(1)

The Treaty of Lisbon modified the legal framework governing the powers conferred on the Commission by the legislator, introducing a distinction between powers delegated to the Commission to adopt non-legislative acts of general application to supplement or amend certain non-essential elements of a legislative act (delegated acts) and powers conferred on the Commission to adopt acts to ensure uniform conditions for implementing legally binding Union acts (implementing acts).

(2)

Legislative acts adopted before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon confer powers on the Commission to adopt measures under the regulatory procedure with scrutiny established by Article 5a of Council Decision 1999/468/EC (2).

(3)

Earlier proposals relating to the alignment of legislation referring to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny with the legal framework introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon were withdrawn (3) due to the stagnation of the interinstitutional negotiations.

(4)

The European Parliament, the Council and the Commission subsequently agreed on a new framework for delegated acts in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making (4), and acknowledged the need to align all existing legislation to the legal framework introduced by the Treaty of Lisbon. In particular, they agreed on the need to give high priority to the prompt alignment of all basic acts which still refer to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. The Commission gave a commitment to prepare a proposal for that alignment by the end of 2016.

(5)

The empowerment for the Commission to amend the standard forms set out in the Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 805/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5) provides for the use of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. As that empowerment fulfils the criteria under Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), it should be adapted to that provision.

(6)

In order to update Regulation (EC) No 805/2004, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission so that it can amend the Annexes to that Regulation in order to update the standard forms. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts.

(7)

This Regulation should not affect pending procedures in which the committee has already delivered its opinion in accordance with Article 5a of Decision 1999/468/EC before the entry into force of this Regulation.

(8)

In accordance with Article 3 and Article 4a(1) of Protocol No 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and to the TFEU, Ireland has notified its wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Regulation.

(9)

In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the TEU and to the TFEU, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Regulation and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(10)

Regulation (EC) No 805/2004 should therefore be amended accordingly,