Brussels, 26/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - The list of pending proposals (almost 70) that the Commission is seeking to withdraw from the inter-institutional circuit, expected for adoption by the College of Commissioners next Tuesday in Strasbourg “is far from exhaustive and should not be viewed as the ultimate solution to the better regulation process”, according to a press statement by the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME). This contribution was made as part of the polemic on the Commission initiative is just kicking off (EUROPE 9033 and 9034). Hans-Werner Müller, UEAPME Secretary General explained that “This list of laws for withdrawal must not be regarded as a panacea for the better regulation agenda. For one thing it is fairly limited - most of the texts mentioned are anachronisms that would have been shelved anyway. More importantly, better regulation must not merely be about withdrawal of outdated texts but must be a more comprehensive process, aiming to improve both laws in the pipeline and in force.” The UEAPME considers that the decision to revise the proposals on temporary workers and optical radiation is “particularly welcome”. It is also calling on the Commission to forge ahead with its screening process and expand it to cover all legislation currently in the pipeline, citing REACH (chemical products) and the Services Directive as particular examples that should be revisited. It explains that this initial screening process and the legislative clean-up list represents an important concrete step by the Commission, demonstrating its commitment to better regulation, it must be viewed as a first step in a much wider and ambitious process that includes the massive enterprise of simplifying current legislation (as promised by the Commission). The UEAPME insists that “this will mean not just focusing on the legislative simplification but on the overall realm of bureaucracy and excessive red tape” and that “Better regulation does not mean no more regulation however. Clearly there is a need for new legislation in some areas, such as environmental protection.