A boost for regulation in Europe
Regulation is defined as administrative legislation that outlines rights and allocates responsibilities to ensure the running of smooth government and, by association, an efficient society. The EU-funded project 'European network for better regulation' (ENBR) sought to strengthen and disseminate knowledge of regulatory processes and relevant impact assessment procedures in EU nations. The project built a formidable database on impact assessment development in the EU to facilitate benchmarking and research by policymakers and other stakeholders. It created the methodology and quality indicators for regulatory processes, organising relevant workshops in different European cities on the matter. ENBR then published its database and research on the project website and organised a final project conference in Brussels, Belgium to advance impact assessment in public administration. The conference attracted numerous policymakers, academics and other key stakeholders who examined past achievements and upcoming developments regarding better regulation in the EU, also looking at regulatory reform globally. Overall, the project mapped different national approaches to better regulation and impact assessment. It collaborated with expert groups and other projects in the field to further its aims, avoid duplication of efforts and ensure consistency in articulating the latest advances in impact assessment. Its efforts have lead to many EU countries considering better regulation strategies and improving impact assessment procedures. Ultimately, this is expected to lead to higher levels of competitiveness for EU nations and hopefully inspire other countries around the world to improve their own regulatory frameworks.