29-01-2007

The plan follows up the ‘Better Regulation Package’ adopted by the Commission in November 2006. That package set a target of reducing administrative costs for business by 25% by 2012. The Commission says that this could result in European businesses saving 150 billion euros.

The target must still be approved by member states, when they gather for the Spring 2007 European Council. However, in a show of political will, the Commission has decided to take immediate action, by composing ten concrete measures to reduce paperwork for farmers, transport companies, small food businesses and information-society enterprises.

Industry and Enterprise Commissioner Günter Verheugen said: "With a first strike we can already get well underway and reduce burdens by €1.3 billion."

Some MEPs, consumer groups, NGOs and trade unions have expressed concern that the Commission's "purely business-driven" efforts to reduce regulations could lead to a drop in safety and environmental standards, but Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said: "This is not about the level of safety in whatever area concerned – pharmaceutical legislation, social rights, environment or transport – it is aimed at removing redundant, obsolete requirements, which harm the effectiveness of such standards."