Iskanje
International Agreements in Progress: Modernisation of the trade pillar of the EU-Chile Association Agreement
On 9 December 2022, 20 years after the signature of the EU-Chile Association Agreement in 2002, the EU and Chile reached an agreement in principle on a new EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement, which comprises modernised trade and political and cooperation pillars. Negotiations were launched in November 2017, based on a Council negotiating mandate, which was the first-ever to have been published prior to the start of negotiations. Although the trade pillar had operated smoothly and led to an expansion ...
Revision of the European Works Councils Directive
The impact assessment (IA) was prepared after the evaluation, so the 'evaluation first' principle was properly followed. This IA relies on an external IA supporting study, a two-stage stakeholder consultation and independent research. The problem definition is clear and is accompanied by a problem tree, but there is a lack of solid evidence of what has worked and what has not. The IA presents 10 policy options; these are cumulative and some of the options do not seem to be relevant policy alternatives ...
Adapting liability rules to artificial intelligence
The impact assessment (IA) defines the problems, their drivers, the objectives and the options of the initiative in a robust intervention logic. It explains the initiative's coherence with ongoing legislation. However, the interplay between the initiative and, in particular, the artificial intelligence act and the revised Product Liability Directive with regard to their scope of application and the likely evolution of the problems appear to be addressed insufficiently. The IA is based on several ...
The use of strategic foresight in Commission impact assessments: Existing practices and the way forward
Strategic foresight was identified as a political priority by the European Commission back in 2019, and was integrated into the EU's better regulation guidelines in 2021. It allows practitioners to anticipate alternative futures and, hence, represents a key tool for the EU to future-proof its policies and legislation. Its relevance spans the policy cycle, being of interest ex ante to impact assessments (IAs) and ex post to evaluations. This briefing examines the use of strategic foresight by the ...
Defence of Democracy package
The initiative results from growing concern that openness of European societies is being exploited for covert interference from foreign governments to manipulate decision-making processes and public opinion in the EU. The impact assessment (IA) clearly defines two problems relating to interest representation activities carried out on behalf of third countries: obstacles to the internal market due to fragmented regulation, and the unknown magnitude, trends and actors of these activities. It considers ...
Combating late payment
Presented as part of the 'SME relief package', the initiative aims to tighten the EU's late payment framework and improve its enforcement. It proposes, among other things, to convert the current Late Payment Directive into a regulation, a move that several national parliaments contested. National parliaments also raised subsidiarity and proportionality concerns on several provisions. The impact assessment (IA) adequately justifies the need to revise the late payment framework, and substantiates the ...
Digital euro
On 28 June 2023, the European Commission presented a legislative package to establish a digital form of central bank money to complement its physical form (banknotes and coins) and laid out the rules and conditions for its use. The IA supporting the proposals is based on extensive internal and external expertise, including tailored ECB advice and JRC input on analytical methods and simulations. It presents a wide range of options to address the problems identified, but it is difficult to identify ...
Establishing an EU talent pool
The problem definition and problem drivers in the impact assessment (IA) appear to be well-supported by evidence. The IA provides a well-structured analysis of the existing situation and the likelihood for the problem to persist. The IA identifies the initiative's general and specific objectives, which appear to be specific, achievable, relevant and time-bound, but not measurable, as recommended by the Better Regulation Toolbox 'S.M.A.R.T.' criteria. The IA does not define more detailed operational ...
Accounting of greenhouse gas emissions of transport services
The impact assessment (IA) provides a useful information package supporting the 'CountEmissionsEU' proposal. It presents a substantiated problem definition and illustrates the scale of the problems. The analysis relies on an external IA supporting study, stakeholder consultation and independent research. The IA assesses the economic, social and environmental impacts of all six policy options. It openly explains the assessment's limitations, in particular the fact that empirical evidence to underpin ...
European cross-border associations
The problem definition in the impact assessment (IA) appears to be well-supported by evidence. The IA provides a sufficient range and description of the policy options, albeit sometimes lacking in detail. The assessment of the options' impacts (economic, social, environmental, fundamental rights) is qualitative and quantitative. It appears to be based on sound research and analysis, with clear acknowledgement that the available data are limited. The IA provides a comprehensive summary of the preferred ...