Efforts by British civil servants to cut bureaucratic burdens are to be echoed on the continent, as the European Council has agreed to reduce legislative red tape by a quarter.

Government leaders meeting in Brussels admired the example being set by the UK and committed to a 25 per cent reduction in administration by 2012.

The initiative could save the EU in excess of £100 billion a year, according to European Commission estimates.

“The UK set a target last December to cut administrative burdens by 25 per cent. The EU has now followed suit,” observed Cabinet Office minister Hilary Armstrong. “This EU agreement will reduce some of the biggest burdens.”

John Cridland, deputy general of the Confederation of British Industry, added: “The UK’s target to reduce red tape by 25 per cent has already started to focus civil servants’ minds on the need to lighten the regulatory load and to shift ingrained attitudes towards risk and regulation.”

Administration will be reduced across 13 key areas, including health and safety, transport, tax law and public procurement.