Measuring & Reducing administrative burdens in NL process and outcome Jeroen Nijland

Measuring & Reducing administrative burdens in NL process and outcome Jeroen Nijland Warsaw March 31st, 2008

Reduction of Adm. Burdens : why? • AB = element of regulatory cost • AB should be part of better regulation program • Because of the economic costs • Because of the economic benefits • AB should be part of better regulation program -25%

Where do we stand now?Net reduction of adm burden (ult. 2002 = 100) • Mid 2003: start Cabinet • Mid-2003: measuring • 2004/5: identifying simpliflications • Ongoing: implementation • Approx. 190 measures to reduce AB; • described in White Papers in 2004 and 2005 • Package agreed by Parliament

Governance structure : 3 elements Method Infrastructure Incentives

LAW Administrative actions Time Tariff Target group Frequency € 1…12 P Costs administrative actions Q Yearly amount administrative actions Administrative burdens = P x Q Ingredient 1: SCM Information obligations

From measurement to reduction-measures LAW  ? Information obligations Information obligations Administrative actions Administrative actions  ?  ? Time Tariff Target group Frequency P Costs administrative actions Q Yearly amount administrative actions Administrative burdens = P x Q

Ingredient 2 : Incentives Reduction targets: • Timing? • Height? • Individual? • Differentiated? • Annual?

Ingredient 3 : Infrastructure • Horizontal coordination within government • Watchdog • Dept. Satellites • Stakeholder-involvement 1 2 3 4

What are the key factors for succes ? • A method • Incentives • Ownership • Coordination • Stakeholder involvement • Project roadmapping • Project monitoring • Communication & management of expectations

Roadmapping & Milestones • Define the political window • Extract the lead time needed for • Change of regulation • Organisational measures (e.g. ‘One-Window’) • You will get the max. time available for measurement and identifying simplifications

Avoid problems: frontloading • Given the lead time you don’t want set backs just before the political window closes • You need to frontload, e.g. by: • Generic solutions • No regret solutions • Use input stakeholders • Harmonize • Think about introducing tresholds in legislation • You need to avoid set backs

Risk analysis Internal risks Planning? Budget? Capacity? External risks Monitoring Timely implementation What if? Who? Steering committee Political level External Auditing Periodicity Avoid setbacks: risk analysis & monitoring Overall : avoid the system being self-referential (validity)

Three ingredients • A political owner • Good projectmanagement Lessons learned 1) Explain what it doesn’t do 2) Ensure quality control Method 1) No targets, no efforts 2) Set individual targets 1) Balance between coordination and ownership 2) Involve outsiders/ stakeholders Incentives Infrastructure

Measuring & Reducing administrative burdens in NL process and outcome Jeroen Nijland