The European Commission has extended to 12 weeks the period given to citizens, businesses and non-governmental organisations to comment on plans for new policies and legislation. In addition, the Commission has also introduced an alert service for upcoming initiatives.

The European Commission has extended the consultation period in public consultations from 8 to 12 weeks. With this measure, it is expected that citizens, businesses and non-governmental organisations contribute earlier to the policy-making process. José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, highlights has a key part listening the people who will be affected by EU policies.

Furthermore, the Commission has also introduced an alert service for upcoming initiatives. Organisations that sign up for the Transparency Register, can subscribe to this alert service to get early information on the roadmaps for new initiatives in their fields of interest about one year before there adoption.

The Commission hopes to increase the participation in its consultations, especially from those groups who up until now have been underrepresented. According to the European Ombudsman, who recently expressed its opinion on this topic, the Commission should publish public consultations in all EU languages. For example, SME federations will now have more time to organise themselves and consult their members on how a new policy proposal may impact small businesses.