Dehousse, R. & Rozenberg, O. (2015) “There has been a substantial drop in EU legislative output since 2010“, LSE EUROPP, 03 Φεβρουαρίου.
A common argument made against the European Union by Eurosceptic politicians is that the EU creates a burden on citizens and businesses by producing too much legislation. But how much legislation does the EU actually produce? Renaud Dehousse and Olivier Rozenberg present data on both the raw number of EU acts adopted since 1996, and a measure of the burden produced by this legislation. They note that contrary to expectations, there has been a substantial fall in the EU’s legislative output since 2010, raising questions over the motivations underpinning the European Commission’s legislative agenda.
Last December, the European Commission proposed a legislative agenda that differed significantly from previous submissions. It mentions only 23 new initiatives, of which 14 contain a legislative component. On the other hand it lists 83 proposals that will be abandoned or amended. By way of comparison, the work programme for 2013 (the last ‘full’ year before the European elections) referred to 53 new initiatives, of which 39 contained a legislative component along with 14 withdrawals.
This change of course is in no way accidental; in fact it is declared resolutely in the explanatory statement, which mirrors the language used by Jean-Claude Juncker during his inaugural speech: “Citizens expect the EU to make a difference on the big economic and social challenges… they want less EU interference on the issues where Member States are better equipped to give the right response at national and regional level…That is why we will focus on the ‘big things’ like jobs and growth.” The Commission indicates for that matter the willingness to “reach out beyond the Brussels base across the EU” and explains its sizable programme of withdrawals with a willingness to “[lighten] the regulatory load” and especially regarding environmental protection, in which Europe plays a leading role.
Σχετικές αναρτήσεις:
- Corbett, R. (2014) “A common sense guide to EU reform“, Future Europe – Signposts from the European Elections, Europe’s World Journal, 09 Οκτωβρίου.
- Beck, G. (2014) “ECJ legal rulings designed to help the Eurozone are threatening the accountability of European governance“, LSE EUROPP, 10 Δεκεμβρίου.
- Pelkmans, J. & Renda, A. (2014) “Does EU regulation hinder or stimulate innovation?“, Regulatory Policy, CEPS Special Reports, 19 Νοεμβρίου.