Interinstitutional Agreement on Recast: What It Means and How It Works
The Interinstitutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking is a series of agreements between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission. One of the key components of this agreement is the recasting of EU legislation. In this article, we’ll explore what recasting is, why it’s important, and how the interinstitutional agreement on recasting works.
What is Recasting?
Recasting is the process of consolidating and simplifying existing EU legislation. It involves amending, updating, and merging multiple directives and regulations into a single legal instrument. The goal of recasting is to make EU legislation clearer, more coherent, and easier to understand.
Why is Recasting Important?
Recasting is important for several reasons. First, it helps to ensure that EU legislation is up-to-date with the latest developments in various industries. It also helps to make EU legislation more accessible to businesses and citizens, as it eliminates redundant and inconsistent provisions.
Recasting also makes it easier for national governments to implement EU legislation, as it reduces the need for transposition and streamlines the process of integrating EU law into national law. Finally, recasting can help to minimize the administrative burden on EU institutions, as it reduces the need for frequent and complex amendments to existing legislation.
How Does the Interinstitutional Agreement on Recasting Work?
The interinstitutional agreement on recasting outlines the procedures and timelines for recasting EU legislation. It requires the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission to work together to ensure that recasting is carried out efficiently and effectively.
According to the agreement, before starting the recasting process, the European Commission must first perform a comprehensive evaluation of the legislation to be recast. This evaluation should take into account the effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence, and added value of the legislation.
Once the evaluation is complete, the European Commission should propose a draft of the recast legislation to the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. These institutions then have a specified period of time to examine and adopt the recast legislation.
During this process, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union may propose amendments to the draft legislation. If there is a disagreement between the two institutions, a conciliation procedure may be initiated to resolve the issue.
Overall, the interinstitutional agreement on recasting is an important tool for promoting better lawmaking and ensuring that EU legislation remains clear, coherent, and effective. By streamlining and simplifying existing legislation, recasting can help to maximize the benefits of EU law for all stakeholders.