The European Commission (EC) confirmed its commitment to a better regulation approach which cuts red tape and removes regulatory burdens, contributing to an environment conducive to investment. Specifically, it has decided the withdrawal of 73 pending legislative proposals, with the adoption of the EC’s Work Programme for 2015 on December 16 2014. The list of withdrawn proposals has now been published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This confirmation of the withdrawals follows constructive discussions with the other institutions in which the EC has heard their views. The EC will continue to work on the implementation of its Work Programme in close partnership with the other institutions, including through the tabling of more ambitious and comprehensive proposals on the Circular Economy, after the withdrawal of the Waste Package on Saturday.

Background

On December 16 2014, the EC adopted its 2015 Work programme, with a new approach which translates the ten priorities of President Juncker’s Political Guidelines into concrete actions. This twelve-month ‘to do list’ represents the things we want to deliver before the end of this year.

The Juncker Commission is proposing a new and focused approach, respecting the messages delivered by voters in the May 2014 European elections. This means that we will only be proposing 23 new initiatives, as well as withdrawing the 73 proposals confirmed today. This Commission is committed to lightening the regulatory burden on Member States and small businesses, and to being big on the big issues where European policy can bring value-added.