Better Regulation Executive
On 1 July 2005, the UK began its six-month Presidency of the Council of Ministers of the European Union (EU). As the principal decision-making body within the EU, the Council is responsible for setting the agenda and managing the business of the EU. In regulatory areas governed by the so-called 'co-decision process', the Council is co-legislator with the European Parliament. In practice, this means that both the Council and the European Parliament have to agree on a proposed regulation before it can be adopted as EU law.
As holders of the Presidency, the UK chaired meetings of the Council, providing an opportunity to make progress on a number of key European objectives. The government focused on a range of policy priorities such as climate change, Africa, economic reform, social justice, and security.
Improving the European regulatory environment was highlighted as one of the key policy priorities for the UK Presidency. The Better Regulation Executive led the work in this area. The Better Regulation Agenda at the European level was concerned with:
As part of the UK's Presidency of the European Union, the Better Regulation Executive hosted a conference in Edinburgh on the 22nd and 23rd September on 'Competitiveness and Consultation'. This was attended by around 100 senior business people and Ministers from Europe. Keynote addresses were delivered by John Hutton, then Minister for the Cabinet Office; Niall Fitzgerald, CEO Reuters; and Gunter Verheugen, Vice-President of the European Commission.
Please view the report below from the Better Regulation Conference: