The review is based on interviews and written material, and it is carried out in all of the fifteen so-called original member states of the EU. The objective of the review is to assess the quality of legislative work and its development in the member states as well as to identify any possible weaknesses in this respect. The purpose is to find out how the common principles concerning law drafting, accepted by the member states, have been implemented in Finland and in the other member states. The OECD reviewers visited Finland between 27 and 31 October 2008, and the report concerning Finland was published in April 2010. In addition to conclusions, the assessment report also includes recommendations, which makes it a good starting point for discussing the future of law drafting in Finland. It is estimated that the reports of all the fifteen member states will be completed by the end of 2010.

Law drafting and Better Regulation are developed both in the OECD and in the EU. However, member states play a central role in developing Better Regulation at the national level. In the report on Finland, development of better regulation and ensuring the high quality of law drafting are assessed across the following dimensions. Recommendations pertaining to each of these dimensions have also been presented.

• Strategy and policies for Better Regulation
• Institutional capacities for Better Regulation
• Transparency through consultation and communication
• The development of new regulations
• The management and rationalisation of existing regulations
• Compliance, enforcement and appeals
• The interface between the member countries and the European Commission
• The interface between sub-national and national levels of government

The implementation of the recommendations is evaluated in the Better Regulation Consultative Committee.

Further information:

"Better Regulation in Europe: Finland" 2010, the OECD report [www.oecd.org]

Press release on the subject by the Ministry of Justice in Finland, 28.4.2010 (in Finnish)