New package for the business environment (France)

This week's Council of Ministers heard a report by the minister in charge on the package of 80 measures in favour of business. Most of them originate in the feedback received during the Assises de la Simplification on 29 April. The most innovative is the creation of an "electronic safe" where companies can store information often requested by administrations, to avoid multiple submission of the same data. Another ground-breaking initiative is the possibility for firms to get a legally binding position from the administration on a permit or authorization scheme, prior to taking a corporate decision. Statistical requirements are also being reduced. About three quarters of the measures have been implemented on schedule, 30 being subject to amendments of existing legislation (see bill adopted by the National Assembly, now in the Senate). A new package, stemming from a parliamentary report, will be presented on 6 December, when a second session of the Assizes will be held. The invitation to the press was published yesterday.