1. Making EU legislation
more accessible
William 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, 1998
Guideline 1: “acts shall be drafted clearly, simply
and precisely”
Joint Practical Guide, 2000
Agreement on better lawmaking, 2003
Clear Writing Campaign 2010

4. What’s so difficult?
23 official languages
All equally authentic
Autonomous concepts
27 Member States
Negotiated law
Long, multi-level drafting process
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5. Why is it so important?
500 million EU citizens
Global impact
Volume of EU rules
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7. 7
What can be done?
Package of measures:
Specialist drafters
Training in legislative skills
Computers
Vetting body
Binding requirement that EU legislation be clear
and accessible

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