[pic] | KOMMISSIONEN FOR DE EUROPÆISKE FÆLLESSKABER |

Bruxelles, den 28.1.2009

KOM(2009) 17 endelig

KOMMISSIONENS ARBEJDSDOKUMENT

Tredje statusrapport om strategien til forenkling af de lovgivningsmæssige rammer

{KOM(2009) 15 endelig}{KOM(2009) 16 endelig}

KOMMISSIONENS ARBEJDSDOKUMENT

Tredje statusrapport om strategien til forenkling af de lovgivningsmæssige rammer

1. Indledning

I løbet af det sidste halve århundrede har EU på baggrund af borgernes, erhvervslivets og de offentlige myndigheders behov udarbejdet et omfattende lovgivningskorpus (gældende fællesskabsret). Fællesskabsretten har givet borgerne nye rettigheder, åbnet markeder for erhvervslivet, styrket offentlige interesser og derigennem bidraget til øget vækst og velfærd. Men lovgivning er ikke altid uden omkostninger. Udfordringen består i at finde den rette balance – også i tidsmæssig henseende og under skiftende omstændigheder.

Ved begyndelsen af sin embedsperiode forpligtede Kommissionen sig derfor til at gennemgå den gældende fællesskabslovgivning for at sikre, at den fortsat er relevant, effektiv og står i rimeligt forhold til de tilsigtede mål[1]. Sammen med sit tvillingprogram for reduktion af administrative byrder opstillede strategien til forenkling af de lovgivningsmæssige rammer[2] et ambitiøst program for at ajourføre, modernisere og forenkle EU-lovgivningen. Fire år senere kan Kommissionen fremlægge overbevisende resultater. Fra at have form af en række spredte aktioner er forenklingsindsatsen blevet en integrerende del af enhver revision af politikker, uanset område. Screeningen af den gældende fællesskabsret illustrerer med tydelighed denne udvikling. Resultaterne af screeningen fremlægges sammen med denne rapport.

Denne tredje statusrapport om strategien til forenkling af de lovgivningsmæssige rammer supplerer den tredje strategiske gennemgang af programmet for bedre lovgivning i Den Europæiske Union[3] og Kommissionens arbejdsdokument om reduktion af administrative byrder. Rapporten gennemgår det omfattende arbejde, der er blevet gjort, siden strategien blev sat i værk, sætter fokus på succeshistorierne og kortlægger områder for den fremtidige forenklingsindsats.

2. Den aktuelle situation

Ved hjælp af en bred vifte af konsultationsmekanismer indsamler og analyserer Kommissionen løbende forslag fra borgere, interesserede parter og medlemsstater til, hvordan fællesskabslovgivningen kan gøres klarere, enklere og mere effektiv.

På grundlag af dette input opstillede Kommissionen et "rullende forenklingsprogram", indledningsvis med 100 forenklingsinitiativer for perioden 2005-2008. Programmet gør brug af alle de instrumenter, der er omtalt i forenklingsstrategien. Disse omfatter lovgivningsteknikker, navnlig ophævelse, kodifikation og omarbejdning samt andre midler til modernisering af fællesskabsretten, såsom en mere udbredt anvendelse af it-løsninger.

Siden 2007 har forenklingsprogrammet været integreret i Kommissionens lovgivnings- og arbejdsprogram. Det er hvert år blevet udbygget med nye initiativer og dækker nu alle politikområder. Det indeholder aktuelt 185 initiativer, og cirka 132 af disse initiativer er allerede blevet vedtaget af Kommissionen. Gennemførelsesraten er på cirka 80 % i både 2007 og 2008. Det viser, at Kommissionen er fast besluttet på at overvinde alle hindringer og fuldføre denne prioriterede indsats til tiden. Mere end halvdelen af de vedtagne initiativer er nu blevet færdigbehandlet og er blevet retsgyldige akter efter offentliggørelse i Den Europæiske Unions Tidende.

Kommissionen har allerede fremsat forslag til ændring eller ophævelse af cirka 800 retsakter som led i forenklingsprogrammet 2005-2009. Efter vedtagelsen vil fællesskabsretten være blevet reduceret med omkring 600 retsakter eller cirka 6 500 sider i EUT. Men forenklingsindsatsen stopper ikke her. Den er nu blevet en naturlig del af enhver politikrevision. Sideløbende med forenklingsindsatsen har Kommissionen også fortsat kodifikationen af fællesskabsretten for at gøre den mere overskuelig og letlæselig, samtidig med at retssikkerheden er blevet bevaret. Kommissionen har allerede færdiggjort kodifikationen af 229 retsakter. 142 af disse er allerede blevet vedtaget af Europa-Parlamentet og Rådet og har erstattet 729 tidligere retsakter svarende til cirka 1 300 sider i EUT.

Alt i alt har den nuværende Kommission siden oktober 2005 truffet foranstaltninger, der vil reducere fællesskabsretten med næsten 10 %, hvilket svarer til cirka 1 300 retsakter eller 7 800 sider i EUT.

3. Resultater

Hidtil har 75 ud af ovennævnte 132 forenklingsinitiativer været igennem den lovgivningsmæssige procedure – 36 vedtaget af Kommissionen som autonome retsakter (jf. bilag 4) og 39 vedtaget af fællesskabslovgiver (jf. bilag 5).

Fordelene ved disse og andre forenklingsforanstaltninger bliver stadig mere mærkbare for erhvervslivet, borgerne og de offentlige myndigheder. I de følgende afsnit præsenteres en række illustrative eksempler på forskellige andre tiltag, der supplerer forenklingsindsatsen.

3.1. En strømlinet lovgivningsramme

Lovgivning tager form med tiden, efterhånden som nye byggesten lægges oven på det retlige fundament. For at sikre, at de passer sammen og udgør en sammenhængende ramme, reviderer Kommissionen løbende den eksisterende lovgivning og undersøger, om der findes andre mere effektive og virkningsfulde lovgivningsmæssige løsninger.

- Den nye generelle gruppefritagelsesforordning gør det muligt for medlemsstaterne at vedtage en række støtteforanstaltninger uden først at underrette Kommissionen, hvilket betyder hurtigere sagsbehandling. Forordningen, der har til formål at fremme jobskabelse og konkurrenceevne, dækker støtte til små og mellemstore virksomheder, forskning, innovation, regional udvikling, erhvervsuddannelse, beskæftigelse og risikokapital. Virksomhederne kan for eksempel få støtte til grundforskning (op til 100 %), industriel forskning (op til 50/70 %) og eksperimentel udvikling (25/45 %). Desuden er fem retsakter således blevet harmoniseret og konsolideret til en tekst.

- De nye regler for direkte betalinger til landbrugerne betyder en enklere og mere effektiv ramme for udvælgelse af kontrolprøven, fastlæggelse af tidspunkterne for kontrollen og procedurerne for kontrol på stedet[4].

- Den nye statistik over erhvervsstruktur reducerer mængden af oplysningskrav og erstatter dataindsamlinger flere gange om året med indsamlinger en gang om året. Samtidig blev der indført en ny statistisk nomenklatur for økonomiske aktiviteter i Det Europæiske Fællesskab. Dette forventes at føre til en nettoreduktion på 17,5 % af de indberetningspligtige data.

- Lovgivningsrammen på de områder, der er omfattet af temastrategierne for luftforurening og for affaldsforebyggelse og genanvendelse er blevet strømlinet, tydeliggjort og forenklet. Det nye direktiv om luftkvaliteten slår fem særskilte direktiver sammen til et, og det nye affaldsrammedirektiv integrerer de tidligere særskilte direktiver om farligt affald og olieaffald.

- Det nye vandrammedirektiv udgør en enkelt sammenhængende politikramme for planlægning, gennemførelse og rapportering med henblik på at beskytte og genoprette vandkvaliteten i hele Europa, og samtidig reducerer det antallet af direktiver i vandsektoren fra 18 til 10.

- Det nye arbejdsmiljødirektiv forenkler og rationaliserer rapporterne fra medlemsstaterne om den praktiske gennemførelse af rammedirektivet og særdirektiverne herunder. Fra nu af vil medlemsstaterne kun skulle forelægge en rapport hvert femte år.

3.2. Bedre arbejdsmetoder og enklere procedurer

Kommissionen fremmer aktivt en mere udbredt anvendelse af it som middel til at forbedre arbejdsprocedurerne.

- Det nye fælles glossar for offentlige indkøbsaftaler (en EU-produktbeskrivelsesstandard) gør det nemmere at identificere muligheder for at deltage i offentlige udbud overalt i EU, uanset udbudslandets sprog. De formularer, de offentlige myndigheder bruger til at offentliggøre meddelelser i EUT, er blevet standardiseret og automatiseret, hvilket har nedbragt offentliggørelsestiden fra 12 til 5 dage. Disse forbedringer øger gennemsigtigheden på de offentlige indkøbsmarkeder. Hver dag kan man på EU’s websted "Tenders Electronic Daily" (TED) finde forretningsmuligheder i den offentlige sektor til en værdi af mere end 1 mia. EUR.

- Forenklingen af fællesskabstoldkodeksen inkluderer modernisering af EU-toldlovgivningen og indførelse af et papirløst miljø for toldmyndigheder og handelsvirksomheder. Elektronisk logning af toldangivelser og bilag bliver reglen. Autoriserede handelsvirksomheder vil kunne angive varer elektronisk og betale tolden i den medlemsstat, hvor de er baseret, uanset hvor varerne indføres eller udføres af EU’s toldområde, og uanset hvor de forbruges. Når det integrerede system er fuldt operationelt, skulle det betyde besparelser for handelsvirksomhederne på mere end 2,5 mia. EUR årligt.

- Ændringen af den generelle forordning for samhørighedspolitikken har forenklet reglerne for små indtægtsskabende projekter. Bestemmelsen om proportionalitet i overvågningen af små operationer (hvor de samlede omkostninger er mindre end 200 000 EUR) er blevet erstattet af en fritagelse for anvendelse af artiklen på små operationer, som samfinansieres af Den Europæiske Socialfond, Den Europæiske Fond for Regionaludvikling eller Samhørighedsfonden, når de samlede omkostninger er mindre end 1 000 000 EUR.

3.3. Et velfungerende indre marked

Det indre marked har været og er fortsat en drivkraft i forenklingsindsatsen i EU, idet det gør det muligt at samle en lang række nationale love i en enkelt retsakt.

- De fælles regler for driften af lufttrafiktjenester i Fællesskabet er en revision af den såkaldte "tredje liberaliseringspakke" inden for lufttransporten. De forventes at give flere valgmuligheder for forbrugerne, lavere takster og mere konkurrence. Strengere krav og mere effektivt tilsyn med nyoprettede luftfartsselskaber vil også bidrage til at reducere risikoen for konkurser og de negative følger for passagererne. Det anslås, at konkurser gennemsnitligt påfører passagererne tab på 15,6 mio. EUR årligt. Disse tab inkluderer hjemrejseomkostninger og tab af forhåndsbetalinger. En reduktion af antallet af konkurser blandt luftfartsselskaber, som har været operationelle i op til to år, vil betyde en besparelse for forbrugerne på gennemsnitligt 2,4 mio. EUR om året.

- Det reviderede direktiv om interoperabilitet i jernbanesystemet i Fællesskabet moderniserer reglerne for certificering af køretøjer. Det anslås, at jernbaneselskaber og -producenter i løbet af de næste 15 år vil opnå besparelser på mellem 200-280 mio. EUR i certificeringsomkostninger.

- Den nye forordning om maksimalgrænseværdier for pesticidrester i fødevarer og foderstoffer erstatter cirka 500 000 nationale maksimalgrænseværdier med 100 000 EU-maksimalgrænseværdier og betyder en lettelse for operatørerne, som ikke længere er nødt til at indgive et større antal ansøgninger i forskellige medlemsstater.

- "Momspakken" indfører nye regler for tjenesteydelser, hvorefter tjenesteydelser mellem virksomheder vil blive beskattet i kundens medlemsstat. Dette bør kunne få virksomhederne til at tilbyde deres tjenesteydelser i hele EU. Pakken indfører også en kvikskranke for telekommunikations-, radiosprednings- og e-handelstjenester for virksomheder, der er etableret i EU, og en ny procedure for anmodninger om momsrefusion for virksomheder, der ikke er etableret i den medlemsstat, hvor momsen blev opkrævet.

- Inden for selskabsret betyder direktivet om fusioner og spaltninger af virksomheder, som blev vedtaget efter den hurtige procedure i 2007, at reglerne om fusioner på tværs af grænserne er blevet strømlinet, hvilket fører til besparelser for aktieselskaber på 17 mio. EUR.

4. Flere resultater på vej: Udestående forslag og interinstitutionelle aspekter

Antallet af forenklingsforanstaltninger vedtaget af Rådet og Europa-Parlamentet er steget fra 16 i januar 2008 til 39 i januar 2009. 50 forenklingsforslag er i dag stadig til behandling i Rådet og Europa-Parlamentet (jf. bilag 3). Det er vigtigt, at institutionerne kommer videre med behandlingen af disse forslag til gavn for erhvervslivet, borgerne og de offentlige forvaltninger.

- Det nye EU-direktiv om investeringsfonde, kendt som " UCITS " (institutter for kollektiv investering i værdipapirer), giver borgerne adgang til professionelt forvaltede investeringer på økonomisk overkommelige vilkår, sætter UCITS-forvalterne i stand til at udbygge deres grænseoverskridende aktiviteter og derved opnå besparelser og stordriftsfordele, giver investorerne et større udvalg af investeringsfonde, der opererer med lavere omkostninger, og beskytter småinvestorerne, som får klare, letforståelige og relevante informationer, når de investerer i UCITS. Med dette direktiv bliver 10 eksisterende direktiver til en enkelt retsakt.

- Der er blevet fremsat adskillige vigtige forslag på området selskabsret med henblik på at gøre det enklere at drive forretning i EU og muliggøre besparelser. Blandt disse tiltag kan nævnes forslaget til Rådets forordning om statutten for det europæiske private selskab, forslaget om at reducere kravene til virksomheder om oversættelse og offentliggørelse, som anslås at ville medføre besparelser på 600 mio. EUR, og desuden et forslag om rapporterings- og dokumentationskrav i tilfælde af fusioner og spaltninger .

- Den nye kosmetikforordning vil erstatte mere end 3 500 sider retsakter. Mens sikkerhedsstandarderne forbliver på samme høje niveau, vil virksomhedernes omkostninger med forslaget blive reduceret med mindst 50 %. Procedurerne for sikkerhedsvurdering af produkterne er blevet tydeliggjort, og anmeldelsesreglerne for nye kosmetiske midler er blevet forenklet. Dette vil have en mærkbar effekt, eftersom det europæiske marked for kosmetiske midler repræsenterer en værdi på cirka 65 mia. EUR og direkte eller indirekte beskæftiger mere end 350 000 personer.

- Med revisionen af reglerne om ændringer af betingelser i markedsføringstilladelser for lægemidler vil kriterierne for evaluering af ændringer og fristerne for undersøgelse og godkendelse blive harmoniseret. Ifølge de foreliggende data forvalter en typisk generikaproducent over 1 500 ændringer af lægemidler hvert år, mens der for en større lægemiddelvirksomhed er tale om mere end 12 000 ændringer. Forslaget vil styrke virksomhedernes konkurrenceevne ved at reducere logistikproblemer såsom nødvendigheden af at have flere forskellige versioner af samme produkt på lager beregnet til forskellige nationale markeder. Den forenklede ramme vil gøre det nemmere for virksomheder, navnlig små og mellemstore virksomheder, at udvide deres aktiviteter til andre EU-markeder.

- Det nye forslag til " sikkerhedspakke for biler " forenkler de eksisterende lovgivningsmæssige rammer ved at ophæve 150 direktiver om typegodkendelse af køretøjer og indfører lovpligtig montering af sikkerhedsanordninger og dæktrykovervågningssystemer i personbiler, hvilket vil sikre en kraftig forbedring af køresikkerheden og en ligeledes kraftig reduktion af CO2-emissioner.

- Direktivet om forbrugerrettigheder vil bidrage til at få det indre marked for virksomheder og forbrugere til at fungere bedre ved at give virksomhederne større mod på at drive forretning på tværs af grænserne. Det ophæver fire direktiver og gør den eksisterende lovgivning enklere og mindre fragmenteret. Direktivet strammer op på den eksisterende lovgivning op indfører et sæt standardiserede vilkår for forbrugerkontrakter, som i betragteligt omfang vil sænke de omkostninger, der er forbundet med overholdelse af bestemmelserne.

- Pakken af forslag vedrørende energieffektivitet tilstræber energibesparelser på centrale områder, for eksempel ved at styrke lovgivning om energieffektivitet for bygninger og energiforbrugende produkter. En husholdning kan let opnå energibesparelser på mere end 1 000 EUR i gennemsnit om året.

- På området vedrørende statistikker over samhandelen mellem EU-landene (Intrastat) anslås det, at de krævede rapporteringstærskler i EU-lovgivningen vil fritage omkring 370 000 virksomheder fra forpligtelsen til at indgive rapport. Dette svarer til en reduktion i den undersøgte population på rundt regnet 52 % over seks år (fra 720 000 i 2004 til 350 000 i 2010).

- Forslaget om omsætning og anvendelse af foder vil gøre virksomhederne i sektoren mere innovative og konkurrencedygtige. Den nye forordning vil ophæve 7 direktiver og nedbringe antallet af sider fra over 100 til cirka 30. Det prohibitive krav om godkendelse før markedsføring for bestemte produkter (bioproteiner) afskaffes også (da det ikke står i rimeligt forhold til risikoen). Til illustration af, hvad dette betyder i omkostningsbesparelser, kan det nævnes, at de samlede omkostninger for industrien til godkendelse af et nyt bioprotein anslås at andrage 481 000 EUR.

- Forslaget til omarbejdning af direktivet om integreret forebyggelse og bekæmpelse af forurening vil samle syv direktiver om industriemissioner i en enkelt retsakt. Det vil betyde, at forældede dele af de eksisterende direktiver udgår, at kravene om tilladelse forenkles, at der bliver færre rapporter for operatørerne, og at medlemsstaternes rapportering strømlines. Forslaget vil medføre betragtelige besparelser i administrative omkostninger, cirka 32 mio. EUR om året, og vil desuden vil reducere de administrative byrder i medlemsstaterne (nationalt og regionalt) endnu mere, svarende til omkostningsbesparelser på cirka 150-300 mio. EUR om året.

- " GSM-pakken " tager sigte på at åbne 900 og 1800 MHz-båndene (GSM-bånd) til mere innovative anvendelser. Pakken vil fjerne restriktive bestemmelser, der ikke længere er i overensstemmelse med den teknologiske udvikling og hindrer en udbredt anvendelse af mobile bredbåndstjenester.

- "Sundhedstjekket" af den fælles landbrugspolitik vil føre til en forenkling af enkeltbetalingsordningen . Det betyder især, at man vil bevæge sig væk fra ordningen med to parallelle systemer med koblet støtte og afkoblet støtte og gå i retning af mere afkobling. Det forventes, at afkobling vil medføre en besparelse på 0,63 mio. EUR i administrative byrder for landbrugere i Det Forenede Kongerige alene. Med forenklingen afskaffes også kravet om at udtage 10 % af landbrugsarealerne. Landbrugerne kan anvende hele deres landbrugsareal og behøver ikke længere følge de særlige procedurer, og medlemsstaterne behøver ikke længere føre tilsyn med denne foranstaltning. Til illustration forventes dette at føre til en besparelse på 4,4 mio. EUR i administrative omkostninger for landbrugerne i England alene[5].

- Alle bestemmelser vedrørende fiskerikontrol vil blive lagt ind under samme lovgivningsmæssige ramme med særlig vægt på brug af moderne teknologier og links til databaser.

- Reformen af telekommunikationspakken vil føre til en kraftig reduktion af de administrative omkostninger for industrien, idet der vil blive færre relevante markeder, der er underlagt forhåndsregulering i konkurrencemæssig henseende, markedsanalyseprocedurerne vil blive forenklet, der vil blive nedsat et europæisk tilsynsorgan, og forvaltningen af frekvenser vil blive reformeret. Elektroniske kommunikationstjenester og -infrastrukturer danner grundlaget for økonomien som helhed, og forbedringer i den sektor vil slå igennem i alle andre sektorer i EU.

- Forslaget til forbedring af gennemførelsen af regionalpolitikprogrammerne tager sigte på at lette den finansielle forvaltning og fremme frigørelsen af de nødvendige fællesskabsmidler til fordel for både operationelle programmer og projekter. Navnlig har Kommissionen foreslået, at faste omkostninger i forbindelse med projekter godtgøres med et fast beløb, og at forskud på statsstøtte udbetalt til modtagerne kunne refunderes fuldt ud af EU til de offentlige myndigheder. Disse ændringer vil især være til hjælp for små og mellemstore virksomheder.

- Moderniseringen af koordineringen af nationale socialsikringsordninger vil lette den frie bevægelighed for arbejdstagere og deres familiemedlemmer i hele EU. Den vil desuden være til fordel for de 173 indehavere af det europæiske sygesikringskort, som har adgang til sundhedsydelser under midlertidigt ophold i en medlemsstat på samme måde som den pågældende medlemsstats egne borgere.

Antallet af sager, der er til behandling i Rådet og Europa-Parlamentet, er stigende. Det er derfor vigtigt at undersøge, hvordan vedtagelsen kan fremskyndes, og at der gøres alt for at nå til enighed, om muligt ved førstebehandlingen i den fælles beslutningsproces. Kommissionen glæder sig over, at Europa-Parlamentet har til hensigt at indføre særlige strukturer til fremme af forenkling, som det fremgår af den nyligt vedtagne Medina Ortega-rapport.

Europa-Parlamentet har bekræftet sit ønske om, at Kommissionen bruger omarbejdning som almindelig lovgivningsteknik, selv når en "revision" af den gældende retsakt foreslås. Det er imidlertid vigtigt, at Rådet og Europa-Parlamentet slutter op om de principper og den ånd, der ligger til grund for forenklingsindsatsen, ved at sørge for, at de vedtagne forslag bliver så enkle som muligt, og ved at fremskynde beslutningsprocessen i erhvervslivets, borgernes og de offentlige myndigheders interesse.

5. Kodifikation

Ud over at forenkle lovgivningen kodificerer Kommissionen den også, dvs. sammenskriver basisretsakten med de efterfølgende ændringer i en enkelt tekst. Det gør retsakterne klarere og nedbringer omfanget af fællesskabsretten.

Kommissionen har indtil videre færdiggjort 229 kodifikationsakter. Heraf er 142 blevet kodificeret, vedtaget og offentliggjort i EUT (102 vedtaget af Kommissionen og 40 vedtaget af Rådet og Europa-Parlamentet). Disse 142 kodificerede retsakter erstatter 729 tidligere akter svarende til cirka 1 300 sider i EUT.

87 retsakter er stadig til behandling i Rådet og Europa-Parlamentet.

Efterslæbet med oversættelse af de kodificerede akter til de nye sprog er i det store og hele blevet indhentet. De resterende forslag i kodifikationsprogrammet, der blev revideret i 2006, vil blive forelagt i 2009 sammen med en redegørelse for resultaterne af programmet som helhed. Der er udvalgt 21 nye retsakter til kodifikation i 2009 (jf. bilag 6).

6. Næste skridt

6.1. Planlagte initiativer for 2009

Kommissionen har opført 33 forenklingsinitiativer på sit lovgivnings- og arbejdsprogram for 2009[6] (jf. bilag 7).

For eksempel:

- Revision af direktiv 2000/35/EF om bekæmpelse af forsinket betaling i handelstransaktioner , som har til formål at modvirke, at offentlige myndigheder og virksomheder forhaler betalinger til leverandører, og som tilskynder kreditorer til at søge skadeserstatning i tilfælde af for sen betaling. Dette initiativ indgår i "Small Business Act" for Europa og den europæiske økonomiske genopretningsplan.

- Forenkling af fællesskabslovgivningen om landbrugs- og skovbrugstraktorer ved at erstatte 24 direktiver med en enkelt forordning.

- Ændring og modernisering af forordning (EF) nr. 44/2001 med henblik på at tilpasse forordningen til nye internationale instrumenter og sikre anerkendelse og fuldbyrdelse af retsafgørelser på det civil- og handelsretlige område ved at fjerne de ekstra skridt, som borgerne er nødt til at tage (exequatur) for at få en retsafgørelse anerkendt og fuldbyrdet i udlandet.

- Reform af de fælles markedsordninger i fiskeri- og akvakultursektoren , med fokus på bæredygtighed for fiskeri og markedsføring. Reformen omfatter tilpasning til udviklingen på markedet, styrkelse af sammenhængen med andre elementer i den fælles fiskeripolitik og dertil relaterede fællesskabspolitikker (handel, sundhed og forbrugerbeskyttelse, miljø) og vil fremme udvidet brug af elektroniske hjælpemidler.

Desuden fortsætte Kommissionen sit samarbejde med medlemsstaterne om at finde flere metoder til forenkling af bestemmelserne vedrørende samhørighedspolitikken og reducere de administrative byrder for modtagerne.

6.2. Screening af fællesskabsretten og fremtidige forenklingstiltag

Som bebudet i den anden strategiske gennemgang af programmet for bedre lovgivning i EU har Kommissionen foretaget en omfattende screening af fællesskabsretten.

Første skridt var en systematisk gennemgang af fællesskabsretten for at indkredse de vigtigste retsforskrifter. På grundlag af denne gennemgang blev der udvalgt 3 600 retsakter. Disse akter blev yderligere screenet for at afgøre, om de var up to date, eller om der var behov for forenkling.

En fuldstændig liste over resultaterne fordelt efter politikområde vil blive offentliggjort på forenklingswebsitet på Europa[7], så man kan få et klart overblik over Kommissionens hidtidige forenklingsindsats.

Et af følgende vil fremgå af screeningen:

- Der allerede er blevet gennemført forenklingstiltag.

- Der er planlagt forenklingstiltag i 2009.

- Der er behov for forenklingstiltag i den næste Kommissions embedsperiode.

- Der er ikke planlagt forenklingstiltag, dvs. indholdet er klart, up to date og står i et rimeligt forhold til målsætningerne på det pågældende politikområde. I nogle af disse tilfælde kan der være visse fordele ved at ændre lovgivningen, men fordelene ville blive overgået af omkostninger og byrder for erhvervslivet og de offentlige forvaltninger, navnlig i forbindelse med gennemførelsen.

Det billede, der tegner sig, viser, at der er sket betydelig fremgang. Omkring to tredjedele af retsforskrifterne, som primært omhandler landbrug, det indre marked, transport, erhvervsliv, sundhed og miljø er blevet forenklet som led i det rullende forenklingsprogram, kodifikationsprogrammet eller andre kommissionsinitiativer eller indgår nu i de kommende forenklingsforslag for 2009 (jf. bilag 2).

Denne status bereder også vejen for nye forenklingstiltag. Kommissionen undersøger nu retsakterne i deres sektorielle sammenhæng og anlægger dermed en integreret tilgang til forenklingsindsatsen. Yderligere 81 aktioner (jf. bilag 1) vil kunne inkorporeres i fremtidige forenklingsinitiativer.

For eksempel:

- Tilpasning af 15 direktiver om teknisk harmonisering med afgørelsen om fælles rammer for markedsføring af produkter . Sidstnævnte fastlægger elementer i standardiseret form, der normalt bruges i lovgivning om teknisk harmonisering, og som bør indføres i fremtidig lovgivning. Hensigten hermed er at sikre større overensstemmelse på lovgivningsområdet og etablere en fælles "lovgivningskultur". Dette vil forbedre kvaliteten i vores lovgivning og reducere de administrative byrder.

- Forenkling af gennemførelsesbestemmelserne under den fælles landbrugspolitik efter vedtagelsen af "sundhedstjekket" af forvaltningsredskabet for interventioner.

- Revision af lovgivningen om sundhedstrusler (overførbare sygdomme og kemiske, biologiske og radionukleare trusler) og dyresundhed, dyrevelfærd og foder .

- Yderligere reduktion af arbejdsbyrden på det statistiske område takket være programmet for modernisering af den europæiske erhvervs- og handelsstatistik ( Meets ). Herigennem vil metoderne til indsamling af data i medlemsstaterne blive forbedret gennem mere udbredt anvendelse af administrative data og regnskabsdata, forbedrede prøveudtagningssystemer og bedre og mere intensiv brug af disponible ressourcer.

7. Afsluttende bemærkninger

Siden iværksættelsen af strategien til forenkling af de lovgivningsmæssige rammer i 2005 er forenkling blevet en integreret del af Kommissionens arbejde. Gennem en række koordinerede aktiviteter har Kommissionen opbygget en politisk og praktisk ramme for sin indsats, som sætter den i stand til at levere resultater til fordel for borgerne, erhvervslivet og de offentlige forvaltninger. Ud fra et ønske om at gøre lovgivningen klarere og lettere forståelig er det blevet foreslået at fjerne cirka 1 300 retsforskrifter, svarende til omkring 10 % af fællesskabsretten, fra EU’s lovgivningskorpus.

Forenkling er en fortløbende proces. Screeningen giver et øjebliksbillede af fællesskabsretten og danner grundlag for det fremtidige arbejde. Forenklingsprogrammet, der begyndte som et begrænset antal spredte initiativer, dækker nu alle politikområder, og der anlægges i stigende omfang en sektoriel tilgang. Dette indebærer, at hele det samlede lovgivningskorpus, der vedrører et bestemt politikområde, bliver undersøgt for at afdække overlapninger, huller, uoverensstemmelser og overdrevne regelbyrder. Det er formålet at vurdere lovgivningens overordnede effektivitet sektor for sektor.

Kommissionen har brug for politisk støtte fra de andre EU-institutioner og medlemsstaterne for at komme videre i forenklingsbestræbelserne. Europa-Parlamentet og Rådet opfordres til at gøre alt, hvad de kan, for snarest muligt at vedtage de udestående forslag og drage omsorg for, at forenklingspotentialet bevares i beslutningsprocessen. Medlemsstaterne opfordres til at gå videre med deres egne forenklingsprogrammer og gennemføre EU-lovgivningen i forenklingens ånd uden at føje unødvendige foranstaltninger til EU-lovgivningen.

EU’s borgere og virksomheder konfronteres dagligt med en blanding af EU-lovgivning og national og regional lovgivning. Kun en koordineret forenklingsindsats på alle disse niveauer kan sikre, at lovgivningen tjener sit formål på bedst mulig måde og sikrer vækst og velfærd, samtidig med at byrderne holdes på det nødvendige minimum.

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 simplification 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)xxx |

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