Better Regulation and e-Government
Reducing the administrative burdens on businesses
Better regulation of businesses is a focal point for the Danish Government. The government has committed itself to reducing the administrative burdens on businesses with up to 25 percent by 2010. This goal is pursued by ensuring that Danish businesses are subject to the best possible regulatory environment.
The Danish Commerce and Companies Agency (DCCA) is responsible for measuring the administrative burdens of all existing business regulation. The measurements are carried out using the Standard Cost Model AMVAB, and they cover administrative burdens stemming from national as well as international requirements. The results are used by the individual ministries to identify areas for simplification and contribute to the 25 percent reduction target.
The efforts to simplify existing business regulation are supplemented by efforts towards ensuring the quality of new regulation. Thus, the impact of all draft business regulation is carefully assessed before drafts are submitted to the Danish Parliament. The DCCA is responsible for carrying out impact assessments, which are conducted using the Standard Cost Model. The results are used to evaluate whether draft regulation can be improved, in order to lower the burdens on businesses.
In addition to the national efforts towards reducing the administrative burdens on businesses, the DCCA pursues corresponding objectives internationally and in particular with respect to the European Union (EU). In this regard, the DCCA promotes impact assessments of draft EU-legislation and simplification of existing EU-legislation. This work primarily takes place in the ECOFIN and Competitiveness Council of the EU.
The DCCA also have a coordinating role in the work to promote digital services for business. The aim of this effort is to give businesses fewer and more simple points of contact to the public sector. The use of information and communications technology have made “cross authority” platforms possible.
Virk.dk
[Virke: to perform or function] [Virksomhed: an enterprise or Business]
Virk.dk is a business internet portal monitored by the public sector in Denmark. Center for Virk.dk manages and controls the portal and handles communication with the parties interested in the portal, such as companies and both local and national authorities.
The overall objective of Virk.dk is to relieve Danish companies from administrative burdens and to provide a single entrance to the public sector. This is obtained by making it easier for companies to find business forms and applications to the public sector and information from the public sector.
By delivering a number of fully digital solutions companies will be relieved from administrative burdens. You can find every business related form from any given authority in Denmark at Virk.dk. By using a digital signature companies can gain direct access to a number of specified services and online administrative systems. Furthermore, you can find other business relevant information from the Danish authorities at Virk.dk.
The purpose of Virk.dk is to meet the needs of companies and ease communication with local and national authorities.
Report on statutory audit for small companies
The Danish report on statutory audit for small companies recommends a phased abolition of the statutory audit.
The report concludes that the statutory audit of small companies does not seem to correspond to the costs of DKK 1.7 billion imposed on the small companies.
Digital Administration Tool
Digitalization is a method to improve services, to simplify the legislation and to reduce administrative burdens. This way, digitalization is an effective tool which contributes to reaching the 25 pct reduction target set at EU-level. The Danish Digital Administration Tool is developed as an add-on programme to Word and screens every new legislative proposal to ensure that it does not contain barriers for businesses to carry out required reporting digitally. Furthermore, the tool provides the user with information about digital possibilities and best practice examples. A report about the tool is now avaiblable in English.
