Community legislation: simplifying and improving the regulatory environment

This Communication takes forward the Commission's Better Regulation initiative from June 2002 and, in so doing, fulfils the commitment made in its Action Plan to launch initiatives for a policy concerning the Community's existing body of law. The Framework for Action comprises 6 objectives, each with a number of key actions designed to make the legislation more accurate, user-friendly and up-to-date. The 6 objectives and their associated actions can be summarised as follows: - Objective 1 sets out the actions proposed wherever necessary to simplify the acquis and the indicators on which the priorities for simplification will be based. It outlines the sectors which will be scrutinised for their simplification potential during phase I of the simplification programme (February to September 2003). Phases II October 2003 to March 2004) and III (April 2004 to the end of this year) of that programme will continue the process of scrutinising the acquis for simplification candidates and will incorporate formal proposals by the Commission to simplify the legislation concerned; - Objectives 2 to 4 describe the measures needed (notably, consolidation, codification and repeal) to secure a more up-to-date, reliable and user-friendly body of European law; - Objectives 5 and 6 complete the Framework by outlining how this work will be carried out and how political and technical control of the process will be managed. The document underlines that little will be achieved without transparency of the process and strong political commitment and control, as well as adequate resources - where all institutions need to contribute. For its part, the Commission will undertake a six-monthly review to end-2004 of the progress made within the Framework for Action.�