Brussels, 08/10/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 9 October, the Ecofin Council is expected to adopt conclusions on the “better regulation” initiative, which sums up the progress made in terms of reducing administrative charges. In March 2007, the European Council set out a target of reducing the burden resulting from Community legislation by 25% by 2012. It also called on member states to say how they saw their own national objectives for 2008, using comparable targets in their areas of competency. The draft text will be submitted to finance ministers and encourages member states to comply with these commitments if they have not yet done so. It also calls on the Commission to produce proposals to reduce EU level administrative charges, without impinging on the general targets contained in the legislation and regulation, or on their acquis. It calls on the Commission to implement an impact analysis of administrative charge reduction, and pay attention to the needs of SMEs and start-ups. The Ecofin Council will examine the question of statistical charges in November and look at the progress accomplished in all areas of the “better regulation” programme at the beginning of 2008, in view of the spring European Council. (ab)