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<p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to attach
high priority to the reduction of unnecessary EU bureaucracy. We have called on the
European Commission to step up its efforts in this area, and we therefore welcome
the fact that the Commission has created the new post of First Vice-President (Frans
Timmermans) with specific responsibility for Better Regulation across the entire Commission.</p><p>
</p><p>We succeeded in securing agreement on very positive Conclusions at the 4 December
EU Competitiveness Council, which call on the EU institutions to enhance efforts to
reduce the overall regulatory burden, and call on the Commission to develop and put
in place reduction targets in particularly burdensome areas, especially for SMEs.</p><p>
</p><p>In addition, as I reported in my Written Ministerial Statement of 6 November
(Column 51WS), since October 2013, 10 out of the 30 recommendations of the Business
Taskforce report, “Cut EU red tape”, have been achieved, saving businesses over £200
million, as highlighted in the Taskforce’s progress report published last month at:</p><p>
</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cut-eu-red-tape-business-taskforce-report-one-year-on"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cut-eu-red-tape-business-taskforce-report-one-year-on</a></p><p>
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