Commission Decision of 5 December 2012 amending Commission Decision 2007/623/EC setting up the High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens

12.12.2012 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 382/9
COMMISSION DECISION
of 5 December 2012
amending Commission Decision 2007/623/EC setting up the High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens
2012/C 382/08
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Whereas:
(1) By Commission Decision 2007/623/EC (1), the Commission created a High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens, hereinafter referred to as ‘the group’, for a fixed term of three years.
(2) The group's mandate was extended until 31 December 2012 by Commission Decision of 17 August 2010 (2010/C 223/03) (2) to fully exploit the savings potential of the action programme for reducing administrative burdens in the European Union which will be completed by the end of 2012.
(3) The group's November 2011 report on best practice in Member States to implement EU legislation in the least burdensome way showed that there is ample scope to help Member States’ public administrations implement EU legislation more efficiently.
(4) Reducing the administrative burden and simplifying the legislation, especially for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), are priorities for the Commission (3).
(5) The mandate of the group and its members should therefore be extended accordingly.
(6) The group should continue to work closely with stakeholders and Commission services, and to have a regular and structured exchange of views and experience with the Deputy Secretary-General and the Chair of the Impact Assessment Board,