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PARALLEL TEXTS
"REFIT - Adatto alla crescita" - I prossimi e ambiziosi passi della Commissione per alleggerire la legislazione dell'UE
Inglese tratto da:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-891_en.htm
Italiano tratto da:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-891_it.htm
Data documento: 02-10-2013
1 |
"REFIT - Fit for growth" – Commission takes ambitious next steps to make EU law lighter
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"REFIT - Adatto alla crescita" - I prossimi e ambiziosi passi della Commissione per alleggerire la legislazione dell'UE
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2 |
Whereas regulation at EU level is essential in many areas, it is often accused of stifling businesses, especially the smallest ones, or of interfering too much in citizens' daily lives.
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Se una regolamentazione a livello dell'UE è necessaria in molti settori, essa viene spesso accusata di soffocare le imprese, soprattutto le più piccole, o di interferire troppo con la vita quotidiana dei cittadini.
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74% of Europeans believe that the EU generates too much red tape
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Il 74% dei cittadini europei crede che l'Unione generi troppa burocrazia.
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4 |
In response to that concern, the Commission has made a concerted effort over the past few years to streamline legislation and reduce regulatory burdens.
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Per rispondere a queste preoccupazioni, gli anni scorsi la Commissione ha messo in atto uno sforzo coordinato per snellire la legislazione e per ridurre gli oneri normative.
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5 |
In his 2013 State of the Union address on 11 September, President Barroso stressed the importance of smart regulation and declared that the European Union needs to be "big on big things and smaller on small things".
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Nel discorso sullo stato dell'Unione 2013, tenuto l'11 settembre, il Presidente Barroso ha sottolineato l'importanza della regolamentazione intelligente e ha dichiarato che l'Unione europea ha bisogno di essere "grande per le grandi cose e piccola per le piccole cose".
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6 |
Today, the Commission takes another important step in ensuring that EU legislation is fit for purpose.
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Oggi la Commissione compie un altro importante passo per garantire che la legislazione europea sia proporzionata al suo scopo.
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7 |
In a Communication the Commission sets out in a concrete way, policy area by policy area, where it will take further action to simplify or withdraw EU laws, ease the burden on businesses and facilitate implementation. It is the result of a screening of the entire stock of EU legislation.
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In una comunicazione la Commissione - dopo aver passato al vaglio tutto il corpus legislativo dell'UE - espone in modo concreto, settore per settore, quali sono gli ambiti in cui interverrà ulteriormente per semplificare o per ritirare leggi europee, per alleggerire gli oneri gravanti sulle imprese e per facilitare l'attuazione delle normative.
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8 |
The Commission also announced today the intention to publish a scoreboard to track progress at European and national in this regard.
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Sempre oggi, la Commissione ha inoltre annunciato l'intenzione di pubblicare un quadro di valutazione per seguire i progressi a livello europeo e nazionale a tale riguardo.
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This exercise is at the heart of the Commission's Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT).
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Questo lavoro è al centro del programma di controllo dell'adeguatezza e dell'efficacia della regolamentazione (Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme - REFIT).
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10 |
President Barroso said:
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Il Presidente Barroso ha dichiarato:
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11 |
"Europe is there to help find solutions to the big challenges we are collectively facing.
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"L'Europa contribuisce a trovare soluzioni alle grosse sfide che collettivamente stiamo affrontando.
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However, to be effective, we need to make sure we concentrate on the right priorities and have the right dose of regulation.
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Per essere efficaci, però, dobbiamo essere sicuri di concentrarci sulle priorità giuste e di avere una giusta quantità di normative.
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Not everything that is good is good at European level. Let's think twice whether, when and where we need to act at European level.
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Non tutto ciò che è buono lo è anche su scala europea: dobbiamo quindi riflettere due volte sul se, il quando e il dove intervenire a livello dell'UE".
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The President continued:
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Il Presidente ha aggiunto:
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"With REFIT, the Commission has undertaken the most comprehensive exercise to date to make EU law lighter and simpler.
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"Con REFIT, la Commissione ha intrapreso la più vasta operazione mai compiuta finora per rendere la legislazione dell'UE più snella e più semplice.
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16 |
Our resolute application of the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality will not put into question the important benefits for citizens and business of EU regulation, particularly the rules underpinning the Single Market.
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La nostra ferma applicazione dei principi di sussidiarietà e di proporzionalità non metterà in discussione gli importanti benefici, per i cittadini e per le imprese, della regolamentazione dell'UE, in particolare le norme che costituiscono il fondamento del mercato unico.
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Today's REFIT package provides a pragmatic outlook for the future of regulation in Europe just a few months ahead of the European elections in May 2014."
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L'odierno pacchetto REFIT fornisce una prospettiva pragmatica sul futuro della regolamentazione in Europa, proprio pochi mesi prima delle elezioni europee del maggio 2014".
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18 |
In today's "REFIT" - Communication on the results and next steps on regulatory fitness and performance, the Commission
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Nell'odierno documento "REFIT - Adeguatezza ed efficacia della regolamentazione:
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19 |
- gives an overview of what has been achieved in recent years to keep EU laws fit for purpose by simplifying and reducing costs.
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comunicazione sui risultati ottenuti e sulle prossime azioni", la Commissione: - fornisce una panoramica di quanto realizzato recentemente per mantenere le leggi dell'UE adeguate alle loro finalità, semplificandole e riducendone i costi.
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During the past 10 years the Commission has initiated major policy reforms.These include proposals for the reduction of the cost of broadband deployment, the Water Framework Directive, the Schengen Visa Code initiative, the Consumer Rights Directive, the Services Directive, the Unitary Patent Regulation, and the Union Customs Code.
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Negli ultimi dieci anni la Commissione ha avviato importanti riforme fra cui figurano proposte per la riduzione dei costi di sviluppo della banda larga, la direttiva quadro in materia di acque, l'iniziativa del codice Schengen in materia di visti, la direttiva sui diritti dei consumatori, la direttiva sui servizi, il regolamento sul brevetto unitario e il codice doganale dell'Unione.
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Since 2005, the Commission approved 660 initiatives aimed at simplification, codification or recasting.
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Dal 2005, la Commissione ha approvato 660 iniziative di semplificazione, codificazione o rifusione.
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22 |
More than 5.590 legal acts have been repealed.
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Più di 5.590 atti giuridici sono stati abrogati.
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23 |
The Top Ten consultation of SMEs on the most burdensome EU laws has fed-in the priorities of business into the Commission's regulatory fitness agenda.
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La consultazione delle piccole e medie imprese sui dieci atti legislativi più gravosi dell'UE ha permesso di integrare le priorità delle imprese nel programma della Commissione relativo all'adeguatezza della regolamentazione.
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24 |
Concrete improvements are being introduced for SMEs for example: the requirements for recording equipment (tachograph) in road transport are being simplified and fees for SMEs under REACH have been reduced by between 35-95%;
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Per le piccole e medie imprese sono stati ad esempio introdotti miglioramenti concreti: i requisiti dell'apparecchio di controllo (tachigrafo) per il trasporto su strada sono in via di semplificazione, e gli oneri che le PMI devono sostenere nell'ambito del REACH sono stati ridotti del 35- 95%;
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a standard VAT declaration will be proposed still in October.
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una dichiarazione IVA standard sarà proposta ancora in ottobre.
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26 |
Between 2007 and 2012, a decrease of 26% of administrative burden for businesses has been achieved, equivalent to savings of EUR 32.3 billion per year with a further EUR 5 billion still pending adoption by the co-legislator.
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Fra il 2007 e il 2012 è stato ottenuta una diminuzione del 26% degli oneri amministrativi per le imprese, equivalente a un risparmio di 32,3 milioni di euro all'anno; oltre a ciò, misure per altri 5 miliardi aspettano di essere adottate dal colegislatore.
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The Commission itself has gone beyond the target by tabling proposals with a burden reduction potential close to EUR 41 billion (33%).
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La Commissione stessa ha superato l'obiettivo prefissato presentando proposte con un potenziale di riduzione degli oneri vicino ai 41 miliardi di euro (33%).
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28 |
Unfortunately, some of this potential, estimated at more than EUR 3 billion, was lost in the legislative process as the Commission proposals were amended.
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Sfortunatamente una parte di tale potenziale, stimata a più di 3 miliardi di euro, è andata persa nel corso dell'iter legislativo poiché le proposte della Commissione sono state modificate.
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29 |
Promoting e-invoicing in the VAT area as well as exemptions or special regimes for SMEs in the areas of accounting, electronic waste and intra-EU trade statistics were among the main achievements of the programme.
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La promozione della fatturazione elettronica nel settore IVA così come le esenzioni o i regimi speciali per le PMI negli ambiti della contabilità, dei rifiuti elettronici e delle statistiche del commercio intra-UE sono fra i principali risultati del programma.
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30 |
And above all, the way in which the Commission prepares regulation has changed significantly:
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E, soprattutto, è cambiato sensibilmente il modo in cui viene elaborata la regolamentazione:
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31 |
Impact assessments, stakeholder consultations (including with social partners) and ex-post evaluations are systematically applied across the Commission and will be strengthened further.
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la Commissione ricorre sistematicamente alle valutazioni d'impatto, alle consultazioni delle parti interessate (comprese le parti sociali) e alle valutazioni ex-post, e le rafforzerà ulteriormente;
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32 |
- presents important legislative initiatives for simplification and burden reduction that are before the co-legislator, for example in the area of animal health, consumer product safety and market surveillance, public procurement, the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax base, clinical trials for pharmaceuticals and package travel.
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- presenta importanti iniziative legislative per la semplificazione e la riduzione degli oneri in corso d'esame presso il colegislatore, ad esempio nei seguenti settori: salute degli animali, sicurezza dei prodotti di consumo, vigilanza del mercato, appalti pubblici, base imponibile consolidata comune per le società, sperimentazioni cliniche dei farmaci e viaggi "tutto compreso";
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33 |
- lists areas for further action for 2013-14 to simplify existing legislation through amendments and consolidation of existing EU law (e.g. in the areas of information and consultation of workers, business statistics, company law, introduction of a standard VAT declaration, zoo-technical measures and trade regulations) and by following up on evaluation recommendations:
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- elenca settori che necessitano di ulteriori azioni per il periodo 2013-14 ai fini della semplificazione della legislazione UE esistente attraverso modifiche e consolidamento (ad es informazione e consultazione dei lavoratori, statistiche delle imprese, diritto societario, introduzione di una dichiarazione IVA standard, misure zootecniche e normativa commerciale) e attraverso il follow-up delle raccomandazioni in materia di valutazione:
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34 |
a major outcome of the screening exercise was the identification of areas that need assessment to better identify regulatory burden relief so as to meet EU policy goals at least cost and best achieve the benefits of EU regulation.
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un importante risultato del lavoro di vaglio della normativa è stata l'individuazione di settori che devono essere oggetto di una valutazione destinata a mettere in evidenza le misure per alleggerire gli oneri normativi, in modo da realizzare gli obiettivi UE al minor costo possibile e da trarre il maggior vantaggio possibile dalla regolamentazione europea.
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35 |
Up to the end of 2014, the Commission will have carried-out or launched 47 evaluations, Fitness Checks or other reports with a view to reducing regulatory burden.
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Da qui alla fine del 2014, la Commissione realizzerà o avvierà 47 valutazioni, "check-up" o altre relazioni allo scopo di ridurre gli oneri normativi.
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36 |
A particular effort is made in the areas of environment, enterprise and industry and employment.This includes new Fitness Checks in the fields of chemicals not covered by REACH, NATURA 2000, type approval of motor vehicles, waste, and the general food law.
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Uno sforzo particolare è compiuto nei settori dell'ambiente, impresa e industria e occupazione, con nuovi "check-up" nei seguenti settori: prodotti chimici non contemplati dal REACH, NATURA 2000, omologazione dei veicoli a motore, rifiuti, legislazione alimentare generale.
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37 |
Evaluations with a focus on regulatory fitness have notably been programmed on health and safety at work, the temporary agency workers Directive, on assessment and management of environmental noise, remedies in public procurement and excise duty arrangements.
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Valutazioni incentrate sull'adeguatezza della regolamentazione sono state in particolare programmate per quanto riguarda la salute e sicurezza sul lavoro, la direttiva sui lavoratori temporanei, la determinazione e gestione del rumore ambientale, i mezzi di ricorso negli appalti pubblici e il regime delle accise.
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38 |
The Commission is also starting to plan evaluation of the coherence of the new range of EU regulation in the Financial Services sector.
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La Commissione sta anche cominciando a pianificare la valutazione della coerenza del nuovo insieme di normative UE nel settore dei servizi finanziari;
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- identifies those areas where the Commission considers to withdraw pending proposals and repeal existing EU law.
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- individua i settori in cui intende ritirare proposte in corso e abrogare leggi UE esistenti.
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40 |
Broadly speaking one can distinguish the following cases:
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In linea generale si possono distinguere i seguenti casi:
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1) areas where the Commission continues to work assessing the issues but where the Commission has decided not to table proposals:This includes legislation in the area of occupational safety and health for hairdressers pending on on-going evaluations, muscular skeletal disorders and screen displays and environmental tobacco smoke.
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1) settori in cui la Commissione continua a lavorare valutando i problemi, ma in cui ha deciso di non presentare proposte, ad esempio la legislazione che riguarda la protezione e la medicina del lavoro per gli acconciatori, attualmente soggetta a valutazione, i disturbi muscoloscheletrici, gli schermi e il fumo di tabacco nell'ambiente;
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2) legislation that is no longer needed in light of developments and where the Commission plans to propose their repeal.
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2) la legislazione che non è più necessaria dati gli sviluppi, e per cui la Commissione intende proporre l'abrogazione.
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43 |
10 proposals to repeal legislation are planned, for example legislation on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles, the supply of crude oil and petroleum products, the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous preparations, steel statistics.
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Sono previste dieci proposte di abrogazione di leggi, ad esempio per quanto riguarda i veicoli per il trasporto su strada puliti ed efficienti sul piano energetico, l'approvvigionamento di petrolio greggio e prodotti petroliferi, la classificazione, imballaggio ed etichettatura dei preparati pericolosi e le statistiche dell'acciaio;
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3) Proposals that have stalled in the co-decision procedure and where there is little realistic chance of progress.
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3) proposte che si sono arenate nella procedura di codecisione e per cui vi sono poche realistiche possibilità di avanzamento.
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Therefore the Commission will consider to withdraw proposals identified in this category including the soil directive and a directive simplifying VAT obligations, a proposal on the statute of a European private company, the regulation on statistics on steel and the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles.
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La Commissione prenderà in considerazione l'idea di ritirare proposte rientranti in questa categoria, fra cui la direttiva "Suolo", una direttiva che prevede una semplificazione degli obblighi IVA, una proposta sullo statuto di società privata europea, il regolamento sulle statistiche dell'acciaio e l'installazione a posteriori di specchi sui veicoli commerciali pesanti;
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46 |
- outlines new horizontal actions to make EU law fit for purpose.
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- delinea nuove azioni orizzontali per adeguare il diritto dell'UE alle finalità per cui viene elaborato.
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47 |
The Commission would for example identify the administrative obligations stemming from EU law and its national implementation and review it regularly to identify possibilities for reduction.
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La Commissione intende ad esempio recensire gli obblighi amministrativi derivanti dalla legislazione UE e dalla sua attuazione a livello nazionale e riesaminarli periodicamente per vedere se è possibile ridurli.
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48 |
Best practice exchange among Member States will be facilitated to keep national implementation of EU law as light as possible.
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Sarà promosso un migliore scambio di prassi fra Stati membri per rendere più snella possibile l'attuazione a livello nazionale della legislazione UE.
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49 |
The Commission will also undertake dedicated actions to facilitate the implementation of new obligations, particularly in areas of specific concern to SMEs.The Commission will also identify all REFIT legislative initiatives including withdrawals, repeals and consolidations in its annual work programme.
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La Commissione intraprenderà inoltre apposite azioni per facilitare l'esecuzione dei nuovi obblighi, in particolare in settori di specifico interesse per le PMI, e recensirà tutte le iniziative legislative REFIT, inclusi ritiri, abrogazioni e consolidamenti, nel suo programma di lavoro annuale.
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50 |
Business, including SMEs, and all other interested parties will be in a position to suggest areas in which they see potential for Fitness Checks.
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Le imprese, comprese le PMI, e tutte le altre parti interessate potranno suggerire ambiti in cui vedono possibilità di realizzare dei "check-up";
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- announces the annual publication of a REFIT scoreboard to track progress at European and national level and facilitate dialogue on regulatory fitness with citizens, Member States, business and civil society at large.
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- annuncia la pubblicazione annuale di un quadro di valutazione REFIT per seguire i progressi a livello europeo e nazionale e per facilitare il dialogo sull'adeguatezza della regolamentazione con i cittadini, gli Stati membri, le imprese e la società civile in generale.
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Next steps
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Prossime tappe
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53 |
In order to be successful in implementing the commitment to smart regulation, the European Parliament and the Council need to show a similar level of ambition so that the proposed measures to simplify and reduce regulatory burden can be adopted swiftly.
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Per realizzare con successo l'impegno verso una regolamentazione intelligente, il Parlamento europeo e il Consiglio devono far prova dello stesso livello di ambizione, in modo che le misure proposte per semplificare e ridurre gli oneri normativi possano essere adottate rapidamente;
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The Commission will make every effort with the other institutions to ensure this.
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a questo scopo, la Commissione metterà in atto ogni sforzo con le altre istituzioni.
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It will also continue to cooperate closely with Member States and stakeholders to collect views and suggestions on regulatory fitness that can be addressed within the REFIT programme and to further improve its effectiveness.
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Continuerà anche a cooperare strettamente con gli Stati membri e le parti interessate per raccogliere pareri e suggerimenti sull'adeguatezza della regolamentazione che possano essere trattati nell'ambito del programma REFIT, e per migliorarne l'efficacia.
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The background:
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Contesto
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57 |
On 11 September in his State of the Union address, President Barroso said the following:
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L'11 settembre, nel suo discorso sullo Stato dell'Unione, il Presidente Barroso ha dichiarato:
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58 |
"I value subsidiarity highly.
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"Sono un fermo sostenitore della sussidiarietà.
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For me, subsidiarity is not a technical concept. It is a fundamental democratic principle.
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La sussidiarietà non è un concetto tecnico ma un principio democratico fondamentale.
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60 |
An ever closer union among the citizens of Europe demands that decisions are taken as openly as possible and as closely to the people as possible.
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Per rinsaldare l'unione tra i cittadini europei occorre che le decisioni siano adottate nel modo più trasparente e più vicino alla gente.
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61 |
Not everything needs a solution at European level.
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Non tutto va deciso a livello europeo.
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62 |
Europe must focus on where it can add most value.
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L'Europa deve intervenire solo quando può apportare valore aggiunto.
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63 |
Where this is not the case, it should not meddle.
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Se non può, non si deve immischiare.
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64 |
The EU needs to be big on big things and smaller on smaller things - something we may occasionally have neglected in the past.
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L'Unione europea deve essere grande per le grandi cose e piccola per le piccole cose - un aspetto che può esserci sfuggito in passato.
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65 |
The EU needs to show it has the capacity to set both positive and negative priorities.
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L'UE deve avere la capacità di fissare priorità positive e negative.
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66 |
As all governments, we need to take extra care of the quality and quantity of our regulation knowing that, as Montesquieu said, 'les lois inutiles affaiblissent les lois nécessaires'.['Useless laws weaken the necessary ones'.]
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Come ogni governo, deve avere particolare cura della qualità e della quantità delle norme che emana, secondo la massima di Montesquieu: "les lois inutiles affaiblissent les lois nécessaires". [le leggi inutili indeboliscono quelle necessarie].
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67 |
But there are areas of major importance where Europe must have more integration, more unity.
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Esistono però settori particolarmente importanti in cui l'Europa deve essere più integrata e più unita.
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68 |
Where only a strong Europe can deliver results."
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Settori in cui solo un'Europa forte può ottenere risultati."
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69 |
Regulating at EU level adds value in areas such as competition, trade and the internal market to build a level playing field that creates opportunities for business and consumers.
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La regolamentazione a livello UE apporta un valore aggiunto in settori come la concorrenza, il commercio e il mercato interno, per instaurare condizioni uniformi che creino opportunità per le imprese e i consumatori.
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70 |
It also protects the health, safety and rights of citizens.
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Protegge inoltre la salute, la sicurezza e i diritti dei cittadini.
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71 |
EU legislation creates a common framework by replacing or aligning twenty eight different national laws. It allows the EU Member States to work together to deal with problems that do not respect national borders.
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La legislazione dell'UE crea un quadro comune, sostituendo o armonizzando ventotto legislazioni nazionali differenti, e consente agli Stati membri dell'Unione europea di lavorare insieme per risolvere i problemi transfrontalieri.
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72 |
Smart regulation is a continuous process, not a one off operation.
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La regolamentazione intelligente è un processo continuo, non un'operazione una tantum.
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73 |
Ensuring that EU legislation is 'fit for purpose' is essential for putting Europe back on track towards more growth and jobs.
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Garantire che la legislazione dell'UE sia adatta alle sue finalità è essenziale se si vuole rimettere l'Europa sulla strada della crescita e dell'occupazione.
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74 |
Therefore, the Commission initiated a Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme (REFIT) in December 2012.
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Per questo motivo la Commissione ha avviato nel dicembre 2012 il programma di controllo dell'adeguatezza e dell'efficacia della regolamentazione (Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme - REFIT).
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75 |
REFIT is the expression of the Commission's commitment to a simple, clear, stable and predictable regulatory framework for businesses, workers and citizens. It will benefit citizens and businesses alike, provided that also the other institutions and Member States show a similar level of ambition.
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REFIT traduce l'impegno della Commissione a realizzare un quadro normativo semplice, chiaro, stabile e prevedibile per le imprese, i lavoratori e i cittadini, che andrà a vantaggio sia dei cittadini che delle imprese, purché anche le altre istituzioni e gli Stati membri mostrino un uguale livello di ambizione. |
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LISTEN WITH READSPEAKER
"REFIT - Fit for growth" – Commission takes ambitious next steps to make
EU law lighter
Whereas regulation at EU level is essential in many areas, it is often
accused of stifling businesses, especially the smallest ones, or of interfering
too much in citizens' daily lives.
74% of Europeans believe that the EU generates too much red tape
In response to that concern, the Commission has made a concerted effort
over the past few years to streamline legislation and reduce regulatory burdens.
In his 2013 State of the Union address on 11 September, President
Barroso stressed the importance of smart regulation and declared that the
European Union needs to be "big on big things and smaller on small things".
Today, the Commission takes another important step in ensuring that EU
legislation is fit for purpose.
In a Communication the Commission sets out in a concrete way, policy
area by policy area, where it will take further action to simplify or withdraw
EU laws, ease the burden on businesses and facilitate implementation. It is the
result of a screening of the entire stock of EU legislation.
The Commission also announced today the intention to publish a
scoreboard to track progress at European and national in this regard.
This exercise is at the heart of the Commission's Regulatory Fitness
and Performance Programme (REFIT).
President Barroso said:
"Europe is there to help find solutions to the big challenges we are
collectively facing.
However, to be effective, we need to make sure we concentrate on the
right priorities and have the right dose of regulation.
Not everything that is good is good at European level. Let's think
twice whether, when and where we need to act at European level.
The President continued:
"With REFIT, the Commission has undertaken the most comprehensive
exercise to date to make EU law lighter and simpler.
Our resolute application of the principles of subsidiarity and
proportionality will not put into question the important benefits for citizens
and business of EU regulation, particularly the rules underpinning the Single
Market.
Today's REFIT package provides a pragmatic outlook for the future of
regulation in Europe just a few months ahead of the European elections in May
2014."
In today's "REFIT" - Communication on the results and next steps on
regulatory fitness and performance, the Commission
- gives an overview of what has been achieved in recent years to keep EU laws
fit for purpose by simplifying and reducing costs.
During the past 10 years the Commission has initiated major policy
reforms.These include proposals for the reduction of the cost of broadband
deployment, the Water Framework Directive, the Schengen Visa Code initiative,
the Consumer Rights Directive, the Services Directive, the Unitary Patent
Regulation, and the Union Customs Code.
Since 2005, the Commission approved 660 initiatives aimed at
simplification, codification or recasting.
More than 5.590 legal acts have been repealed.
The Top Ten consultation of SMEs on the most burdensome EU laws has fed-in the
priorities of business into the Commission's regulatory fitness agenda.
Concrete improvements are being introduced for SMEs for example: the
requirements for recording equipment (tachograph) in road transport are being
simplified and fees for SMEs under REACH have been reduced by between 35-95%;
a standard VAT declaration will be proposed still in October.
Between 2007 and 2012, a decrease of 26% of administrative burden for
businesses has been achieved, equivalent to savings of EUR 32.3 billion per year
with a further EUR 5 billion still pending adoption by the co-legislator.
The Commission itself has gone beyond the target by tabling proposals
with a burden reduction potential close to EUR 41 billion (33%).
Unfortunately, some of this potential, estimated at more than EUR 3
billion, was lost in the legislative process as the Commission proposals were
amended.
Promoting e-invoicing in the VAT area as well as exemptions or special
regimes for SMEs in the areas of accounting, electronic waste and intra-EU trade
statistics were among the main achievements of the programme.
And above all, the way in which the Commission prepares regulation has
changed significantly:
Impact assessments, stakeholder consultations (including with social
partners) and ex-post evaluations are systematically applied across the
Commission and will be strengthened further.
- presents important legislative initiatives for simplification and
burden reduction that are before the co-legislator, for example in the area of
animal health, consumer product safety and market surveillance, public
procurement, the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax base, clinical trials for
pharmaceuticals and package travel.
- lists areas for further action for 2013-14 to simplify existing
legislation through amendments and consolidation of existing EU law (e.g. in the
areas of information and consultation of workers, business statistics, company
law, introduction of a standard VAT declaration, zoo-technical measures and
trade regulations) and by following up on evaluation recommendations:
a major outcome of the screening exercise was the identification of
areas that need assessment to better identify regulatory burden relief so as to
meet EU policy goals at least cost and best achieve the benefits of EU
regulation.
Up to the end of 2014, the Commission will have carried-out or launched
47 evaluations, Fitness Checks or other reports with a view to reducing
regulatory burden.
A particular effort is made in the areas of environment, enterprise and
industry and employment.This includes new Fitness Checks in the fields of
chemicals not covered by REACH, NATURA 2000, type approval of motor vehicles,
waste, and the general food law.
Evaluations with a focus on regulatory fitness have notably been
programmed on health and safety at work, the temporary agency workers Directive,
on assessment and management of environmental noise, remedies in public
procurement and excise duty arrangements.
The Commission is also starting to plan evaluation of the coherence of
the new range of EU regulation in the Financial Services sector.
- identifies those areas where the Commission considers to withdraw
pending proposals and repeal existing EU law.
Broadly speaking one can distinguish the following cases:
) areas where the Commission continues to work assessing the issues but
where the Commission has decided not to table proposals:This includes
legislation in the area of occupational safety and health for hairdressers
pending on on-going evaluations, muscular skeletal disorders and screen displays
and environmental tobacco smoke.
2) legislation that is no longer needed in light of developments and
where the Commission plans to propose their repeal.
10 proposals to repeal legislation are planned, for example legislation
on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles, the
supply of crude oil and petroleum products, the classification, packaging and
labelling of dangerous preparations, steel statistics.
3) Proposals that have stalled in the co-decision procedure and where
there is little realistic chance of progress.
Therefore the Commission will consider to withdraw proposals identified
in this category including the soil directive and a directive simplifying VAT
obligations, a proposal on the statute of a European private company, the
regulation on statistics on steel and the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods
vehicles.
- outlines new horizontal actions to make EU law fit for purpose.
The Commission would for example identify the administrative
obligations stemming from EU law and its national implementation and review it
regularly to identify possibilities for reduction.
Best practice exchange among Member States will be facilitated to keep
national implementation of EU law as light as possible.
The Commission will also undertake dedicated actions to facilitate the
implementation of new obligations, particularly in areas of specific concern to
SMEs.The Commission will also identify all REFIT legislative initiatives
including withdrawals, repeals and consolidations in its annual work programme.
Business, including SMEs, and all other interested parties will be in a
position to suggest areas in which they see potential for Fitness Checks.
- announces the annual publication of a REFIT scoreboard to track
progress at European and national level and facilitate dialogue on regulatory
fitness with citizens, Member States, business and civil society at large.
Next steps
In order to be successful in implementing the commitment to smart
regulation, the European Parliament and the Council need to show a similar level
of ambition so that the proposed measures to simplify and reduce regulatory
burden can be adopted swiftly.
The Commission will make every effort with the other institutions to
ensure this.
It will also continue to cooperate closely with Member States and
stakeholders to collect views and suggestions on regulatory fitness that can be
addressed within the REFIT programme and to further improve its effectiveness.
The background:
On 11 September in his State of the Union address, President Barroso
said the following:
"I value subsidiarity highly.
For me, subsidiarity is not a technical concept. It is a fundamental
democratic principle.
An ever closer union among the citizens of Europe demands that
decisions are taken as openly as possible and as closely to the people as
possible.
Not everything needs a solution at European level.
Europe must focus on where it can add most value.
Where this is not the case, it should not meddle.
The EU needs to be big on big things and smaller on smaller things - something
we may occasionally have neglected in the past.
The EU needs to show it has the capacity to set both positive and
negative priorities.
As all governments, we need to take extra care of the quality and
quantity of our regulation knowing that, as Montesquieu said, 'les lois inutiles
affaiblissent les lois nécessaires'.['Useless laws weaken the necessary ones'.]
But there are areas of major importance where Europe must have more
integration, more unity.
Where only a strong Europe can deliver results."
Regulating at EU level adds value in areas such as competition, trade
and the internal market to build a level playing field that creates
opportunities for business and consumers.
It also protects the health, safety and rights of citizens.
EU legislation creates a common framework by replacing or aligning
twenty eight different national laws. It allows the EU Member States to work
together to deal with problems that do not respect national borders.
Smart regulation is a continuous process, not a one off operation.
nsuring that EU legislation is 'fit for purpose' is essential for
putting Europe back on track towards more growth and jobs.
Therefore, the Commission initiated a Regulatory Fitness and
Performance Programme (REFIT) in December 2012.
REFIT is the expression of the Commission's commitment to a simple,
clear, stable and predictable regulatory framework for businesses, workers and
citizens. It will benefit citizens and businesses alike, provided that also the
other institutions and Member States show a similar level of ambition.
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