EUROPEAN AGENCIES - THE WAY FORWARD

There are two types of EU agencies regulatory and executive. The Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council dated March 11, 2008 states that the time has come to re-launch a debate on the role of agencies and their place in the institutional landscape of the European Union. It is considered that a consistent and coordinated vision and uniform handling of the approach to agencies would promote significant improvements in functioning of the Union. A common framework, advocated by the Commission, should include their tasks, structure and functioning, accountability and regulatory agencies' relationship with the other institutions, better regulation and functioning of agencies, the process of establishing and ending regulatory agencies, and their communication strategy. The Commission proposes the steps that should lead to a new agreement on common approach to and framework for regulatory agencies.