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Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge for policy

Supporting policy with scientific evidence

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  • Publication | 2025

Modelling for EU policy support

Analysis of the use of models in European Commission’s Impact Assessments in 2019-2022

Modelling
Modelling for Policy Support Image

The Better Regulation Agenda sets a clear commitment to a transparent and sound use of evidence for all EU policy making activities. Models play an increasing role in supporting the policy formulation phase. A good understanding of these models is crucial to make this process transparent for everyone: policy makers, stakeholders, and citizens. This analysis focuses on the trends regarding the use and the role of simulation models in the ex-ante policy impact assessments carried out by the European Commission. In this study, we analyse a total of 118 impact assessments carried out from January 2019 to May 2022 and published in the Register of Commission Documents. We also examine how the European Parliament is using the corporate model inventory of the Commission, MIDAS, by analysing the appraisals of Commission’s impact assessments prepared by the European Parliamentary Research Service.