The European Commission has strengthened its requirements for impact assessment and evaluation over the years. In 2002, it introduced a requirement for impact assessments for new policy proposals and regulations. Such impact assessments had to define the need for European Union action and analyse a variety of options for action. In 2006, it established an Impact Assessment Board, made up of senior managers from across Commission directorates-general. The Board members worked part-time on the Board and did not sit in judgement on proposals from their own directorate-general.
