Cutting administrative burdens in Europe is gathering speed thanks to the Action Programme put in place in 2007. In addition to the impressive progress at EU level, 17 Member States have now set national reduction targets (from - 20 to 30% by 2012) compared to only six countries a year ago.

How to further reduce administrative burden is the central topic of the European Commission conference on 'Cutting Red Tape for Europe', held on the 20th June in Brussels. Keynote speaker is Vice-President Günter Verheugen, who will present the initial results from the far-reaching measurement exercise which is assessing the administrative burden arising from EU legislation and its national transposition along with further information of the conference. The measurement covers 13 areas, including company law, environment, transport, food safety and pharmaceuticals representing a Europe-wide reduction potential of billions of Euro.

Among the speakers at the conference are also Edmund Stoiber, chairman of the High Level Group of independent stakeholders on Administrative Burdens, Slovenian Minister of Public Administration Gregor Virant and Member of the European Parliament Jan Mulder.

Also, the Directorate General of Enterprise and Industry have more information on the "Action Programme for reducing administrative burdens in the EU.