The European Union is set to slash red tape surrounding key EU legislation in an effort to become more business friendly.

Included on the red tape blacklist are proposals to introduce an EU-wide driving licence, waste recycling rules, chemicals regulation and imminent measures to ensure equality between men and women.

The move was announced in Brussels by Enterprise Commissioner Gunther Verheugen and involves 18 particular pieces of legislation.

"EU citizens view Brussels as some sort of bureaucratic monster... we know much of industry, particularly SMEs, feel under pressure from too much legislation... so for this Commission this is a number one priority," Mr Verheugen told a press conference.

The Commission is pledging to scrutinise the 900 pieces of EU legislation in the pipeline and to take measures to cut bureaucracy in regulations on plant protection products, medical devices, waste disposal, motor vehicles approval, VAT and company law.

The Commission said that as from next month, all new legislation must make the grade of revised business-friendly impact assessment guidelines.

It will also carry out pilot projects to reduce the administrative burden of reporting and information obligations under EU law.

The European Commission has made numerous pledges in the past to cut red tape and Mr Verhuegen said this time it was different. "I will make sure that hard EU legislation is only used when alternatives are not available," he said.

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