Agenda

 All session times reflect your computer's local time zone. They will be recorded and available on replay. 

Day 1 :

November 17, 2025
07:30
07:30 - 08:30
Registration & welcome coffee
08:30
08:30 - 08:40
Session 1: Opening remarks
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream
08:40 - 09:00
Session 2: OECD insights and data on regulatory burden reduction and simplification
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream
09:00
09:00 - 09:30
Coffee Break
09:30 - 10:45
Session 3: High-level panel: Simplifying for success: unlocking prosperity
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream The high-level panel will discuss the goals of current burden reduction and simplification agendas and how these articulate with other policy objectives, from fostering productivity and innovation to ensuring necessary protections to safeguard people and the environment from harm. Speakers will be invited to reflect on what is new today, and what has been learnt from decades of cutting red tape, and how do government approaches and tools need to evolve building on these lessons.
10:45
10:45 - 11:00
Transition Break
11:00
11:00 - 12:00
Session 4: Smarter environmental regulations to reduce burden on firms and accelerate progress in the protection of the environment
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream A sustainable future for people and the planet hinges on effective regulatory frameworks that protect the environment while encouraging productivity growth and enabling innovation. Overly complex or fragmented regulations can hinder the development and deployment of effective environmental solutions and delay green investments, for instance in renewable energies. On the other hand, excessive administrative or reporting requirements linked to environmental goals can stifle business activity. This session will explore ways to accelerate action for the protection of the environment through simple, smart and streamlined regulations.
11:00 - 12:00
Session 5: Building better, ensuring affordability and cutting red tape
Auditorium, English/French interpretation, livestream Construction projects may be subject to a variety of zoning laws, consultation and reporting obligations, or environmental impact assessments. At the same time, housing shortages have been identified as one of the core elements of current cost of living crises. The construction sector is also key to economic growth, but complex regulations can sometimes hinder practical solutions. This session will explore how governments can balance increasing demand with maintaining community engagement as well as safety and environmental standards.
12:00
12:00 - 13:45
Lunch Break
13:45
13:45 - 14:45
Session 6: Smart rules for smart tech
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation are transforming the way businesses operate, governments deliver services and people communicate, interact and learn, relentlessly creating new opportunities for progress and growth. Governments face the challenge of enabling progress, creating stability, as well as protecting from risks – some of which are yet unknown. This session will explore how governments can effectively design and implement agile regulatory frameworks that promote innovation while mitigating risks.
13:45 - 14:45
Session 7: Do you care to simplify? Facilitating access and quality of care services
Auditorium, English/French interpretation, livestream As life expectancy rises and fertility rates decline, many OECD countries are experiencing rapid population aging, with profound implications for long-term and elder care. However, complex and fragmented procedures can create barriers for access and also increase costs for public and private providers of care services. This session will explore how access to and quality of care services can be enhanced through simplified procedures.
14:45
14:45 - 15:15
Coffee Break
15:15
15:15 - 15:45
Session 8: Towards smart rules for stronger business – key takeaways from Environmental, Construction, Digital and Care Sectors
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream This session will synthesise the key insights from Sessions 4 to 7, which focused on regulatory challenges in the environmental, construction, digital, and care sectors. Panellists will highlight the main takeaways, identify common themes across sectors, and reflect on policy implications for reducing regulatory burdens while safeguarding public interests. The discussion will also consider cross-cutting lessons that can inform future reforms and support more effective, inclusive, and innovation-friendly regulatory frameworks.
15:45 - 16:30
Session 9: Launch of the OECD report “How to manage risks while incentivising growth: Best Practice Principles for Licensing and Permitting” 
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream This session will launch the new OECD report “How to manage risks while incentivising growth: Best Practice Principles for Licensing and Permitting” with high-level government officials and experts. Licensing and permitting (L&P) are key tools for achieving public policy goals. When well-designed and effectively applied, they help prevent risks before they arise, build public trust, and support innovation and market growth. However, if misused or unproportionate, L&P can create barriers to market entry, hinder innovation, waste public resources, and erode trust and safety. The OECD Best Practice Principles provide guidance across six key principles to ensure governments and licensing authorities use L&P services in the most meaningful, effective, and efficient way.
17:00
17:00 - 18:30
Reception
Salon du Parc

Day 2 :

November 18, 2025
07:30
07:30 - 08:30
Registration & Welcome Coffee
08:30
08:30 - 08:45
08:45 - 10:00
Session 11: Evidence and honesty: Measuring regulatory burdens and benefits
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream This session will explore how to better measure regulatory and administrative costs and benefits. It will assess whether existing tools such as the Standard Cost Model remain fit for purpose and explore different ways of measuring burden, and how digital technologies, and AI can be leveraged to streamline measurement and avoid unnecessary delays or costs. The discussion will also highlight how quantitative assessments can be effectively complemented by qualitative insights to ensure policymakers and regulators measure what matters.
10:00
10:00 - 10:30
COFFEE BREAK
10:30 - 11:45
Session 12: Lasting impact through effective burden reduction and simplification
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream Past efforts of burden reduction and simplification efforts have not been fully effective, nor do they seem to be appropriate to the challenges of our time given rising complexity and increasing demands for protection. The ‘how to’ simplify will be crucial in terms of the leadership needed, the assignment of responsibilities across government, the accountability mechanisms in place, as well as the engagement of stakeholder groups and citizens. Moreover, to promote a move away from managing the stock of regulations to also managing their flow, it is necessary to foster a shift in administrative culture and behaviour across government bodies and regulators, ensuring lasting results. This session will explore innovative approaches to move from an administrative culture that views regulating as a default option to one focused on achieving better outcomes.
11:45
11:45 - 12:00
Session 13: Closing remarks
CC9, English/French interpretation, livestream