The REFIT programme

Denis MEYNENT

On the REFIT programme, the Committee:

  • notes that the REFIT programme's prime aim is to improve the quality and efficacy of EU legislation and to draft simple, understandable and coherent rules, without (...) being detrimental to the protection of citizens, consumers, workers, social dialogue or the environment,
  • calls for a common methodology on impact assessment as well as an annual assessment of the main costs and benefits of REFIT programme measures, including the level and quality of employment and social and environmental protection,
  • holds that the public consultation process (…) cannot be a substitute for the consultation of social partners and the Committee,
  • holds that the REFIT programme (…) should not conclude in advance what course regulation should take: validating, extending, complementing, amending or repealing legislation. The Committee could not agree to be a part of any exercise that sought to quantitatively diminish the EU acquis without measuring in advance all the consequences.

 

On the REFIT Platform, the Committee:

 

  • stresses that the REFIT Platform should be restricted to carrying out a limited review of a number of topics and cannot replace the co-legislators or the mandatory consultation of the Committee – since its work is of a different nature – and the social partners, as provided for by the Treaties,
  • calls on the Commission to make public the criteria for shortlisting the suggestions addressed to the platform,
  • calls for two additional seats on the REFIT Platform as well as the inclusion of representatives of micro, small and medium enterprises on the Platform.

 

On impact assessments and policy evaluation, the Committee:

 

  • supports a more rigorous ex-post assessment of the effects of regulation, with particular reference to the expected impact on growth and employment set out in the impact assessment that accompanies the original legislative proposal,
  • intends to give priority to ex-post and qualitative assessments, in order (…) to pass on the experience of European economic and social partners. When particular directives are being transposed, the Committee would like to provide its own distinct input into the European Parliament's own-initiative report on the implementation of EU legislation by Member States by homing in on the additions made by the Member States when transposing.

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