An EU-wide forum for regulatory simplification

24.11.2014

Question for written answer E-009628-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Morten Messerschmidt (ECR)

In Denmark the government has set up a forum where firms operating in Denmark can meet and make concrete suggestions for better regulation (see http://enklereregler.dk). The business forum for simpler regulations highlights areas in which firms experience the heaviest burdens and makes proposals for simplification to the government. In this way the focus is now placed on Denmark’s employers and the barriers that businesses encounter. The government calls directly on all businesses to submit concrete suggestions on how it can be made easier to run a business in Denmark, and at present the Danish Government is processing 413 proposals sent in by Danish businesses. This is a positive contribution to enhancing Denmark’s competitiveness.

I call on the Commission to set up a corresponding network for the whole EU. As we know, a large proportion of the rules which apply to businesses come directly from EU legislation. It therefore makes sense to set up a corresponding forum for European businesses, which would be able to put forward suggestions to the Commission for regulatory simplification. Of course the Commission is not obliged to act on these suggestions, but everyday experience could provide it with a different perspective than it generally has.

Will the Commission take the initiative of setting up a corresponding network at EU level?