Europe Tries To Avoid Cumbersome Laws With New Initiative

This week could be the beginning of a more streamlined, responsible European Union, as the bloc's policy makers are set to discuss a new "Better Regulation" initiative.

In an effort to cut down on unnecessary regulation, the European Commission is set to unveil a new proposal aimed at preventing redundant or extraneous new laws from being approved.

Better Regulation Package

Dutch commissioner Frans Timmermans is heading up the proposal and is expected to lead the commission's efforts going forward.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Timmermans' "Better Regulation Package" is centered on the idea that every new piece of legislation should be reviewed with an "impact assessment" that will determine how the law could affect the bloc.

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The proposal is also expected to overhaul some of the region's current laws, as well as making negotiations between lawmakers more transparent.

Could Make The EU More Appealing

Many see the Better Regulation Package as a good bargaining chip for the EU when it comes to negotiating Great Britain's membership in the coming months.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to renegotiate the UK's membership within the EU before 2017, and this new proposal may help persuade Cameron that the region's politics are improving.

UK Critical Of EU Laws

Cameron has long criticized EU leaders for supporting laws that don't benefit the region as a whole. In 2013, he lashed out at the bloc for a draft law prohibiting restaurants from serving olive oil in open jugs.

However, Timmermans says the Better Regulation Package will help keep legislation like that from seeing the light of day. Still, Timmermans' reach is only so far and many believe that reform must happen within Parliament and the European Council where unnecessary laws are drawn up.

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