DOI 10.1515/wpsr-2013-0011 World Political Science Review 2013; 9(1): 263–290 Erica Melloni* Ten Years of European Impact Assessment: How It Works, for What and for Whom Abstract: European Impact Assessment (IA) has been in place for the last 10 years. By and large, this is deemed best practice within the context of the various endeavours in the direction of “Better Regulation” which have burgeoned in the last few years or so internationally. IA is based on common guidelines for all Commission services; the sharing of methodologies for impact analysis of the proposals; various forms of cooperation among General Directorates. In this article it is argued that IA has served to enhance the coordination role of the Secretariat-General and a more integrated decision-making process within Direc- torates. These outcomes have been favoured by a set of mechanisms triggered by the design of the procedure. Keywords: impact assessment; better regulation; European Commission; evalu- ation; mechanisms. *Corresponding author: Erica Melloni, Istituto per la Ricerca Sociale, Italy, e-mail: emelloni@irsonline.it 1 Introduction Impact Assessment (IA) is both a European policy, developed in the ambit of the better regulation strategy, and a procedure for the ex ante evaluation of the possi- ble economic, social and environmental consequences of European Commission proposals before they are submitted for the approval of the other European insti- tutions concerned. The procedure is based on a common work format, shared methodologies for analysis and evaluation of expected impacts, and cooperation among the Commission’s services in examining and discussing the feasible alter- natives, as well as consultation with the experts and stakeholders. Introduced in 2002, on various occasions assessed and enhanced, IA is nowadays deemed best practice within the context of the various endeavours in the direction of better regulation which have flourished in the last few years or so internationally. Nevertheless, assessment of IA as a best practice must be comprehensive; it depends by and large on closer reflection on the goals, explicit and implicit, involved in the IA policy, and on the actual results achieved. Brought to you by | New York University Authenticated Download Date | 4/22/17 7:42 PM