• Simplification
• Administrative burdens reduction
• Impact assessment
• Other initiatives

Best Idea for Red Tape Reduction Award

The purpose of the competition is to generate ideas for the European Commission to consider as part of its Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens.
The March 2007 European Council endorsed the idea of setting a target to reduce administrative burdens stemming from EU law by 25% by 2012. This competition represents an opportunity to help the EU reach that target and be recognised for helping to make Europe a better place in which to do business. The award was initiated by the High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens, chaired by Dr. Edmund Stoiber. It complements the Red Tape Reduction Award, one of the five categories in the European Enterprise Awards, which rewards public authorities that have delivered red tape reduction measures at a local, regional or national level.

What are we looking for?

The Best Idea for Red Tape Reduction Award is seeking bright ideas for cutting bureaucracy that have so far not been implemented.
Entries will be assessed on the following criteria:

• originality and degree of innovation;
• feasibility (i.e. potential for simple and quick implementation);
• reduction potential (i.e. how much businesses might save; sometimes relatively small burdens can be more irritating than more costly ones; this will also be taken into account);
• transferability of possible solutions to other areas/other Member States.

Please note that ideas to reduce the administrative burden that originate exclusively from national, regional or local legislation are not eligible.

How to participate

Anyone with a bright idea was able to participate. The competition was therefore open to all: citizens, companies, business associations, public authorities, non-profit organisations and others. To enter, it was simply necessary for them to fill in the online consultation form on the reduction of administrative burdens and ensure they had ticked the competition box. The deadline for entering the competition was 31 January 2009.

The three entrants with the best idea were invited to attend the European Enterprise Awards ceremony on 13 May 2009 in Prague, where the winner was announced and had the opportunity to present him/herself and the winning idea. Information about all nominees and their ideas was also published on the awards website.

Examples of what a submission might look like can be found in the reports on the online consultation and in the 2008 list of Fast Track Actions. [46 KB]

The Jury

The Jury was headed by Günter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission, and Dr. Edmund Stoiber, Chair of the High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens. In addition, it included representatives from other European institutions, the SCM Network, the Bertelsmann Stiftung and the business world.
The Jury selected the three best ideas, the final award being given to one of these nominees.

The Awards Ceremony

The three entrants with the best idea were invited to attend the European Enterprise Award ceremony on 13 May 2009 in Prague, where the winner was duly announced and had the opportunity of presenting themselves and their winning idea at this international event. Information on all nominees and their ideas has also been published on the awards website.

Promoters

To raise awareness of the Best Idea for Red Tape Reduction Award, the High Level Group and the European Commission are working in partnership with:

• the SCM Network and
• Bertelsmann Stiftung.

By supporting this award, the partners are helping to promote the reduction of unnecessary administrative burdens and make life easier for European businesses.

The Standard Cost Model (SCM) Network is an international, informal group of Government officials working together to share experiences of applying the SCM. The Network champions the application of the Model as a tool for creating momentum to improve the regulatory environment in which businesses operate.

The goal of Bertelsmann Stiftung is to encourage social change and a sustainable society. The Foundation identifies social problems and challenges at an early stage and develops exemplary solutions to address them. With the Modern Regulation project, it aims to demonstrate methods for creating a better regulatory system, one that boosts competitiveness and economic vitality and makes life easier for both business and the public.