[pic] | COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES |

Brussels, 14.11.2006

COM(2006) 690 final

COMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT

First progress report on the strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment

{COM(2006) 689 final}{COM(2006) 691 final}

COMMISSION WORKING DOCUMENT

First progress report on the strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment

Executive summary

The present Commission Working Document is a direct follow-up to the October 2005 Communication COM(2005) 535: Implementing the Community Lisbon programme: A strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment. It also complements the Communication on the “Strategic review of Better Regulation in the European Union”.

Simplification of EU legislation can make a significant contribution to improve the regulatory environment, update and modernize rules as well as reduce administrative burden in order to enhance the state of the European economy, taking into account developments in technologies, markets and the international context. This is the reason why the Commission has identified simplification as one of the key political priorities through the Better Regulation agenda.

In line with this orientation, the Commission Working Document takes stock of progress achieved in the implementation of the October 2005 simplification, addresses ongoing work in the pipeline and presents brand new initiatives which will enhance the simplification rolling programme covering the period 2006-2009. One of the key achievements of simplification is the progressive coverage of all EC regulatory areas. The Commission Working Document will also present a state of play in terms of codification.

In parallel, this first progress report addresses the success factors for achieving the simplification goals, in particular a solid set of methodologies, improved inter institutional cooperation with the European Parliament and the Council to take the work to the final stages, increased use of self-regulation and co-regulation as well as simplification at national level to ensure that the EU simplification benefits are not cancelled out by new national rules or technical barriers.

INTRODUCTION

In line with the political priorities of its Better Regulation policy set out in March 2005, the Commission adopted a new strategy for the simplification of the regulatory environment[1] in October 2005. The overarching objective of the strategy is to improve the quality and effectiveness of the acquis and remove unnecessary burdens for operators, thereby contributing to the goal of enhancing competitiveness of the European economy.

The European Parliament[2] broadly welcomed the Commission's programme to simplify the acquis whilst the European Council[3] called on the Council to prioritise the progress of simplification proposals through the legislative system. Cooperation with the co-legislators is crucial to the delivery of simplification proposals.

As a complement to the “Strategic review of Better Regulation in the European Union”[4], the present Commission Working Document reports for the first time on achievements since the launch of the strategy in October 2005 and presents new developments in the realisation of Simplification strategy goals. In particular it will:

- present the “state of play” in the implementation of the Simplification Strategy and the codification process, focusing on:

- completed actions in the rolling programme,

- action in progress requiring further work and,

- new actions identified by the Commission;

- address the key success factors for achieving a genuinely simplified regulatory environment, in particular a solid set of methodologies, close cooperation between EU institutions, increased use of self-regulation and co-regulation, as well as simplification at national level.

The updated rolling programme covering the period 2006-2009 integrates the simplification initiatives earmarked in the Commission Legislative and Working Programme 2007 and provides an overview of the Commission’s efforts to simplify the current regulatory environment in a multi-annual perspective. The fact that simplification initiatives are included in the Commission’s legislative and work programme for 2007 for the first time, clearly demonstrates the political priority given to the simplification strategy.

A change in regulatory culture is taking place. Indeed, for the first time, the Commission has adapted its working methods, priorities and resources to the simplification goals. One of the key achievements is the progressive coverage of all policy fields.

In the future, the ongoing work on the reduction of administrative burden will feed into the simplification exercise which will, in his turn, contribute to an overall 25% joint reduction target for EU and national legislation to be achieved by 2012, as indicated in the “Strategic Review of Better Regulation”.

In line with this, the benefits of extensive consultations of stakeholders and impact assessments will help improve the quality of the Commission's new proposals and will better enable legislators to produce a regulatory environment that is in full compliance with the subsidiarity principle and is more conducive to competitiveness, innovation and growth. This is likely to alleviate the future simplification workload.

Progress reports will be launched on a regular basis.

1. STATE OF PLAY

1.1. State of play – simplification rolling programme

In the Simplification Strategy of October 2005 a range of simplification methods is covered, providing for a three-year rolling programme, initially listing for the period 2005-2008 about 100 initiatives covering 220 basic legislative instruments that the Commission intends to simplify, based on extensive consultations with Member States, businesses and citizens.

In view of the importance of the continuous re-examination of the acquis , the Commission has now identified a further 43 additional initiatives with a potential simplification dimension for the period 2006-2009. These are included in the updated rolling programme, which is presented in Annex 1. The programme confirms the Commission’s determination to target the reduction of administrative burden generated by the regulatory framework and to update and modernise rules, taking into account developments in technologies, markets and the international context.

1.1.1. Progress achieved by the Commission

12 out of 14[5] initiatives scheduled for 2005 have been completed. As far as 2006 is concerned, no less than 54 initiatives were planned in the October 2005 Communication, three initiatives are newly identified, one is carried over from 2005 and one is brought forward from 2008. Of these, 15 initiatives have been adopted to date[6]. In addition, 24 simplification proposals have been confirmed for adoption before the end of this year and are presented in Annex 1. 15 will be postponed to 2007/2008. Thorough reviews and consultations with stakeholders have led to cancellation of five initiatives.

The Commission has adopted to date 27 initiatives out of 71 for 2005-2006 and more than half of the programme will have been adopted by the end of 2006. The rate of progress of the Simplification rolling programme in 2006 varies according to the complexity of the field concerned, and in some instances, has globally fallen behind schedule, even if some initiatives have been adopted earlier than initially planned. The delayed initiatives are however almost all confirmed for 2007.

It should be stressed that this programme is by far the most ambitious exercise on simplification ever launched by the Commission. Simplification exercise has proven to be challenging where the benefits for business and citizens have to be balanced against the effort and costs needed to adapt to a new regulatory environment. Simplification can indeed imply regulatory reform for some policy areas. To overcome the resistance to change that reform plans generate, more time is often needed to help demonstrate the overall macroeconomic net benefits of the proposed changes.

Moreover, impact assessments may highlight new elements of relevance for the policy maker when it comes to choosing the most appropriate policy option[7]. The implementation of the simplification programme is being developed taking into account the findings of these impact assessments.

Almost all simplification proposals tabled by the Commission are currently still pending before the Council and the European Parliament. These proposals are presented in Annex 3.

Some examples of achievements are presented below and show that major areas for business and citizens have been already addressed by the Commission’s simplification programme.

Examples of proposals adopted by the Commission are presented below:

- Modernised Customs Code and e-customs [8] : recast of Community customs legislation and creation of pan-European electronic systems for data exchange between public authorities and companies. International trade will be facilitated by streamlined and simplified customs procedures and rules, automated and interlinked customs systems, and the close cooperation of all authorities and agencies involved in the movement of goods across Community borders.

- Environment [9]: modernisation of the Waste Framework Directive:

- Simplifying waste legislation by clarifying definitions, streamlining provisions and integrating directives on hazardous waste and on waste oils;

- Improving the recycling market by setting environmental standards that specify the circumstances in which certain recycled waste is no longer considered waste.

- Free movement of workers [10]

- Modernisation of current provisions on the coordination of national social security systems;

- Facilitation of procedures for insured persons and reduction of the time needed for institutions in the various branches of social security (sickness, accidents at work, occupational diseases, invalidity, old age, unemployment, family benefits) to respond and to process cross-border cases.

- Food additives and flavouring [11]

- Simplification of food additive legislation by creating a single instrument for principles, procedures and approvals;

- Improvement of the procedure to update the Community list of authorised food additives.

- Small and medium sized enterprises in pharmaceuticals [12] : establishment of a simplified regulatory framework for micro-SMEs, including reduced fees, options for deferred payment of fees and administrative and regulatory assistance when submitting applications to the European Medicines Agency.

- Payment services [13] : Creation of a simplified regulatory framework for payment services for consumers and firms. The proposal provides for simplification of legislation (replacing three directives and three recommendations by one coherent set of rules), simplification of administrative procedures for public authorities (EC or national), and simplification of administrative procedures for private parties. The proposal introduces more transparency and clearer, more succinct information requirements for users of payment services and consumers.

- Accounting rules [14] : Amendment of existing accounting rules by giving Member States more room to exempt companies from certain disclosure requirements (by raising the thresholds for such disclosure). This will lead to administrative simplification for smaller firms.

- Structural business statistics [15] : the proposal simplifies the production of SBS data by deleting some 15 mandatory variables (on R&D, employment, energy, and financial leasing), by moving other variables from annual to multi-annual collection, and by deleting the optional variables. Furthermore, Eurostat is developing a programme for re-engineering business statistics, to help Member States with new methods that could reduce substantially the response burden through e.g. a more intensive use of administrative data, and the automatic electronic transmission of company accounts.

- Air transport market [16] : the revision of the so-called third package of air transport liberalisation should make the legislation more readable by combining three existing regulations into one new regulation. The legislation modernises and simplifies the legal framework, ensures a coherent application across member States and addresses potential distortions and limitations of competition in some segments of the market. This should contribute to more consumer choice, lower fares and more competition.

1.1.2. Ongoing work

A number of major simplification initiatives relevant for competitiveness are now confirmed for 2006/2007/2008 and are illustrated below:

- Agriculture : merging of the 21 Common Market Organisations into one single scheme to establish a streamlined horizontal legal framework that will provide a single set of harmonised rules in the various areas of market policy such as intervention, private storage, import tariff quotas, export refunds, safeguard measures, agricultural products, state aid rules, communications and data reporting.

- Environment : review of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive (IPPC) and other related legislation on industrial emissions with a view to improving clarity and consistency (notably in terms of reporting) and streamlining requirements.

- Construction products Directive, with a view to clarifying and reducing the administrative burden, in particular for SMEs, through more flexibility in the formulation and use of technical specifications, lighter certification rules, and elimination of the implementation obstacles that so far have hampered the creation of a full internal market for construction products.

- Statistics : lighten statistical reporting by economic operators, in particular SMEs, taking into account the ongoing work on improving statistical governance of the Union and the final outcome of the ongoing pilot projects on the measurement and reduction of administrative burden.

- Food/Feed labelling : The modernisation of the legislation will clarify rules under which labelling will operate to enable consumers to make informed, safe, healthy and sustainable choices and contribute to a pro-competitive market environment in which operators can make efficient use of labelling to sell their products.

- Consumer protection : Rationalisation and simplification of the whole consumer protection acquis in order to remove possible inconsistencies, overlaps, internal market barriers and distortions of competition.

- Cosmetics : The cosmetics Directive was adopted 30 years ago and has been modified more than 40 times. A recast is needed to introduce more consistency and clarity in the text. This will help reduce the administrative cost of implementation and management of the Directive, while maintaining unchanged the actual regime on the progressive banning of animal testing.

- Accounting and financial reporting standards : Providing EU firms with an up-to-date set of Financial Reporting Standards by merging the current set of Regulation[17], amounting to over 2 000 pages, into one single and user-friendly Regulation.

- Automotive Regulatory Framework : The pending proposal for the revision of the framework Directive on type-approval of motor vehicles, when approved, will allow:

- the replacement of EC Directives by UN/ECE regulations. This simplification will streamline regulations and remove redundant requirements. Furthermore, it will help global industry to remove non-tariff barriers to trade, maintaining the EU's leading position as the developer of international standards and allowing industry to adapt faster to technical developments at international level;

- the introduction of necessary technical provisions for self-testing and virtual testing in 25 EC Directives and UN/ECE Regulations. It will permit the simplification of the type-approval procedure and allow the regulatory environment to be kept up to date with technological developments. Virtual and self-testing will speed up product development and reduce costs for both industry and consumers. In addition, the Commission is currently proposing a general provision in the Directive for the approval of motor vehicles, enabling manufacturers to act as testing laboratories provided that the type-approval authority has acknowledged the necessary competence.

- Access to the road transport market and profession : Recasting four regulations and one directive to clarify, simplify and make more enforceable the rules governing access to the profession and to the market, including cabotage of road haulage and passenger transport. The recast should allow for harmonised application and cost-effective enforcement of the rules, including in the trans-national context, thus limiting distortion of competition, protecting the right of establishment and improving service quality and road safety.

- Consolidation of the technical New Approach [18] Regulations/Directives for the marketing of products around consistent definitions, simplified certification procedures and streamlined administrative cooperation so as to facilitate the commercialisation of products while protecting manufacturers against non- conforming products.

1.1.3. New initiatives reinforcing the Simplification rolling programme

Based on the rolling programme launched last year, the Commission is reinforcing its simplification action with 43[19] new initiatives for the period 2006-2009 to:

- stimulate innovation and reduce administrative burden stemming from regulatory requirements;

- reduce the total volume of the Community acquis and promote the transition to more flexible regulatory approaches.

Some new major initiatives are presented below:

- Simplification of the rules concerning post-licensing changes to medicines (so-called ‘Variations’ Regulations). Administrative management of these rules currently mobilise more than 60% of the human resources and financial costs of companies’ regulatory departments. In some cases, this burden may hinder innovation by preventing the introduction of changes that are beneficial to patients and society. Procedures will be streamlined so that the Variations Regulations are made simpler, clearer and more flexible, without compromising public and animal health.

- Ensuring the mutual recognition [20] of goods not covered by harmonised Community rules. The Commission is currently working on a legislative proposal on the elimination of technical obstacles to the free movement of goods within the EU (“Mutual Recognition Proposal”). The instrument will define the rights and obligations of, on the one hand, national authorities and, on the other, enterprises wishing to sell in one Member State products already lawfully manufactured or marketed in another Member State.

- Clarification of the definition and the scope of safety assessment for novel/new foods and streamlining the authorisation procedure.

- Simplification of the management of administrative procedures in the agricultural field through the implementation of a series of technical simplifications. A rolling action plan has been set up to amend legal provisions that have an immediate impact on farmers, other economic operators and national administrations. The amendments concern for example obligations for farmers to keep documents available, the control obligations of Member States, the conditions for receiving support, etc.

- Simplification and improvement of the Common Fisheries Policy through the implementation of a legal and administrative simplification in accordance with the "2006-2008 Action Plan' adopted by the Commission in 2005[21]. The action plan covers certain regulatory provisions concerning management and control of fishing activities for example to promote legibility of the legislative framework and reduce the administrative burden to for fishermen and the administrators concerned.

- Revision of the regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services will reduce the needs for ex-ante regulation and facilitate flexibility and innovation, to the benefit of both the industry and citizens.

- Replacement of the textiles Directives by a single Regulation in order to simplify procedures on the adoption of new fibre names. Furthermore, quantitative methods for measuring fibre content will be transferred to the standardisation process.

- Simplification of the existing legislation on toys by clarifying essential safety requirements and by developing conditions for a better common approach by national market surveillance authorities.

- Limitation of the legislative acts on metrology and fertilizers to essential requirement through the "New Approach". Detailed technical descriptions will be replaced by standards.

- Revision of the Community eco-label award scheme , with the aim of:

- Creating a more business friendly system by involving stakeholders in the decision making process and including the needs of SMEs;

- Outsourcing the development of award criteria to a dedicated body and linking the eco-label closely with Green Procurement.

- Recasting of a Directive on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production.

- Addressing work-related musculoskeletal disorders in the context of a single instrument which would integrate various existing minimum health and safety requirements, such as those relating to the manual handling of loads or to working with display screens.

All Commission departments will complete the review of their acquis by 2009 to check the relevance of their instruments, the choice of regulatory technique and the scope for applying one of the simplification techniques set out in the simplification strategy of October 2005. This will lead where necessary and appropriate to the identification of new simplification initiatives and the updating of the rolling programme in the future.

1.2. State of play – codification

Codification is a key part of the European Commission's Better Regulation process. Codification is the processes that brings together the provisions of existing acts with all of their subsequent amendments into one law, thereby contributing to a reduction in the volume of the EU legislation and making it more transparent, readable and legally clear.

The codification rolling programme (in Annex 2) involves about 500 acts. A total of 52 acts have successfully gone through the codification process[22] and have been adopted and published in the OJ (38 Commission acts and 14 acts of the European Parliament and the Council). In addition 33 acts are pending before the legislative authority and 8 acts are currently in written procedure. In total, 85 acts have been finalised by the European Commission.

In order to meet the objective of finalising the codification programme by the middle of 2008, measures have been taken to accelerate the conversion of the backlog of master-copies into the new EU languages. This backlog is the result of delays in the supply of translations of the texts being codified in those languages.

Adequate measures have also to be taken to maximise the number of codified texts available in Bulgarian, Romanian, Irish and Maltese, by giving priority to the codification of acts where the relevant translations have been completed.

In addition, a programme for the adoption of the remaining acts to be codified has been prepared. The aim is to ensure the transparency of the process in order, in particular, to encourage minimal new amendment of the acts undergoing codification, thereby stabilizing the legislation involved and reducing delay. This programme remains indicative since the finalisation of the codification project depends on the availability of the acts to be codified in all languages. This will apply in particular to Bulgarian and Romanian. In addition, codification has to be postponed when new amendments of these acts are envisaged. The order of acts in the programme will change in the light of these two factors.

It should also be noted that adoption of codified acts by the legislative authority is subject to the rules set out in the Inter-institutional Agreement on an Accelerated Working Method for Official Codification of 20 December 1994.

2. SUCCESS FACTORS

The regulatory environment for European businesses and citizens consists of several layers of often intertwined laws and rules generated at different levels (international[23], Community, national, regional and local). None of these regulators can improve the quality of this legislative network decisively on its own. Concrete improvement in the quality of the overall regulatory framework requires a determined, consistent and co-ordinated effort at all regulatory level.

2.1. Simplification work based on solid methodological grounds

2.1.1. Consultation of all parties

Both the initial and the updated 2006-2009 simplification rolling programme have been developed on the basis of stakeholders’ and Member States’ contributions. Their experience is indispensable in establishing a meaningful simplification programme. In-depth stakeholder consultations, review of entire policy areas, ex-post evaluation of legislative act and expert reviews help policy makers to better identify the genuine problems on the ground. Such processes also facilitate stakeholders’ subsequent ownership of the proposed measure.

The October 2005 Simplification Communication[24] announced a series of specific initiatives:

- As announced in the “Communication from the Commission on Simplification and Better Regulation for the Common Agricultural Policy”, an Action plan was established and presented at the conference entitled: "A simple CAP for Europe, a challenge for all" which took place in October 2006. The Action plan presents 20 concrete projects for technical simplification (reduction of burden without changing the underlying policy), which are to be implemented by 2007. The Action plan begins a continuous simplification process. Stakeholders and Member States are therefore invited to present further simplification proposals.

- The "2006-2008 Action Plan for simplifying and improving the Common Fisheries Policy" was adopted by the Commission in 2005 and fully supported by the Europeans institutions and the stakeholders consulted.

- The forthcoming Communication on the reduction of response burden, simplification and priority setting in the field of Community Statistics. This Communication sets out a strategic approach to continue reducing the statistical burden on enterprises through a combination of two elements: simplification of the requirements for statistics in selected priority areas and promotion of statistical tools and methods which will make it easier to meet statistical obligations. In particular, the Commission will propose a single flow system for Intrastat, a programme for re-engineering business statistics and actively pursue the simplification of the European system of agricultural statistics.

Furthermore, Article 138 of the Treaty provides for the consultation of European social partners on Community initiatives in the social policy field[25].

In some instances, the outcome of the consultation process has driven the Commission services to reconsider their initial intentions. For example, as regards the reviews of the Company Law and Copyright regulatory frameworks, which have resulted in further initiatives:

- Concerning company law, the Commission has planned to launch before end of this year a comprehensive initiative to measure the administrative costs originating from the company law directives with the view to identifying together with Member States and stakeholders the scope for reduction of these costs. The outcome of this exercise will be presented in a Communication in the second half of 2007.

- Concerning copyright the review resulted in several activities including an evaluation of the 2001 Copyright Directive which could, inter alia, identify exceptions to the application of this Directive. The outcome of this exercise could be envisaged by summer 2007.

2.1.2. Sector-specific analysis

In its previous Communication, the Commission identified the need for a sector-specific approach to simplification in order to better assess the impact of the regulatory framework on sectoral competitiveness.

For example, work is ongoing in the area of construction products. This includes an overall analysis of those factors influencing the competitiveness of stakeholders in the construction sector as well as specific action to simplify the construction product Directive (Directive 89/106/EEC). Stakeholder consultation is ongoing and contributions are being examined by the Commission.

In the area of motor vehicles, the CARS 21 High Level Group has examined the major policy areas which have an impact on the competitiveness of the European automotive industry and has produced a number of recommendations.

In parallel, the application of Better Regulation principles is currently being examined within the context of the new fora created in the follow-up to the Industrial Policy Communication[26]. Sectoral screening activities have started in groups such as the taskforce on ICT Competitiveness and the Mechanical Engineering Policy Dialogue.

2.1.3. Current work on administrative burden

In response to the June 2006 European Council conclusions and within the competitiveness framework of the re-launched Lisbon agenda, in early 2007 the Commission will launch a major Action Plan to measure and reduce administrative burden generated by existing legislation in the EU. The plan will build on the previous experience developed by four Member States (UK, NL, DK and CZ) that have already set reduction targets after completing large baseline measurements. The Commission working paper on “Measuring administrative costs and reducing administrative burdens in the European Union”[27] presents the results of a pilot project on administrative burden, carried out in 2006, that examines and builds on such previous experience In the medium term, this process should enable the EU legislator and the Member States to identify on the basis of quantified data the priority areas where there is scope for further simplification.

In this context it should be noted that, in the field of agriculture, a study is being conducted on administrative burden for farmers. The study concerns the implementation of the 2003 CAP Reform and its later amendments. First results will become available in 2007.

2.2. Close cooperation between the EU institutions

If high quality legislative proposals are delivered by the Commission, the responsibility of the Council and the Parliament is to take this simplification work to the final stage.

22 simplification proposals adopted by the Commission are pending before the Council and the European Parliament (Annex 3). Out of these, 7 simplification initiatives dated back to the previous simplification programmes of 2003[28] are still pending before the legislator. A list of pending proposals is presented in Annex 3 and includes texts of major importance for business such as the review of the 6th VAT Directive, modernization of the Customs Code, revision of waste legislation, simplification of type approval of motor vehicles, streamlining of structural business statistics and the repeal of the pre-packaging requirements. The adoption of the accounting directive[29] containing exemptions in favour of SMEs as well as the recent approval by the Council of the common position on pre-packaging illustrate the shared determination among the Institutions to simplify the regulatory framework.

Following the Commission’s invitation to the European Parliament to react to its October 2005 simplification strategy, the European Parliament responded in April 2006. The positions, taken by Parliamentary Committees on the multi-annual simplification programme show significant convergence with Commission priorities on what needs to be simplified.

In May 2006, the European Parliament adopted a series of reports covering different aspects of Better Regulation including simplification[30]. The European Parliament proposes inter alia to identify a new type of instrument, alongside codification and recasting[31], for specific types of simplification proposals that could benefit from adapted working methods and faster adoption.

The Inter-institutional Agreement (IIA) on Better Lawmaking[32], in force since December 2003, established a platform to develop cooperation between the three institutions. The High Level Technical Group responsible for monitoring the implementation of the IIA has regularly examined progress such as the coordination and the programming of the legislative work, the quality of the legislation (impact assessment in particular), transposition and application of the Community legislation and simplification. Identification by the co-legislators of concrete action to prioritise simplification and speed-up the legislative process has proved difficult.

The agreement reached between the institutions in December 2005 on an Inter-institutional Common Approach for Impact Assessment[33] proves that if there is political will, the Inter-institutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking can produce concrete improvements in the inter-institutional implementation of better regulation. At the occasion of the review of the Common Approach in 2008, the institutions should agree that Member States initiatives in the area of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters be accompanied by impact assessments.

The Commission has announced that it intends to facilitate the inter-institutional decision-making process by improving the programming and the visibility of simplification initiatives through:

- Integrating simplification proposals in the Annual Commission Legislative and Work Programme. This has now been achieved in the context of the 2007 CLWP;

- Fully exploiting the explanatory memorandum to better explain the simplification objectives pursued in its proposals. In the simplification proposals subject to impact assessment, the Commission will also strive to assess the simplification impacts, including administrative burden;

- Identifying some pilot cases of simplification proposals to test the possibilities to establish improved inter-institutional working methods for simplification.

2.3. Increased use of co-regulation and self regulation

Co-regulation and self-regulation are examples of tools which can be used in certain circumstances to achieve policy objectives with a limited intervention of the legislator.

For example, the European Standardisation bodies and the Commission are currently collaborating in order to propose new standard initiatives in the services sector which would focus specifically on the internal market. Standards allow users to freely compare products and prices, thus strengthening competition and enhancing intra-EU trade in services. Following wide consultations, the definition of a standardisation action plan aimed at promoting industrial competitiveness, as well as the approval of a decision for Community financing, will energise the standardisation activities.

In the area of self regulation, the social partners at European level have a specific role to play in that they have the possibility of concluding agreements[34] that are made binding through a legislative proposal or that are implemented on an autonomous basis. Self-regulation is consistent with the Commission’s policy to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR). Voluntary initiatives carried out under the umbrella of the European Alliance on CSR could conceivably result in new agreements on self-regulation. Such initiatives, taken by EU enterprises in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, should also contribute to a much wider take-up of CSR practices in Europe and globally. In order to better inform private parties wishing to set up or improve self-regulatory schemes, as well as regulators responsible for co-regulatory design, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the European Commission have set up a database of almost 100 EU schemes. Due to be launched in November 2006, this database details among other things the types of problem which led to the development of EU self or co-regulation schemes, their objectives and organisational settings. Identifying good and bad practices will therefore be much easier.

2.4. Simplification at national level

2.4.1. Simplified EU legislation must also be reflected at national level

The EU Simplification exercise will need to be fully supported by Member States to ensure that the advantages of a lighter Community regulatory environment are not cancelled out by new national rules or technical barriers. This is already the case for an increasing number of Member States, although there is still room for improvement. The maintenance of statistical requirements at national level when Community law has been streamlined illustrates this.

Consequently, in some recent repeal proposals, the Commission has introduced a mutual recognition provision to ensure that no new obstacles to trade arise following the repeal of Community law. For example, the proposal on pre-packaging aims at preventing obstacles to trade because of the maintenance of national requirements.

Similarly, for the decision to repeal EU legislation on the classification of wood in the rough to be effective, there should be uniform follow-up across the EU. National laws referring to the Directive must be amended accordingly and Member States should ensure that technical changes are implemented swiftly and clearly.

Too often administrative controls and procedures are imposed on European companies wishing to operate in an other Member State. Where applicable, Treaty rules contribute to the simplification of the operations in the Internal Market. The Commission helps reducing such burdens by enforcing Article 28 of the EC Treaty on the free circulation of goods, notably through the monitoring of draft national legislation.

In 2007, the Commission will address the integration of the defence market with the objective of alleviating the excessive administrative burden that hinders the competitiveness of EU industry in this domain. Indeed, the annual costs associated with intra-community import/export licences for military goods are estimated at 238.90 million euros for industries and administrations. In practice, these requests for licences are hardly ever rejected[35].

2.4.2. Avoiding gold-plating

Examination of national implementing provisions transposing Community Directives provides abundant examples of technical requirements, labelling obligations, deadlines, authorisation procedures and other administrative requirements that are added on top of Community legislation by national regulators (‘gold plating’). The regulatory environment for EU companies can only be improved if initiatives taken at EU level are complemented by suitable action at national level.

This is confirmed by other sources, for example a recent study[36] conducted for a national federation of SMEs. This study suggests that extending the original scope of Directives in transposing measures may seriously hamper productivity for small businesses, thereby taking money away from key wealth and job creators. Furthermore, gold-plating may put national businesses at a competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis other countries.

This underpins the Commission’s intention, announced in the October 2005 Communication to better exploit the potential for simplification by using, wherever appropriate, regulations rather than directives. The replacement of Directive 91/414/EEC by a regulation on the placing of plant protection products on the market is one concrete example of this shift in regulatory practice.

2.4.3. National reform programmes

Regulatory requirements and implementation measures mainly originate at national level.

The national reform programmes (NRP) are part of the new governance structure of the growth and jobs strategy (Lisbon strategy) and set out the economic reform policies at national level on the basis of Community guidelines. They are, therefore, of key importance in creating a better business environment in the EU. All Member States have responded to the guidelines on Better Regulation and have included measures to promote Better Regulation in their National Reform Programmes.

At this stage, nine Member States have launched simplification programmes of varying degrees of ambition in the context of these NRPs. It is however essential that the EU simplification programme is complemented by a progress on simplification in all Member States and at all regulatory levels. The Note for the Economic Policy Committee “Promoting Better Regulation”[37] prepared by the European Commission and the Competitiveness Report 2006 set out the main conclusions regarding the implementation of Better Regulation at Member State level and describe in greater detail progress achieved so far in this area.

Examples of national initiatives include:

- Administrative cost reduction: 17 Member States are aware of the need to analyse administrative costs imposed on business and have launched measurement activities. Some have fixed quantitative targets for reducing administrative costs (e.g. 20 or 25% by 2010). Initiatives to support this exercise are, for example, e-government, one stop-shops[38] or central registration offices, reduction of fiscal legislation, simplification of administrative procedures linked to employment and self-employment or cross-government initiatives;

- e-government and ICT solutions to cut red tape in public administration: establishment of portals containing legislation and forms (requests, reporting tools, etc), increased broadband availability;

- Review of legislation: to ensure its objectives are still valid - simplification of labour law, dissemination of good regulatory practices throughout government, cost-benefit analysis of legislation, creation of a business regulation forum where stakeholders examine the burdens imposed on business, overarching principles of good regulation including necessity, proportionality, subsidiarity, transparency, accountability, accessibility and simplicity;

- Simplification of taxation obligations, administration or reporting: especially one-stop shops for companies, SMEs and citizens, reform of corporate and capital income taxes;

- Simplification of VAT obligations, for example elimination of tax obstacles in cross border activities by introducing rules to allow for tax relief for contributions to pensions schemes in EU Member States, helping both migrants and cross border service providers;

- Improvement of the implementation of the internal market law to maximise its benefits;

- SMEs: better access to finance, reduction in reporting requirements, creation of a web-based, one-stop agency for start-ups;

- Common Commencement Dates (CCDs)[39].

Exchanges of best practices between Member States and peer reviews are of crucial importance to improving the regulatory environment. The Commission is facilitating this work through the High Level Group on Better Regulation as well as through the Lisbon process.

Member States and regions should be encouraged to work together on the development of good practices, for example through the BEST initiative[40].

3. CONCLUSION

This simplification strategy, which is at the heart of the Better Regulation initiative, is showing its first results.

The European Commission is determined to move forward to deliver on its commitments to contributing to a strong regulatory environment through an enriched and ambitious rolling programme.

To achieve our common objective, Council and Parliament have to intensify their involvement to carry the Simplification work forward to the final stages.

Member states have also to do their part of the work. They should exchange best practices and implement simplification programmes.

Annex 1

Simplification Rolling programme (2006-2009)

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2006 |

1 | Single Common Market Organisation | Recast | Recast of 21 Regulations into 1 horizontal common market organisations instrument |

2 | Reform fruit and vegetable common market organisation | Revision | Revision of 1 Regulation to improve competitiveness in the Fruit & vegetable sector. |

3 | State aid in the agricultural sector | Revision | Reduction from 7 to 3 texts governing state aid in the agricultural sectors. |

4 | Parcel size of coupled payments (agricultural direct support) | Revision | Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 796/2004. The objective is to include landscape elements in the area eligible for support. | X |

5 | Use of set-aside land in case of exceptional climatic conditions | Revision | Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 795/2004 to specify that Member States will have the possibility to decide themselves that there is an exceptional climatic condition which justifies the use of set aside land for grazing purposes. | X |

6 | Energy crops support conditions | Revision | Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 1973/2004 to ease the eligibility conditions and the administrative procedures to be followed to receive support for the production of energy crops. | X |

7 | Codification of 2 Directives on employee protection in the event of the insolvency of their employer | Codification | Codification |

8 | Recast of 1 Regulation on Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin | Recast | Recast to: - Reduce the number of lists of substances, - Enhance transparency in the assessment procedure, - Ensure compliance with international trade standards. It will provide incentives to ensure availability of veterinary medicinal products for food-producing animals, and ensure consistency with parallel review of the legislation on control of residues in foodstuffs of animal origin. |

9 | Revision of 1 regulation on fishing authorisation permits | Revision | Clarification and improvement of the management of fishing authorizations and to introduce IT tools (“fishing authorisations permits”). |

10 | Recast of 3 Regulations regarding the European fisheries fund | Recast | Recast into a single document. |

11 | Codification of the acquis related to the Community trade mark | Codification | Codification |

12 | Repeal of 1 Directive on freedom to provide services in respect to public procurement activities | Repeal | Repeal |

13 | Review of 2 Directives regulating the professions involved in the trade, distribution and use of toxic products | Review | Review of the 2 Directives. (consultations with stakeholders have confirmed the significant of the two Directives) |

14 | Codification of 7 Directives on securities (UCITS acquis) | Codification | Codification |

15 | Council Directive 69/335/EEC of 17 July 1969 concerning indirect taxes on the raising of capital | Recast | The proposal aims at simplifying and modernising the existing Community legislative framework in the area of indirect taxes on the raising of capital and to provide for a phasing out of capital duty. It also reinforces the prohibition on creating or levying other similar taxes. |

16 | Recast of 1 Regulation on radioprotection and agricultural products | Recast | Recast, notably to remove Annex 3 of this Regulation (list of customs offices in which products listed in Annexe 1 may be declared for free circulation in the Community). |

17 | Codification of 1 Regulation on radioactive contamination of feeding stuffs after a nuclear accident | Codification | Codification |

18 | Codification of 2 Regulations on imports of agricultural products following the Chernobyl accident | Codification | Codification |

20 | Codification of 1 Directive on maritime transport regarding seafarers training | Codification | Codification |

21 | Simplification of the Rail Safety Directive and extension of the competence of the European Railway Agency | Revision | The objective is to simplify the process of certification for railway undertakings and the rail industry. This will be achieved through an extension of the competences of the European Railway Agency – ERA. |

22 | Codification of 1 Directive on roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and trailers | Codification | Codification of the basic act and its four Commission Directives adapting it technical progress, and possible simplification (pending the findings of an ongoing study to be completed by the end of 2006) |

23 | Recast of 2 Directives on the transport of dangerous goods by road | Recast | Recast: new directive or regulation and, at the same time, discontinue the translation and publication of the Annexes in all Community languages (± 900 pages per mode). |

24 | Repeal of 2 Directives on requirements for safety advisers for on the transport of dangerous goods | Repeal | Repeal: The corresponding provisions are already incorporated in existing international agreements |

25 | Recast of Statutes & Rules on nuclear energy supply contracts (Euratom Supply Agency) | Recast | Recast: Procedures for approving supply contracts will be simplified. |

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2007 |

27 | Proposal for a Council Regulation on common market organisation of wine | Revision | The reform of the common market organisation for wine aims mainly: - To increase the competitiveness of the EU's wine producers; - To create a wine regime that operates through clear, simple rules that ensure balance between supply and demand; and - To create a wine regime that preserves the best traditions of EU wine production and reinforces the social and environmental fabric of rural areas. |

28 | Cross compliance report and relevant legislative proposals for direct support schemes under the common agricultural policy | Revision | Report with appropriate legislative proposals on the implementation of the cross compliance mechanisms of Council Regulation (EC) NO 1782/2003 establishing common rules for direct support schemes |

29 | Council regulation on information and promotion actions for agricultural products | Recast | The objective of this initiative is to define the conditions, procedures and control methods in the co-financing of information programmes and the promotion of agricultural goods, both within the Internal Market and with regard to third countries. This initiative translates into a reduction of current regime on the promotion of agricultural products. The four Regulations (two of the Council and two of the Commission) will be halved into one Council Regulation and one Commission implementing measure. | X |

30 | Amendment of the rules concerning applications for export licenses (agricultural products) | Revision | Redrafting of Art 25 of Commission Regulation (EC) N° 1291/2000 will clarify that (for reasons of efficiency) the electronic versions of certificates referred to in Art. 19 may be submitted to the issuing body instead of to the importer / exporter. | X |

31 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 917/2004 on beekeeping | Revision | The objective is to give Member States greater flexibility to adapt financial allocations, allowing better realisation of the programme and benefiting production and marketing conditions in this sector. Commission autonomous act | X |

32 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/1999 on proof of import for differentiated refunds(agricultural products) | Revision | The objective is to amend the rules concerning proof of import in the system of differentiated export refunds (Articles 16 and 17 of Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/1999). Commission autonomous act | X |

33 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2808/98 and implementing rules of Regulation (EC) No 2799/98 (operative events and exchange rates) | Revision | The proposal concerns the harmonisation of operative events and exchange rates in the different CAP sectors, relating to amounts, prices and aids to be converted in euros or in another national currency of Member States. The repeal of certain sectoral regulations and modification of Regulation (EC) NO 2808/98 in order to use a single exchange rate instead of an average rate for amounts are under consideration. Commission autonomous act | X |

34 | Simplification of standard periodic agricultural instruments | Revision | The objective is to replace multiple sectoral rules by horizontal ones and simplify management mechanisms through the modification of periodic agricultural instruments relating to: - Allocation of quantities for import tariff quotas; - Tendering procedures for export refunds; - Tendering procedures for public storage; - Fixing of export refunds (including respect of WTO commitments). Commission autonomous act | X |

35 | Horizontal rules for private storage of agricultural products | Revision | The aim is to replace multiple sectoral rules by horizontal ones and simplify management mechanisms relating to the private storage of agricultural products. It is planned to carry out a legal review of the existing sectoral provisions with a view to eliminating unnecessary provisions and to harmonising the system of private storage, and to adopt a horizontal regulation for the rules concerning private storage. Commission autonomous act | X |

36 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 on egg labelling | Revision | The existing implementing Regulation (EC) No 2295/2003 will be redrafted to take into account the changes introduced by the new Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006. Commission autonomous act | X |

37 | Horizontal rules on tender procedures for export refunds for certain agricultural products | Revision | The aim is to replace multiple sectoral rules and simplify management mechanisms relating to tendering procedures concerning export refunds for certain agricultural products, through the adoption of a horizontal regulation for the tendering procedure concerning export refunds for certain agricultural products. Commission autonomous act | X |

38 | Horizontal rules on import tariff quotas managed through a system of import licences (agricultural products) | Revision | The aim is to replace multiple sectoral rules by horizontal ones and simplify management mechanisms relating to import tariff quotas managed by a system of import licences (excepted bananas) by means of a legal review of the existing sectoral provisions with a view to eliminating unnecessary provisions and to harmonising regulations opening the import tariff quotas. Commission autonomous act | X |

39 | Commission Regulation (EC) No 382/2005 on the Common organisation of the market in dried fodder | Revision | The objective is to amend the implementing Regulation to reduce obligations for non-processors (farmers and downstream sector) under the regulation and to remove obsolete provisions. Commission autonomous act | X |

40 | General block exemption Regulations on the application of Arts 87 and 88 of the EC Treaty to regional aid, SME, R&D, environmental aid, employment, training | Revision | The new General block exemption Regulation (GBER) will cover areas already covered by existing block exemptions concerning training, employment, SME, and new areas like innovation, environment, risk capital and regional aid. State aid covered by this GBER will not have to be notified to the Commission. The GBER will gather all provisions concerning State aid exempted from the notification obligation in one single document and by increasing the number of cases exempted from prior notification, thereby reducing the administrative burden for MS. |

41 | Notice on the execution of recovery decisions | Revision | A more effective execution of recovery decisions by Member States has been identified as a priority objective in the State aid action plan This notice should provide guidance to Member States on how they should ensure that the Commission’s recovery decisions are properly executed | X |

42 | Implementing regulation, state aids procedural aspects | Recast | The implementing regulation provides guidance to Member States on a number of specific State aid procedural aspects (notification, calculation of recovery interests, reporting). The objective is to - Adapt the Regulation to accommodate the increased use of electronic exchanges between the Commission and the Member States; - Revise provisions regarding the recovery interests to bring them into line with economic reality; - Revise the annual reporting requirements for transparency and monitoring purposes. | X |

43 | Repeal of Council Decision 85/368/EEC on a system for the comparability of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications | Repeal | Following the adoption of the draft Recommendation of the Council and the EP on a European Qualifications Framework COM(2006)479, the Decision has become outdated and is no longer sustainable, notably because of the rapid development of qualifications. | X |

44 | Revision of Directive 2001/23/EC 'Transfer of Undertakings' | Revision | The objective is to clarify the application of the Directive to cross border operations and to introduce any amendments that are justified, after consulting Member States and social partners, on the basis of the Commission report of 2006. | X |

45 | Codification of Directive 89/655/CEE and its amendments, Directives 95/63/EC and 2001/45/EC, concerning the health and safety minimum requirements for the use of work equipment at work | Codification | Codification. |

46 | Revision of Directive 88/378/EC on the safety of toys | Revision | The main policy objectives are the simplification of the current legislation, the improvement on the safety of toys by clarifying essential safety requirements, the improvement in the functioning of the Internal Market by developing conditions for a better common approach by national market surveillance authorities in the implementation of the legislation in force. | X |

47 | Proposal for Regulation of EP and Council on type approval of heavy-duty vehicles and engines with respect to their emissions (Euro VI proposal) | Revision and repeal | The proper functioning of the single market in the European Union requires common standards limiting the emission of atmospheric pollutants from motor vehicles. The proposal will apply to heavy-duty vehicles. The main objective of the proposal is to lay down the Euro VI limits for pollutant emissions. The proposal will repeal four directives. | X |

48 | Simplification of Council Directive 76/768/EEC on Cosmetic Products | Recast | The purpose of this proposal is to recast legislation on cosmetics products, as part of a more general simplification strategy concerning goods. |

49 | Recast of Directive 89/106/EEC on Construction Products | Recast | The purpose of this proposal is to clarify the scope and the objectives of the existing Directive and to simplify the implementing mechanisms, ensuring proper functioning of the internal market for construction products, while avoiding constraints and obligations, e.g. administrative costs, which are disproportionate to the benefits to be expected. |

50 | Repeal of Directive 84/539/EEC on electro-medical equipment used in human or veterinary medicine | Repeal | This Directive has become obsolete. The applicable standard specified in the Annex dates back to 1979. It is intended to broaden the scope of Directive 93/42/EC on medical devices which currently only addresses medical devices for human beings to veterinary devices. | X |

51 | Review of existing legislation on industrial emissions | Recast | The objectives is to improve the current legal framework related to industrial emissions, and to streamline the interaction between the various legislation, while not altering the underlying principles and the level of ambition of the present legal framework. As regards the scope of the present initiative, it includes reviewing the Directive 96/61/EC concerning integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) and related industrial emissions legislation (Directive 2001/80/EC on large combustion plants, Directive 2000/76/EC on the incineration of waste, Directive 1999/13/EC on the use of organic solvents in certain activities and installations). |

52 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1980/2000 on a revised Community eco-label award scheme | Recast | The objective is to create a more business friendly system by involvement of key stakeholders in the decision making process, outsource routine criteria development to a dedicated body, link Eco-label closely with Green Procurement and reduce the procedural burden for the Commission. The changes will focus on the substance with special attention for the needs of SMEs, the institutional set up and the links to other policy instruments in particular Green Public Procurement. | X |

53 | Revision of the Regulation (EC) 761/2001 allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme (EMAS) | Recast | The objective is to raise attractiveness for SMEs by reduction of the administrative burden for companies, simplify access to EMAS for company-clusters and reduce procedural requirements by cutting red tape. The changes will focus on the substance with special attention for the needs of SMEs, the institutional set up and the links to other policy instruments in particular Green Public Procurement |

54 | Review of the Directives on waste from the titanium dioxide industry | Recast | The objective is to simplify the current legislation related to the waste from the titanium dioxide industry (78/176/EEC, 82/883/EEC, 92/112/EEC) based on other existing legislation, deleting obsolete provisions, while keeping the same level of environmental protection. This initiative includes reviewing and clarifying the interaction with Directive 96/61/EC (IPPC). | X |

55 | Development of the Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS) | Communication Recast/revision | Communication outlining the vision, objectives, actions and timetable for the development of the Shared Environmental Information System. It will be accompanied or followed by appropriate legislative proposals to streamline the environmental reporting. | X |

56 | Recast of Council Regulation (EC) No 850/98 and its modifications (8) for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms | Recast | Major revision of current technical measures in order to reduce their complexity and number, reinforce consistency and provide for simpler procedures for later updating and revision. More enforceable technical measures will be established in close cooperation with stakeholders. |

57 | New legislative proposals amending the regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services | Revision | The main objective of the legislative proposals is to enhance the ability of the current framework to deliver on its initial objectives by proposing adaptations that take account of experience to date and expected market and technological changes in the future. The creation of a competitive single market for electronic communications services and networks in Europe with corresponding benefits for citizens is the ultimate aim. | X |

58 | Repeal of Decision 2003/548/EC on Leased Lines | Repeal | There is no need or justification for mandating specific retail services. In the public consultation on the 2006 review, it is proposed that the concept be removed altogether by legislative amendment of the Universal Service Directive. | X |

59 | Repeal of Directive 87/372/EC on the frequency bands to be reserved for cellular digital band-based mobile communications | Repeal | Policy initiative linked to previous actions in radio spectrum policy. Directive 87/372 is reaching obsolescence. A new Commission Decision pursuant to Decision 676/2002/EC will regulate the use of the 900 MHz band in the EU. | X |

60 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 2195/2002 on the Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV) | Revision | The objective is to update and revision of the existing Commission Regulation (following targeted and wide stakeholder consultations). The update of the CPV Regulation is necessary to maintain an efficient and simple procurement system that is easily applied for both suppliers and bidders |

61 | Proposal for a directive on the solvency of insurance companies (Solvency II) | Recast | In line with similar developments in the banking sector and following international developments in solvency, risk management and accounting, the new solvency regime aims at the protection of policyholders and beneficiaries. It will improve the competitiveness of EU insurers and provide for a better allocation of capital resources, without causing significant market disruptions and impeding innovation in the insurance industry. |

62 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 258/97 on novel foods | Recast | Revision of the Novel Food Regulation is needed to clarify the legislation after removal of GM food from the scope, create a more favourable environment for innovation for the food industry and facilitate internal and external trade. This will: -Tighten and streamline the authorisation procedure for novel/new foods and thus make it more predictable for the applicants. -Tailor the safety assessment to different types of foods allowing foods with safe history of use outside the EU to enter the EU more easily than is presently the case. -Take into account new technologies with an impact on food (e.g. nanotechnology, animal cloning). | X |

63 | Revision of the existing legislation on feed labelling and authorisation/withdrawal procedure of feed materials (Directives 79/373/EEC, 96/25/EC, 82/471/EEC and 93/74/EEC) | Recast | Recast, modernisation and replacement of the directives to amend the existing feed labelling requirements, to extend the non-exclusive list of feed materials and to align the authorisation procedures with principles and provisions set out in the General Food Law. |

64 | Revision of existing Regulation on general food labelling and nutrition labelling | Revision and repeal | The key objective is to update the current rules on general food and nutrition labelling, taking into account the experience gained in applying Directives 2000/13/EC and 1990/496/CEC. There is a need to ensure that there is legislation that meets consumers’ needs, is not too burdensome for the industry, and that can adapt to a continually changing market. This requires a new approach that strikes a balance between flexibility and prescription and between action at the national and EU level. The proposed Regulation will repeal the above mentioned Directives and will clarify and simplify the laws on general food and nutrition labelling. |

65 | Revision of Directive 92/34/EEC on the marketing of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production | Recast | Amendments concern inter alia a new definition of marketing, as well as technical measures which will be adopted based on an appropriate evaluation and on technical and scientific progress. Two objectives can be identified: - To clarify and simplify the regulatory framework in which business operates; - To improve the legislation based on technical and scientific progress and to the new marketing environment in line with the new CAP. | X |

66 | Review of the Timeshare Directive (94/47/EC) | Revision | The objective is to enhance legal certainty for consumers. Level playing field for business as traders marketing and selling the new products in the market will have to comply with the same rules as “traditional timeshare”. Update of the list of requirements for the prospectus and the contract will provide for modernisation. The scope is extended to bring under the Directive other long-term holiday products which have been developed since the adoption of the current directive. | X |

67 | Rules of Origin (based on the Community Customs Code) | Recast | The objective is to simplify the rules of origin by proposing new rules which will determine the position in negotiation on GSP as well as in the context of the new Economic Partnership Agreements with the ACP countries. |

68 | Modernisation of VAT provisions relating to financial services including insurance | Revision | The current provisions are out of date and at the very least need to be modernised. The overall legal and regulatory environment in which the industry operates does not keep pace with the evolution of the industry and conflicts with the bias towards vertical integration. Companies are thus prevented from further refining their economic and legal structures to increase their competitiveness. Changes should be directed towards modernising the rules, ensuring their consistency with established policy objectives and reducing the need to seek clarification through litigation. |

69 | Revision of Directive 92/12/EEC on general arrangements for products subject to excise duty and holding, movement and monitoring of such products | Recast | Simplification and modernisation of requirements and computerisation of the procedures by: - modernizing and simplifying the provisions of the directive wherever possible - integrating into the directive judgements of the ECJ as well as guidelines of the excise committee - adapting the directive to support the computerisation of procedures for the movement of excise products under suspension of excise duty (the EMCS project). |

70 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000 setting up a Community regime for the control of dual-use items and technology | Recast | The proposal provides for enlarging the scope of controls by extending them, under specific circumstances, to transit and brokering of dual use items. This enlargement of the scope of controls is compensated by the creation of a level playing field for exporters aiming at reducing the current distortions of competition between EU exporters which originate from MS different practices. A number of measures will simplify the work for: – Community administrations (for example improved system of sharing denials using a template provided by the Commission, a comitology procedure for changes to the annexes and for the adoption of guidelines for the implementation of the Recast Regulation); – private entities (harmonisation of the conditions of use of export authorisations and their format, e-systems for the management of licence applications, replacement of intra-Community transfer authorisations by pre-notification of transfers by EU suppliers of those dual use goods whose intra-EC trade is currently under control ). | X |

71 | Recast of Directives 96/26/EC and 98/76/EC on the conditions of admission to the occupation of road haulage and road passenger transport operators | Recast | The objective is to ensure a harmonised application of the rules, a clear understanding of what is required, maintain mutual recognition of qualifications, protect the right of establishment, rationalise the market, improve service quality and road safety. The amendment of existing rules will strengthen, clarify and simplify the application of the three qualitative criteria of good repute, financial standing and professional competence, by which operators gain admission to the occupation. |

72 | Recast of conditions of access to road transport market (Regulations (EC) No 881/92, 684/92, 3118/93, 12/98 and 484/2002) | Recast | The objective is to ensure a harmonised application of the rules, a clear understanding of what is required, protect the right of establishment, rationalise the market, improve service quality and road safety. The amendment of existing rules to strengthen, clarify and simplify the access to the market, conditions for cabotage and the applicability of driver attestation to EU drivers. |

73 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 2299/89 on a code of conduct for computerised reservation systems | Revision | Regulation (EC) No 2299/89 was adopted in a market context where almost all airline bookings were made via computerised reservation systems (CRS) and where most CRS were owned and controlled by airlines. With the divestment of most airlines and the development of alternative distribution channels, the market context has changed and the regulation now seems to be standing in the way of an efficient functioning of the market. The main policy objective is to increase market efficiency by giving more room to market forces. Increased competition in the sector should allow to improve the quality of services offered and to reduce the distribution costs in the air transport sector. |

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2008 |

74 | Direct Payments Health Check in the Common Agricultural Policy | Revision | Report with appropriate legislative proposals on the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 |

75 | Proposal to simplify Directives on information and consultation of workers (conditional) | Recast | Scope and objectives to be refined in light of 2007 report on Directive 2002/14 and further discussions with Member States. |

76 | Community initiative on work-related musculoskeletal disorders (follow-up of the second phase of consultation of the social partners) | Recast | The objective is to integrate the provisions of both Council Directive 90/269/EEC on the minimum health and safety requirements for the manual handling of loads and Council Directive 90/270/EEC on the minimum health and safety requirements for work with display screen equipment into a new legislative instrument. (depending on the result of the consultation of the social partners a proposal for a new Directive) | X |

77 | Proposal for a Council Regulation extending the provisions of EC Regulation n° 883/2004 and its implementing Regulation to nationals of third countries (who are not already covered by those provisions on the basis of their nationality) | Revision and repeal | EC Regulation 883/2004 modernises and simplifies the coordination of social security systems. Its predecessor, Regulation 1408/71, was extended to third country nationals through Regulation 859/03. The proposed Regulation will achieve the same aim and replace Regulation 859/03. This Regulation will result in fewer administrative costs for Member States. | X |

78 | Revision of Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council completing the Annexes of EC Regulation n°883/2004 | Revision | The objective of the proposal is to complete the Annexes of Regulation 883/2004. EC Regulation 883/2004 modernises and simplifies the coordination of social security systems. It is necessary for these Annexes to be completed for Regulation 883/2004 to apply. | X |

79 | Codification of Directive 83/477/CEE and its amendments, directives 91/382/CEE and 2003/18/CE into a single text (protection of workers against the risks of exposure to asbestos at work) | Codification | Codification |

80 | Recast of two directives concerning Medical Devices and human blood and human plasma | Recast | The purpose is to recast into a Regulation:: - Directive 2000/70/EC on medical devices incorporating stable derivates of human blood or human plasma, - and Directive 2001/104/EC on medical devices. |

81 | Recast and adapt market authorisation procedures of directives concerning Medical Devices and active implantable medical devices | Recast | The purpose is to recast into a Regulation: - Directive 90/385/EEC relating to active implantable medical devices; - and Directive 93/42/EEC on medical devices. This is part of a more general simplification strategy concerning goods. |

82 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1085/2003 concerning the examination of variations to the terms of a marketing authorisation for medicinal products for human use and veterinary medicinal products falling within the scope of Council Regulation (EC) No 2309/93 | Revision | The objective is to reduce the administrative burden for industry by streamlining the circumstances obliging industry to file applications for variations of human and veterinary medicinal products. | X |

83 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1084/2003 concerning the examination of variations to the terms of a marketing authorisation for medicinal products for human use and veterinary medicinal products granted by a competent authority of a Member State | Revision | The objective is to reduce the administrative burden for industry by streamlining the circumstances obliging industry to file applications for variations of human and veterinary medicinal products. | X |

84 | Moving towards the UN/ECE system of vehicle approval legislation | Recast | Replacing the Community acquis in the field of motor vehicles with international regulations at UN_ECE level This will be followed by the repeal of numerous EU Directives. |

85 | Revision of 3 Directives on textiles | Revision | The objective is to replace these Directives by a Regulation and simplify procedures for Member States, companies and the Commission. It will provide for shorter period of time for adoption of new fibre names. Quantitative methods will be transferred to the standardisation process Commission autonomous act | X |

86 | Extension of the scope of Directive 2004/22/EC on measuring instruments and repeal 8 “old approach” metrology Directives (75/33/EEC, 76/765/EEC, 76/766/EEC, 71/317/EEC, 74/148/EEC, 86/217/EEC, 71/347/EEC, 71/349/EEC) | Repeal | The objective is to provide for a coherent legal framework for legal metrology. Commission autonomous act | X |

87 | Recast of 4 Directives on Pressure vessels and equipments | Recast | The objective is to recast these Directives into one legal instrument by implementing the revised regulatory approach to technical harmonisation. |

88 | Legal instrument setting sector-specific adaptations to New Approach revision | Recast | This instrument is meant to adapt sectoral Directives to the horizontal instrument to be adopted in 2006 and would cover sectors not already specifically addressed in the simplification programme. |

89 | Commission Directive relating to self testing and to virtual testing, with a view to simplify the type-approval procedure with respect to ten separate directives. The list of Directive is published as Annex I to the CARS 21 Final Report | Recast | The introduction of virtual / self testing will reduce costs and administrative burden of present producers. Virtual and self testing will speed up product development and reduce costs for both industry and consumers. The recast of Directive 70/156/EEC will empower the Commission to adopt the necessary modifications via comitology. |

90 | Review of Regulation (EC) No 2037/2000 on substances that deplete the ozone layer | Recast | Simplification as part of an overall assessment of the effectiveness of the present framework in the light of new technical and scientific developments which might require new issues to be addressed or possibly strengthened.. |

91 | Revision of both Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) | Revision | Review based on the experience of the application of the Directives and based on the development of the state of technology, experience gained environmental requirements and the functioning of the internal market. The review shall, as appropriate, be accompanied by proposals for revision of relevant provisions of these Directives. |

92 | Revision of Regulation (EC) No 638/2004 on Community statistics relating to the trading of goods between Member States | Revision | Simplification of Intrastat with a view to alleviate the statistical reporting of economic operators, in particular SMEs, taking into account the outcome of the ongoing pilot project of administrative costs and a future feasibility study to analyse workability of a collection system limited to one flow. |

93 | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy | Recast | The objective is to modernise the procedures and facilitate a better enforcement by alleviating the burden and constraints for the industry and public administrations and increasing the use of IT tools to reduce reporting obligations. All aspects related to the control and monitoring of fisheries activities (declaration of catches, tolerance margins, landing declaration, transport, localisation of the fleet, etc.) will be simplified |

94 | Codification or recast of company law Directives | Codification Reduction of administrative costs | Codification Report on outcome of measurement of administrative costs originating from company law directives. Could lead to simplification and recast |

95 | Revision of the accounting acquis | Reduction of administrative costs Revision | Revision of the accounting acquis to: – simplify and update accounting rules under fourth and seventh CLD’s for SME’s. – consolidate all Commission Regulations on IAS/IFRS/SIC/IFRIC in force in the EU (this could lead to the abrogation of six Regulations) |

96 | Revision of the Consumer Protection acquis (8 Consumer Protection Directives) | Codification | The overall aim of the revision of the acquis, is to simplify and improve the coherence of the consumer regulatory framework and thus enhance legal certainty both for consumers and business. The legal instrument will be a combination of codification and repeal of parts of existing directives and enactment of new rules. The most likely regulatory action, depending on the final outcome of the review, will be a mixed approach to the revision of the acquis. This will consist of a horizontal instrument, underpinned whenever required by vertical solutions. |

97 | Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 77/388/CEE as regards the VAT treatment of public authorities and the exemptions for certain activities in the public interest | Revision | The proposal aims at ensuring a more harmonised and neutral VAT system. Harmonisation is necessary as, due to certain options and vague definitions, the practical application of the provisions related to public authorities varies widely among Member States creating differences in the VAT treatment of public authorities between Member States. Neutrality has to be achieved as distortions of competition between the public and the private sector and several economic inefficiencies as well as tax avoidance schemes are the main disadvantages of the current rules. |

98 | Council Directive 2003/49/EC on a common system of taxation applicable to interest and royalty payments made between associated companies of different Member States as amended | Codification | Consolidation of the legal text and adoption of simplified procedures relating to exemption from withholding tax. |

99 | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport | Recast | Recast |

100 | Recast of Regulation (EC) No 725/2004 on ship and port facility security | Recast | Recast |

101 | Review of the "first railway package" following the 2006 report on its implementation (Communication accompanied by a proposal to modify/recast existing acts, notably Directives 91/440/CEE and 2001/14/CE) | Recast | In the light of the above-mentioned report, it is necessary to take on board, where possible in the form of a "railway code", the totality of the relevant legislation with the aim to improve its readability and clarify certain points (notably with regard to the independence of vital functions) | X |

102 | Revision of Council Directive 94/56/EC establishing the fundamental principles governing the investigation of civil aviation accidents and incidents and of Directive 2003/42/EC on occurrence reporting in civil aviation | Revision | The objective is to modernise Directive 94/56/EC following the advice of the Group of Experts established by EC Decision 2003/425. In addition it will build upon Directive 2003/42/EC in order to create a minimum set of centralised functions, including a data base to allow appropriate entities to carry out trend analysis or other studies. | X |

103 | Mutual acceptance of personnel licences and harmonisation of technical requirements in civil aviation | Recast | Potential repeal of: - Council Directive 91/670/EEC on mutual acceptance of personnel licences for the exercise of functions in civil aviation -Council Regulation (EC) No 3922/91 on the harmonisation of technical requirements and administrative procedures in the field of civil aviation. |

104 | Recast of Directive 96/98 on marine equipment | Recast | To ensure the free movement of marine equipment within the Single Market while ensuring the highest level of safety and environment protection. The objectives are to: - Produce a consolidated text following the successive amendments of the Directive; - Improve the functioning of the Directive's system by addressing the existing shortcomings; - Adapt, if and as necessary, to the ongoing revision of the New Approach. |

105 | Revision of the Emergency Oil Stock Systems Recast of Directive 68/414/EEC to minimum stocks; repeal of 68/416/EEC Council Decision; recast of Directive 72/425/EEC; recast of Directive 73/238/EEC; repeal of 77/706/EEC Council Decision; repeal of 79/639/EEC Commission Decision and recast of Directive 98/93/EC | Revision and repeal | The objective of this revision is to achieve better security of oil supply by providing for an integrated EU emergency mechanism which will be able to secure the integrity of supplies of oil products in case of supply disruptions and to contribute to the transparency of oil markets by increasing the visibility of stocks. |

106 | Recast of the framework Directive 92/75/EC on the compulsory energy labelling of domestic appliances | Recast | Impact Assessment will be launched in October 2006 to evaluate the opportunity to extend the scope of the directive beyond domestic appliances. |

107 | Recast of the Community regulatory framework regarding the transport of radioactive material | Recast | Currently at Community level more than 30 Directives, Regulations, recommendations govern the transport of radioactive material. Based on the work of an expert group, harmonisation will lead to simplification of rules and procedures. | X |

108 | Revision of the basic safety standards (2006-2007) to reflect the new ICRP Recommendation (2007) and to strengthen the Community legislation Recast of 10 acts on radioprotection into a single Commission act: Euratom Council Directives 89/618, 90/641, 92/3, 96/29, 97/43, 2003/122 and 1493/93; Euratom Commission decision 93/552, and Commission recommendations 90/143 and C (2001)4580. | Recast | Once the International Commission on Radiological Protection will have issued new recommendations (mid-2007), Directive 96/29/Euratom will be revised taking into account operational experience and consolidating the existing acquis. |

109 | Commission Decision amending the Annex to Directive 90/377 concerning a Community procedure to improve the transparency of gas and electricity prices charged to industrial end-users | Revision | The draft Decision concerns the methodology for collecting statistics. There are also significant simplifications to the methodology including the removal of data submission at local level and a reduction in the number of categories of consumer. These will reduce the reporting burden without losing very much in terms of the comprehensiveness of coverage. | X |

Title of action | Type of simplification action | Description of scope and objectives | Additional initiative to COM (2005) 535 |

2009 |

110 | Commission Directive repealing 38 Directives on Motor Vehicles | Repeal | Once the recast of Council Directive 70/156/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type-approval of motor vehicles and their trailers has been adopted, a set of UN/ECE Regulations on motor vehicles can be made mandatory (step 1) in view of repealing 38 parallel Directives (step 2). The list of Directives to be repealed is published as Annex 1 to the CARS 21 Final Report. The recast of Directive 70/156/EEC will also empower the Commission to proceed to the necessary repeals via comitology. |

111 | Simplification of Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 on fertilizers | Revision | The purpose of the Fertiliser Regulation is to guarantee to the farmer the nutrient content of the fertiliser. For this purpose, the technical Annexes of the Regulation give detailed technical specifications of a larger number of nutrient test methods. The objective of the simplification is to: - Replace 150 pages of the Annexes containing detailed descriptions of text methods with standards - Have therefore greater compliance with WTO by use of international standards Commission autonomous act | X |

Annex 2

Codification rolling programme – SEC(2006) 1220

* Acts forming part of the Commission's Simplification Programme

1 The order of priority of the acts in the list will be subject to the availability of the texts in all languages, in particular Bulgarian and Romanian, and to amendments foreseen to the act being codified.

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 1: ACTS PENDING BEFORE THE COUNCIL OR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL |

Regulation 845/72 laying down special measures to encourage silkworm rearing |

Regulation 2730/75 on glucose and lactose | Art. 308 |

Regulation 2759/75 on the common organization of the market in pig meat | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 2075/92 on the common organization of the market in raw tobacco | Art. 36 and 37 |

Decision 2000/24 granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans for projects outside the Community | Art. 181a |

Directive 73/23 on the harmonisation of the laws of the Member States relating to electrical equipment designed for use within certain voltage limits | Art. 95 |

Directive 93/31 on stands for two-wheel motor vehicles (amended proposal) | Art. 95 |

Directive 93/32 on passenger hand-holds on two or three-wheel motor vehicles (amended proposal) | Art. 95 |

Directive 93/94 relating to the space for mounting rear registration plate of two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Directive 78/659 on the quality of fresh waters needing protection or improvement in order to support fish life | Art. 175(1) |

Directive 79/923 on the quality required of shellfish waters | Art. 175(1) |

Directive 90/219 on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms | Art. 175(1) |

Directive 96/61* concerning integrated pollution prevention and control | Art. 175(1) |

Regulation 1588/90 on the transmission of data subject to statistical confidentiality to the statistical Office of the European Communities | Art. 285 |

Decision 91/115 establishing a committee on monetary, financial and balance of payments statistics | The treaty: decision sui generis |

Regulation 3880/91 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States in the north-east Atlantic | Art. 285 |

Directive 92/100 * on rental right and on certain rights related to copyright in the field of intellectual property |

Directive 93/98 * harmonizing the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights |

Directive 69/466 on control of San José Scale | Art. 37 and 94 |

Directive 84/450 concerning misleading and comparative advertising | Art. 95 |

Directive 88/344 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients | Art. 95 |

Directive 89/398 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses | Art. 95 |

Decision 90/638 laying down Community criteria for the eradication and monitoring of certain animal diseases | Treaty and Dec. 90/424 (Art. 24) |

Directive 91/629 laying down minimum standards for the protection of calves | Art. 37 |

European Parliament and Council Directive 98/27 on injunctions for the protection of consumers' interests | Art. 95 and 251 |

Directive 78/1035 on the exemption from taxes on imports of small consignments of goods of a non-commercial character from third countries | Art. 93 |

Regulation 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods | Art. 133 |

Decision 73/391 on consultation and information procedures in credit matters | Art.133 |

Regulation 2007/2000 introducing exceptional trade measures for countries and territories participating in or linked to the European Union's Stabilisation and Association process | Art. 133 |

Directive 62/2005 on the establishment of common rules for international transport (carrying of goods by road for hire or reward) | Art. 71(1) and 251 |

Decision 62/403 instituting a procedure or prior examination and consultation in respect of certain laws, regulations and administrative provisions concerning transport proposed in Member States | Art. 71(1) and 251 |

Regulation 4060/89 on the elimination of controls performed at the frontiers of Member States in the field of road and inland waterway transport | Art. 251 |

Directive 92/14 on the limitation of the operation of aeroplanes covered by Annex 16 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation | Art. 80(2) |

Directive 95/18 on the licensing of railway undertakings | Art. 71 |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 2: ADOPTION BETWEEN 15 SEPTEMBER 2006 AND 31 DECEMBER 2006 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 1601/91 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of aromatized wines | Art. 37 and 97 |

Directive 80/987 * on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer | Art. 251 |

Directive 83/477 * on the protection of employees against the risk of exposure to asbestos at the workplace | Art. 251 |

Directive 89/655 * on the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of equipment | Art. 251 |

Directive 74/151 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to certain parts and characteristics of wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors | Art. 95 |

Directive 74/347 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the field of vision and windscreen wipers for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors |

Directive 93/29 on identification of controls, tell-tales and indicators for two or three-wheel motor vehicles | Art. 95 |

Regulation 837/90 concerning statistical information to be supplied by the Member States on cereals production | Art. 251 |

Regulation 2597/95 on the submission of nominal catch statistics by Member States fishing in certain areas other than those of the north Atlantic | Art. 285 |

Directive 85/611 * on the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities – CITS | Art. 47(2) |

Directive 89/104* First Council Directive to approximate the laws of the Member States relating to trademarks | Art. 95 |

Regulation 40/94 * on the Community trade mark | Art. 308 |

Directive 77/504 on pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species | Art. 37 and 94 |

Directive 91/630 laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs | Art. 37 |

Directive 76/308 on mutual assistance for the recovery of claims resulting from operations forming part of the system of financing the EAGGF, and of the agricultural levies and customs duties | Art. 93 and 94 |

Directive 83/183 on tax exemptions applicable to permanent imports from a Member State of the personal property of individuals | Art. 93 |

Directive 90/377 concerning a Community procedure to improve the transparency of gas and electricity prices charged to industrial end-users | Art. 284 |

Directive 96/96 * on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers | Art. 71 |

(b) Commission acts |

Regulation 1054/73 on detailed rules for aid in respect of silkworms |

Regulation 109/80 on the application of the lowest rate of export refund for certain products in the eggs and poultryment sectors |

Regulation 2319/89 on minimum quality requirements for Williams and Rocha pears in syrup and in natural fruit juice eligible for the production aid scheme |

Regulation 2742/90 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 2204/90 |

Regulation 2825/93 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1766/92 as regards the fixing and granting of adjusted refunds in respect of cereals exported in the form of certain spirit drinks |

Regulation 1432/94 laying down detailed rules for the application in the pigmeat sector of the import arrangements provided for in Regulation 774/94 |

Regulation 562/2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 1254/1999 |

Regulation 2723/87 laying down special detailed rules for the application of the system of export refunds on cereals exported in the form of pasta products falling within heading No 19.03 of the CCT |

Decision 79/491 laying down a code and standard rules for the transcription into a machine-readable form of the data of the basic surveys of areas under vines |

Regulation 908/2000 laying down detailed rules for calculating aid granted by member States to producer organisations in the fisheries and aquaculture sector |

Regulation 1886/2000 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation 104/2000 as regards the extension to non-members of certain rules adopted by producers’ organisations in the fisheries sector |

Directive 95/44 establishing the conditions under which certain harmful organisms, plants, plant products and other objects listed in Annexes I to V to Directive 77/93 may be introduced into or moved within the Community or certain protected zones thereof, for trial or scientific purposes and for work on varietal selections |

Directive 96/5 on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children |

Regulation 3954/87 * concerning maximum permitted levels of radioactive contamination of foodstuffs | Art. 31 Euratom |

Regulation 737/90 * concerning imports of agricultural products after the Chernobyl accident | Art. 133 |

Directive 2001/25 * concerning the minimum level of training of seafarers | Art. 80(2) |

Title | Legal Base |

SECTION 3 : ADOPTION BETWEEN 1 JANUARY 2007 AND 30 APRIL 2007 |

(a) EP/Council acts |

Regulation 79/65 setting up a network for the collection of accountancy data on the incomes and business operation of agricultural holdings | Art. 37(2) |

Regulation 234/68 on the establishment of a common organization of the market in live trees and other plants, bulbs, roots and the like, cut flowers and ornamental foliage | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 315/68 fixing quality standards for flowering bulbs, corms and tubers | Treaty Council Regulation 234/68 |

Regulation 316/68 fixing quality standards for fresh cut flowers and fresh ornamental foliage | Treaty Council Regulation 234/69 |

Regulation 827/68 on the common organisation of the market in certain products listed in Annex II to the Treaty | Art. 36 and 37 |

Regulation 2782/75 on the production and marketing of eggs for hatching and of farmyard poultry chicks | Art. 37 |

Reg