Regulatory Management Capacities of Member States of the European Union that Joined the Union on 1 May 2004: Sustaining Regulatory Management Improvements through a Better Regulation Policy

Enhancing the competitiveness of its economy through increased productivity growth is one of the main challenges recognised by the European Union in the original Lisbon strategy and the renewed Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs (adopted in 2000 and 2005 respectively). The improvement of the regulatory environment and regulatory processes at the level of the Institutions of the EU and its Member States is a key factor in creating a business environment conducive to productivity growth. This policy is known as "Better Regulation". This policy does not mean more regulation or less regulation but involves the putting in place of processes which ensure that all regulations are easy to understand, apply, comply with and are of high quality.