Common commencement dates (France)

As already reported here, common commencement dates were due to be implemented in France. Now a circular dated 23 May has applied the concept. The move aims to deliver on the goal to lower administrative burdens, by delaying the entry into force of new rules concerning business for at least two months, with enforcement starting on either 1 Jan or 1 July. Exceptions are provided for compliance with new EU rules, and for immediate effect of beneficial simplification measures. Changes in regulations will also be better publicized online (Legifrance). This reform complements measures announced in circular dated 17 February. This text had re-introduced the obligation to do a screening of all new business related legislation in a "prior evaluation" (évaluation préalable), which is very similar to an impact assessment. Experts may look at the annexes that give a detailed template of the prior evaluation, which is also called "detailed impact analysis." These reports are to be quality checked by the Commissioner for Simplification. With minor changes, the scheme applies also to draft legislation concerning local government, where a special regime aims to avoid new, unfunded regulatory costs.
You may note, en passant, the new site where all non-legally binding internal administrative instructions (circulaires) are now published.
Earlier in April, and in the wake of the Simplification Sittings, the Governement issued a communication on its simplification policy.