EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: By 2008 the Commission intends to present specific proposals for the review of Directive 2002/96/EC on waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and Directive 2002/95/EC on the restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS). The WEEE and RoHS EU Directives have been identified as presenting potential for simplification in Commission Communication COM(2005) 535 and are included in the simplification rolling programme for 2008. In line with article 4 point 3 and article 6 of the RoHS Directive a review of the scope and appropriateness is foreseen and DG- Environment is taking the lead in the review processes of both Directives. With respect to the overall review of the WEEE Directive, a number of former initiatives and studies are completed and close co- ordination with some of them has been searched with respect to data collection and consultation with stakeholders. Whereas the former studies aim at investigating the modification of the targets, this study will help at closing certain gaps by covering the remaining issues. Remaining issues include the assessment of the impacts on innovation, competition and the assessment of the relationships with existing Directives and broader policy objectives. The aim of the Study of the RoHS Directive consisted of identifying proposals to revise the Directive with a view to improving its cost effectiveness while maintaining the same level of environmental protection. The proposals need to make the legislation less burdensome, easier to apply and thereby more effective in achieving its goals. A serious attempt has been made to quantify the impacts of the RoHS Directive on the economy and the environment. Whereas the economic impact analysis started from a broad view of all EEE subjected to the RoHS Directive, the study of the environmental impact focuses on a number of products which were selected according to the following criteria: presence of the RoHS substances, economic importance of the product, value of the product at the end-of-life, environmental impact over the different phases of its lifecycle and finally its innovative potential. Besides the impact assessment, inspiration for making the legislation more cost effective was found in a comparison of the RoHS approach with other approaches used inside and outside of the EU.