'Smart regulation' was pushed atop the EU agenda when Commission President José Manuel Barroso made a key pledge to improve the quality and relevance of EU legislation when he took office.
The proposals single out three action areas designed to better meet the EU's objective of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth spelled out in the 'Europe 2020' strategy, including reducing the administrative burden on SMEs.
According to a recent report issued by the European Court of Auditors (CoA), the Commission has so far now failed to give due consideration to the principles of clarity of objectives, transparency and accountability.
Critics point out that without setting priority areas for analysis, the changes risk being mainly cosmetic. SME representatives lament that 'smart regulation' proposals are still lacking concrete measures to deliver the 'Think Small First' principle, which is supposed to take into consideration the impact of proposed legislation on the smallest companies first.
Arnaldo Abruzzini, president of Eurochambres, the European association of chambers of commerce, regretted that the Commission's Impact Assessment Board had failed to quantify the costs and benefits of regulation on SMEs, which only took place 11% of the time in 2009.
The entire policy cycle, from consultation to impact assessment, is targeted by the new Commission proposals, ensuring that evidence from evaluating legislation is put "at the heart of the design" of new and revised laws.
Describing smart regulation as a "shared responsibility," President Barroso pledged to "work with member states for strict enforcement" of legislation. National 'gold plating' of regulation by member states, who add extra clauses, is the source of more than half the total burden of red tape for SMEs, according to the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME).
The Commission estimated in its 'Europe 2020' strategy that administrative burden on businesses can be reduced by €40 billion - a 25% reduction - by 2012.
Expressing his disappointment with the proposed target, Abruzzini said he expected greater ambition from President Barroso.
One ray of light, however, came with a pledge to "strengthen the voice of citizens and other stakeholders," said Abruzzini.
The Commission does indeed want to increase the period for public consultation from eight to 12 weeks.
