Government must prepare all sectorial bills in accordance with new simplification requirements by the second quarter of 2018.

By Paul Davies and Michael Green*

The French Prime Minister has further emphasised the importance of France’s new regulation simplification policy in an Administrative Circular Letter of January 12, 2018.

Citing the fact that the administrative burden weighing on businesses represents an annual €60 billion, or 3% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) alone, the Prime Minister directed that each central administration director (directeur d’administration centrale) draft simplification plans at the level of each ministerial department before the end of Q1 2018. From Q2 2018 onwards, the French government will have to prepare all sectorial bills in accordance with these simplification requirements. The newly created Inter-ministerial Directorate for the Transformation of the Public Sector will review all sectorial bills in close coordination with the General Secretariat of the Government (SGG).