Making British business benefit from the EU

3.19.50pm GMT Thu 9th Mar 2006

A report by the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee has called on the government to pull its socks up regarding implementation of EU laws and make things easier for British firms and public bodies.

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"There is no excuse for the shocking fact that in 80% of cases Whitehall failed to give at least 3 months' warning and guidance to affected businesses about new EU directives coming into force. British civil servants who negotiate in Brussels must talk to their colleagues down the corridor."

"In the "fridge mountain" saga of 2002 DEFRA botched the implementation of an EU law on safe disposal, costing council tax payers almost £50 million. Were DEFRA ministers and officials saying they had no idea what they'd agreed to?"

"The scourge of "gold-plating" must end. When the government uses an EU measure as a carrier for some old project pulled out of a dusty drawer in Whitehall, unfair damage is done both to the image of the EU and the interests of business."

"But there is also room for improvement at the Brussels end, when directives are drawn up. There needs to be more 'parliamentary draughtsman' advice to MEPs and ministers in the Council, and ministers must be forced to specify an implementation timetable before they sign off on a new law."