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Impact assessments must be carried out for all major proposals of the European Commission, i.e. those listed in its Annual Policy Strategy or its Work Programme. These proposals include regulatory proposals, non-regulatory proposals having considerable economic, social and environmental impacts, proposals having a major impact on particular groups and proposals representing a major change or policy reform. These impact assessments are published online by the European Commission's Secretariat-General.
In June 2005, the European Commission published new impact assessment guidelines as a tool for Commission officials to use to ensure that their impact assessments are robust and fully consider all the options. According to the guidelines, Commission Impact Assessments must incorporate a test of the impacts of policy options on EU business competitiveness.
Over the course of 2006, an independent evaluation of the Commission's impact assessment system will take place. A report on the findings is expected in 2007.