Making EU legislation more accessable - William Robinson

Making EU legislation more accessibleWilliam Robinson, Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, London

Lisbon , 13 October 2010

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Calls for accessible EU law

European Council, Birmingham, 1992:“We want Community legislation to be clearer and

simpler”

Intergovernmental Conference, Amsterdam, 1997:“the quality of drafting of Community legislation is

crucial if it is to be properly implemented by the competent national authorities and better understood by the public and in business circles”

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What has already been done?

Agreement on quality of drafting, 1998Guideline 1: “acts shall be drafted clearly, simply and

precisely”

Joint Practical Guide, 2000

Agreement on better lawmaking, 2003

Clear Writing Campaign 2010

What’s so difficult?

23 official languagesAll equally authenticAutonomous concepts

27 Member StatesNegotiated lawLong, multi-level drafting process

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Why is it so important?

500 million EU citizens

Global impact

Volume of EU rules

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What can be done?

Package of measures:Specialist draftersTraining in legislative skillsComputersVetting body

Binding requirement that EU legislation be clear and accessible

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