Public consultation on European Commission's Impact Assessment guidelines

Date: 5th August 2014
Category: Child rights impact assessments

The European Commission is revising its Impact Assessment guidelines and is seeking stakeholders' views on the draft revised guidelines, to continue its strengthening and improvement.

Before the European Commission proposes a new initiative, it evaluates the potential economic, social and environmental consequences. An Impact Assessment gives decision-makers evidence regarding the need for EU action and the advantages and disadvantages of alternative policy choices. It may also find that no action should be taken at EU level.

The Commission's Impact Assessment system has undergone continuous revision since it was set up in 2002, with the publication of guidelines in 2009 and complementary guidance on various categories of impacts (e.g. competitiveness and micro-enterprises, fundamental rights, social and territorial impacts) since then.

Building on experience gained, the Commission has committed to revise its Impact Assessment guidelines in 2014. These guidelines are intended for internal use in the Commission, but the objective of this consultation is to seek stakeholders' views on the draft revised guidelines.

• Find out more about the European Commission Impact Assessment process here.

These guidelines are intended for internal use in the Commission, but the objective of this consultation is to seek stakeholders' views on the draft revised guidelines.

This consultation will be open until 30th September 2014.

• The questionnaire can be accessed here.
• The accompanying consultation document can be accessed here.

More details on how to submit to this consultation can be found here.

Together will be responding to the consultation to highlight the importance of considering the impact of policy choices on children's rights as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Together is currently part of a Child Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) working group convened by the Scottish Government. This assessment will seek to further the duties in Part 1 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014.