'Better Regulation': A Bureaucratic Simplification with a Political Agenda

This Working Paper aims to shed light on the machinations behind recent developments regarding the Better Regulation agenda. How should we interpret the Commission’s insistence on relentlessly attacking its own legislation? Why does it constantly refer to the costs, yet never once mention the benefits? Eric van de Abeele, who has already written several publications on the subject, has taken an in-depth look at seven key components of the Better Regulation agenda with a view to unveiling the Commission’s real intentions.