The Commission work programme includes proposals for revisions and initiatives to evaluate existing EU legislation in its REFIT annex.The Commission presents the REFIT dimension in the explanatory memoranda of its proposals.The simplification and burden reduction potential are quantified, whenever possible.All evaluations and fitness checks investigate the potential to simplify existing EU laws and eliminate unnecessary regulatory costs.Impact assessments look at options available to deliver policy objectives in the most efficient way, therefore analysing the REFIT dimension.The new ‘one-in, one-out’ approach will strengthen the REFIT programme, by extending the programme beyond the burdens from individual pieces of existing legislation to include also burdens from new legislation as well as managing the accumulative burden in each policy area. The EU's efforts to simplify legislation – 2019 Annual Burden surveyĮU action in support of SMEs How REFIT worksĪll Commission proposals to change existing EU laws should aim to simplify and reduce unnecessary regulatory costs, while achieving the underlying policy objectives. The Annual Burden Survey presents yearly an overview of the EU’s efforts for simplification and burden reduction, including highlights of the main REFIT initiatives. The Commission monitors regularly the progress under REFIT through the REFIT Scoreboard, which follows the REFIT initiatives throughout their life-cycle. Small and medium sized enterprises - representing 99% of all businesses in the EU - benefit particularly from REFIT as they can be particularly affected by burdens and complexity of the rules. The programme aims to make EU laws simpler, more targeted and easier to comply with.

Under this programme, the Commission ensures that EU laws deliver their intended benefits for individuals and businesses, while simplifying existing EU laws and cutting red tape, whenever possible. The REFIT programme is part of the Commission’s better regulation agenda.

Platform 909