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Better Regulation: Impact Assessments, Evaluations, and Related Tools
Regulatory Impact Assessments
This course provides an introduction to Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs). The course combines an overview of the analytical foundations of ex ante impact assessment with a broader discussion of Better Regulation and IA systems, drawing on recent developments in the European Union and comparative international experience.
This course provides a structured introduction to Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs), with a focus on both how impact assessments are conducted and how effective IA systems are designed and governed in practice.
The course combines an overview of the analytical foundations of ex ante impact assessment with a broader discussion of Better Regulation and IA systems, drawing on recent developments in the European Union and comparative international experience.
Participants will first be introduced to the principles, standards and key analytical steps of Impact Assessment, including problem definition, objective setting, policy option development and impact analysis. The course presents the main analytical methods used in IAs, such as cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis and multi-criteria analysis, and discusses how to apply them proportionately and realistically in different policy contexts.
Building on this foundation, the course then shifts from individual assessments to the functioning of IA systems as a whole. It examines recent developments in the EU Better Regulation agenda, including sustainability and SDG integration, competitiveness and SME considerations, proportionality, simplification and administrative burden reduction. Using the EU as a reference point, the course explores what makes IA systems effective in practice, including their embedding in the policy cycle, quality control arrangements, institutional capacity, incentives, monitoring and learning.
Special attention is given to governance choices and the role of external expertise, including how governments and consultants can work together effectively without undermining policy ownership or long-term capacity.
By taking this course, you will learn:
- How to manage an ex ante Impact Assessment across the policy cycle, from early problem definition to decision-making, including stakeholder engagement;
- The core analytical steps of an IA, from problem analysis and policy option development to impact analysis and links with monitoring and evaluation;
- How to select and apply appropriate analytical methods and tools, including when qualitative or quantitative approaches are fit for purpose;
- How to apply proportionality in practice, balancing analytical ambition with policy relevance, time constraints, and available capacity;
- How quality, transparency, and governance are ensured in the EU IA system, and what lessons can be drawn for other administrative contexts;
- How to identify the key design choices, enablers, and constraints in IA systems, including governance arrangements, capacity building, and the role of external expertise.
The course combines presentations, discussion and practical exercises, and is designed for public officials involved in policy design or regulatory reform, as well as consultants advising governments on impact assessment and Better Regulation.
This course is led by experts who have decades of research and practical experience in IAs in the EU context and beyond.
The course delivery combines interactive presentations showcasing practical examples and group exercises.
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Evaluate the pros and cons of different IA methodologies and tools, and select the ones most relevant to your case.
- Build a methodological checklist to help the development of an IA from concept till submission to decision makers.
- Commission and manage meaningful IAs and ensure the proper dissemination of results.
- Better integrate IAs into the policy and programming cycle so it is used in practice.
- Recognise and identify what makes a good quality IA.
You will be given the slides as well as additional learning material and online resources to help you apply your new knowledge and skills to your work.
Senior executives, policy consultants, and policy analysts, as well as legal advisors and legislative drafters working in government or parliamentary institutions in EU Member States or other countries that aim to incorporate evidence into the decision-making process, may find this relevant. Such institutions include:
- Ministries and legislative committees
- Better regulation committees
- Centres for research and analysis
- Agencies focused on reducing administrative burdens
- Budget offices
Additionally, Public Sector consultants, Economists, and Economic Advisors may also benefit from this.
Project number: 2620302
Online Course
For this online course we make use of Zoom
Senior Project Officer
Ms Nancy Vermeulen
Tel: +31 43 32 96 212
n.vermeulen@eipa.eu
Discounts
EIPA member fee
EIPA offers a discount to all civil servants working for one of EIPA’s supporting countries, and civil servants working for an EU institution, body or agency
Who are the supporting countries?
Civil servants coming from the following EIPA supporting countries are entitled to get the reduced fee: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden.
For all other participants, the regular fee applies
Early bird discount
EIPA offers 10% off on registrations made eight weeks or more before the start of a course. The early bird discount is not cumulative with other discounts or promo codes, except for the EIPA member fee.
Loyalty coupon
As a token of appreciation we offer all our participants a loyalty coupon for one of our future courses. The offer can be shared with colleagues and relevant networks. The coupon will expire one year after its release. This discount is not cumulative with other discounts, except for the EIPA member fee.
Confirmation
Confirmation of registration will be forwarded to participants on receipt of the completed online registration form.
Payment
Prior payment is a condition for participation.
Cancellation policy
For administrative reasons you will be charged € 50 for cancellations received within 7 days before the activity begins. There is no charge for qualified substitute participants.
EIPA reserves the right to cancel the activity up to 1 week before the starting date. In that case, registration fees received will be fully reimbursed.
This course on Regulatory Impact Assessments is one of the courses we are offering in the area of Better Regulation.
Are you also interested in taking a different course in the area of better Regulation, please click below:
Strategic Foresight in Policy-Making: From Anticipating Surprise to Robust Strategy
A few days before the start of the course you will receive the log-in details for accessing the course materials. You can log in here.
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Programme
| 08.45 | Opening of the platform and registration of participants |
| 09.00 | Welcome and introduction to the course Presentation of the lecturer and seminar objectives Wim Marneffe, Impact Assessment Expert, Full Professor at Hasselt University (BE) |
| Regulatory ex ante impact assessment (part I) | |
| 09.15 | Why do we need ex ante Impact Assessments? An overview In this session, we set the groundwork for the rest of the course. We explore what has proven effective and identify the challenges that still remain. As a starting point, we delve into the importance of Impact Assessments. We trace the evolution from environmental and social Impact Assessments to integrated ones and, currently, Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs). Additionally, we examine the shortcomings that RIAs aim to address by discussing market and regulatory failures. |
| 10.00 | Coffee break |
| 10.15 | Ex ante impact assessments in the European Union During this session, we engage in a discussion about why Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs) have become a crucial tool for EU policy development and how to actively participate in the process. We closely examine the steps the European Commission follows in developing Impact Assessments (IAs), referring to the Better Regulation Guidelines and Toolbox. This includes covering the essential analytical steps of an IA, such as defining the problem, establishing policy objectives, formulating policy options, and evaluating their impacts.Furthermore, we explore how the European Commission ensures transparency through stakeholder consultations. We delve into expert perceptions of IAs and investigate citizen engagement in the process. We examine the lessons learned from public feedback on specific IAs and the overall IA procedure. Additionally, we present how the European Commission has applied and interpreted the Guidelines over the past years and follow up on the Impact Assessment file(s) discussed in the Regulatory Ex-Post Evaluation course. |
| 12.00 | Group exercise The exercise is followed by a debriefing that establishes the framework for the following sessions |
| 12.30 | Lunch break |
| Regulatory ex ante impact assessment (part II) | |
| 13.30 | Methods used in Impact Assessment (I) In this session, we introduce the various methods used in the analysis of impacts. We cover several market methods (cost–benefit analysis (CBA), cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), multi-criteria analysis (MCA), standard cost model (SCM)). |
| 15.00 | Coffee break |
| 15.15 | Methods used in Impact Assessment (II) We explore non-market methods such as stated and revealed preference, as well as counterfactual analysis. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of sensitivity analysis and discuss data collection methods for IAs. |
| 16.15 | Group Exercise |
| 16.45 | Discussion and wrap up |
| 17.15 | End of Day 1 |
| Regulatory ex ante impact assessment (part III) | |
| 09.00 | What is new in EU Better Regulation? This session outlines key developments in the EU Better Regulation agenda over recent years and their implications for Impact Assessment (IA). |
| 09.45 | What makes a good IA system This session builds on ten building blocks of good regulation and simplification and translates them into concrete design choices for effective Impact Assessment (IA) systems. |
| 10.45 | Coffee Break |
| 11.00 | Quality control, simplification and governance – comparative perspective This session examines different approaches to quality control and governance in Impact Assessment (IA) systems, using the EU experience as a reference point. It covers:
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| 11.30 | Monitoring, learning and system sustainability This session looks at how monitoring and ex post evaluation contribute to the long-term functioning of Impact Assessment (IA) systems. It discusses:
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| 11:.45 | The role of consultants in IA systems This session examines how external expertise can be integrated strategically into Impact Assessment (IA) systems. It focuses on:
The session addresses these issues from both perspectives: public administrations designing IA systems and consultants advising governments on better regulation reforms. |
| 12.10 | Group Exercise |
| 13.00 | End of the course |