Make it Work Conference Regulatory Insights, Experiences and Enlightenment

- making regulation work for our EnvironmentEdinburgh, 10-11 December 2015

Better rules for a better EnvironmentThe MiW Initiative

Jan Teekens Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure

and the Environment

Context, reasons for starting MiW

• The Environmental acquis has had significant positive effects on the environment

• Implementation however requires huge efforts and is not always effective, because the acquis as a whole is complex

Context, reasons for starting MiW

• MS who want to modernise their national legislation, experience that the acquis lacks coherence and is often inconsistent

The EU environmental acquis

• Regulatory Cycle• Key tools and procedures

MiW Mission

• Work together to make the EU environmental acquis and its implementation fit for purpose and future proof

Aims of MiW

• Share experiences on reforming and modernising environmental legislation and implementation practices at MS and EU level

• Develop principles for:- smart drafting and application of key tools and

procedures in EU environmental law- a smooth interaction between different EU

directives and regulations

Aims of MiW

• Establishing a permanent forum (Commission Expert Group) for exchanging good practices and providing advice on improving the quality and coherence of the EU environmental acquis and its implementation

Nature of the project

• MiW is a Member State initiative • MiW is cross sectoral• MiW is based on research, discussion and dialogue,

bringing together different expertise• MiW wants to develop a shared understanding of how

EU Environmental legislation could work better by either improving and better connecting the rules or by smarter implementing of these rules

• MiW principles should be concrete and practical• MiW principles can be applied by MS and EU

institutions to the extent that they think they are useful

• MiW does not make any proposals to introduce or to revise specific EU directives or regulations

Nature of the project

Nature of the project• MiW principles aim at delivering

environmental outcomes more efficiently and effectively, without lowering existing protection standards. Principles drawn up will ensure the protection of the environment.

MiW in Better Regulation Communication

Cooperate with Member States (…), including those that have initiated a review of how well EU and Member State regulation combines to help protect the environment (as in the 'Make It Work' initiative). The objective is to identify solutions to enhance the efficient application of EU law (…) by reducing its complexity while maintaining its level of protection.

MiW organisation

• Project team: NL - UK - DE• Support by IEEP• Expert workshops en conferences• Cooperation with EU Institutions• Please join us!

Milestones - What’s next?

• Drafting principles on compliance assurance ready

• Work on reporting requirements under way

• New areas t.b.d.• Dutch Presidency of

EU

Dutch EU Presidency• Priority: Delivering Better Results• Improve existing instruments & explore use of

complementary instruments 4-5 April 2016 – MiW & Circular Economy High Level

Meeting 20 June 2016 - Environment Council

Synergy with Commision better implementation activities (EIR, Reporting, etc.)

Edinburgh conference programme

• Country Initiatives to improve environmental legislation and implementation

• Review of MiW - Challenges for the acquis, example circular economy

• How can MiW feed into the EU law making process• Outcomes of reporting workshop• Use of regulatory impact assessments and

evaluations

Info on MiW

• MiW extended video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcvemR9pHso

• MiW webpages:http://www.ieep.eu/work-areas/environmental-governance/better-regulation/make-it-work

Thank you for your attention!

jan.teekens@minienm.nl