU law", 2008.

[6] Commission Legislative and Work Programme 2009: Acting now for a better Europe – COM(2008) 712.

[7] http://ec.europa.eu/governance/better_regulation/simplification_en.htm#_acquis

[8] Decision No 768/2008/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on a common framework for the marketing of products has established a new horizontal framework (revision of the new approach), which will enhance consistency and coherence across a broad range of technical regulations adopted over the last 30 years.