Every year, the European Commission adopts a plan of action covering the next twelve months.
On the 27th of October, the European Commission adopted its 2016 Work Programme.
The 2016 Commission Work Programme presents a list of 23 key initiatives across 10 political priorities, 20 intended withdrawals or modifications of pending proposals and 40 REFIT actions to review the quality of existing EU legislation.
The new initiatives which the Commission will deliver in 2016 are mostly related to economic growth, migration and security, and now new actions are foreseen in the public health domain.
Although, some of the health-related legislation appeared on the REFIT programme. REFIT is the European Commission's Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme. Its objective is to review the existing stock of EU legislation to ensure it remains fit for purpose and delivers the results intended.
This year 13 REFIT actions directly relate to the key initiatives, such as:
- Facilitating compliance with the REACH framework (Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals).
- Making sure Occupational health and safety legislation is workable and enforced. Also it is an opportunity to raise awareness and possibly include second-hand smoke exposure at the work places into the revised legislation.
- Revising Tobacco excise duty Directive (Council Directive No 2011/64/EU).