In response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on a future Communication on Better Regulation, SEAP submitted a position paper setting out its views on how the EU’s Better Regulation framework should evolve. The Communication is expected in the second quarter of 2026.
Better Regulation is a cornerstone of EU policymaking. It is intended to ensure that EU legislation is proportionate, transparent and grounded in sound evidence, while taking account of stakeholder views. In its Call for Evidence, the Commission acknowledged that current practices can be complex and resource-intensive, and that repeated consultations risk stakeholder fatigue. The consultation therefore explored how to reconcile evidence-based policymaking with urgent action, improve consultation practices and embed “simplicity by design” in EU legislation.
In its contribution, SEAP underlines that Better Regulation is not a procedural formality, but a safeguard for the quality, legitimacy and credibility of EU law-making. SEAP recognises the need for swift action in urgent situations, but stresses that speed should not come at the expense of impartial evidence, transparency or meaningful stakeholder engagement.
SEAP calls for proportionate and accelerated approaches in urgent cases, combining streamlined evidence requirements with transparency about evidence gaps and robust ex post evaluation. Impact assessments, even when simplified, should remain impartial and be made available before political decisions are finalised. SEAP also argues for clearer and more coherent consultation processes, with systematic feedback on how stakeholder input is used, in order to improve trust and reduce fatigue.
Finally, SEAP highlights that Better Regulation is a shared responsibility across EU institutions. Simpler and more implementable EU laws require disciplined choices of legal instruments, clearer separation between core policy decisions and technical detail, and stronger commitments by co-legislators to assess the impacts of substantial amendments.
SEAP’s contribution aims to support a Better Regulation framework that enables the EU to act decisively when needed, while remaining transparent, evidence-based and democratically accountable.
Download our position paper here.