The Commission’s programme on Simplification
The Commission adopted a comprehensive multi-annual programme in February 2003 to simplify and update Community Legislation. This programme includes a range of initiatives (codification, consolidation, the removal of out of date texts and simplification) which will be carried forward over the next two years. The Commission will present regular reports on how the programme is progressing. The first report will appear in October 2003.
- 11.02.2003
- Communication from the Commission:
Updating and Simplifying the Community Acquis – COM(2003)71
- 24.10.2003
- First report on the implementation of the framework action
“Updating and simplifying the Community acquis“ – COM(2003)623
SLIM - Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market
The Commission launched a multi-annual project in 1996 to streamline key Internal Market Legislation.The programme examined 17 different legislative sectors during five phases of activity between 1996-2002.
For further information on how SLIM works, see Commission Communication on Simpler Legislation for the Internal Market (SLIM) (COM(1996)204). This also provides details on the work of SLIM teams during phase 1.
The 5 phases
For information on the activity of SLIM teams and results attained see:
- Phase 5
- Commission Staff Working Paper on the launch of Phase 5 – SEC(2001)575
- Commission Staff Working Paper on the outcome of Phase 5 – SEC(2001)1997
- Phase 4
- Commission Staff Working Paper on the launch of Phase 4 – SEC(1998)1944
- Communication from the Commission on the outcome of Phase 4 – COM(2000)56
- Phase 3
- Commission Staff Working Paper on the launch of Phase 3 – SEC(1998)559
- Communication from the Commission on the outcome of Phase 3 – COM(1999)88
- Phase 2
- Commission Staff Working Paper on the launch of Phase 2 – SEC(1997)951
- Communication from the Commission on the outcome of Phase 2 – COM(97)618
- Phase 1
- Communication from the Commission on the outcome of Phase 1 – COM(1996)559
For details on the work of individual SLIM teams during Phase 5, see ”Fifth Phase 2001“
The Commission has sought to improve the effectiveness of SLIM. In 2000, it conducted a detailed review and made proposals to improve its operation. See Communication from the Commission – Review of SLIM (COM(2000)104) and Commission Staff Working Paper (SEC(2000)104).
Press releases
- 03.05.2001
- Commission launches new round of SLIM
- 26.02.2001
- Professional qualifications: Commission welcomes adoption of simplification Directive
- 06.03.2000
- Commission moves to simplify single market legislation
- 25.11.1997
- New approach to simplifying Single Market legislation bears fruit
- 06.11.1996
- New method to simplify Single Market Legislation