Out with obsolete, redundant and stalled legislation, in with employment, growth and stronger action on migration. Or is it an attempt to axe green regulation? MEPs debate.

Juncker unveils 'kill list'

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/11914887/n001-141216-001-en.srt

Jean-Claude Juncker's presentation  of his 2015 work programme

was as he wants  his new Commission to be,

minimalist and to the point.  Starting with the big lesson of 2014.

I had the impression,  during the election campaign,

that European citizens  wanted a new start in Europe.

Including, he declared, the fight  against tax evasion and the key priority.

The key priority, of which there is no doubt,

And a few minutes later,  over to his deputy to give the details.

Advancing the digital single market,  migration,

And, cuts to laws that are blocked, obsolete  or, in the Commission’s view, ineffective.

It is time to clear the decks so that time  and energy can be invested in the proposals

that will have the biggest impact  on jobs and growth

and which a good prospect  of being adopted in the near future.

In all 83 of 452 laws to be re-written,  changed or amended,

including an energy tax,  waste management and air quality.

They’re part of what’s coming to be known  as a “kill list”.

But we have been  through this exercise.

The implementation of  this Commission work programme is key.

My Group has priorities.  They known them inside out:

the reduction of unemployment,  especially among young people.

Conservatives outside the EPP  were broadly welcoming

so long as legislation  asks a crucial question.

Does it make it easier or harder  for European businesses to thrive?

This means regulating only  in strong and well-tested cases.

But some Liberals felt the 'kill list'  is nothing more than a free pass

If Member States know that  if they obstruct progress long enough,

it may be killed off,  what will they do? They'll impose barriers.

There was however scorn from the Greens  who watched air quality

and waste management  knocked off for now.

What of the new Commission’s  green credentials, they asked?

Those who followed us  during the last parliamentary term

know that in some areas we saw a dramatic  rollback in climate and energy policies

The issue is to be voted on in Parliament

during the first plenary session of 2015.

Juncker unveils 'kill list'

Info

Description