Europe

United States-European Union High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum

The EC-U.S. High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum (“the Forum”) provides a setting for senior officials from all areas of the government to come together to discuss regulatory policy matters of mutual interest. The Forum aims to improve the quality of regulation on both sides, through sharing regulatory best practices such as risk and impact assessments, and techniques related to reducing the costs to business and consumers that arise from unnecessary differences in regulatory requirements.

The Forum also identifies opportunities for cooperation on specific sectoral issues. The dialogue helps bridge gaps where responsibilities in the two administrations do not correspond exactly, and allows for early engagement on new emerging regulatory issues. The Forum engages with stakeholders in public sessions which form part of its regular meetings. As well as informing business and consumers about the results of Forum work, these sessions provide a platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions with officials from both sides on topics selected by the stakeholders.

The work of the Forum contributes to achieving the objectives of high-level political bodies such as the Transatlantic Economic Council and the Energy Council. The Forum is co-chaired by the Director-General of the Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry and the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget.

• Review of the Application of EU and U.S. Regulatory Impact Assessment Guidelines on the Analysis of Impacts on International Trade and Investment, Final Report and Conclusions (May 2008) (31 pages, 238 kb)
  • Draft Report
  • Public Comments
     
• Meeting Reports
  • June 2011 (Brussels)
  • December 2010 (Washington)
  • June 2010 (Brussels)
  • October 2009 (Washington) (report not available)
  • July 2009 (Brussels)
  • October 2008 (Washington)
  • April 2008 (Brussels)
  • November 2007 (Washington) (report not available)
  • January 2006 (Brussels) (report not available)
  • September 2005 (Washington) (report not available)

Related Documents and Statements

• U.S. and EU Joint Solicitation for Public Input and the docket with comments (September 2012)
• Building Bridges Between the U.S. and EU Standards Systems (November 2011)
• Common Understanding on Regulatory Principles and Best Practices (June 2011)
• Department of Commerce Federal Register Notice
  "Request for Public Comments Concerning Regulatory Cooperation Between the United States and the European Union That Would Help Eliminate or Reduce Unnecessary Divergences in Regulations and in Standards Used in Regulation That Impede U.S. Exports" (May 3, 2011)
• U.S.-EU HLRCF Joint Statement on the Use of Voluntary Standards in Regulation (2010)
• Joint Report of the Roadmap for EU-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation (April 2007)
• Joint Report of the Roadmap for EU-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation (June 2006)
• Best Cooperative Practices (June 2006)
• Roadmap for EU-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency (June 2005)
• Roadmap for EU-U.S. Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency (June 2004)
• Guidelines on Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency (April 2002)

OIRA welcomes your thoughts, ideas, and suggestions on international regulatory cooperation and our activities with key trading partners and multilateral efforts. Please send your comments to international-oira@omb.eop.gov.  To find regulations that OIRA is currently reviewing that are expected to have international trade and investment effects, please go to OIRA’s Regulatory Review Dashboard on www.RegInfo.gov.