INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG NEEDED TO CUT EU RED TAPE

5.51.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 11th Jul 2007

The European Parliament has urged the European Commission to be more ambitious in minimising administrative costs imposed by legislation. A report presented by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe (ALDE) this week requests an independent watchdog to combat red tape.

Speaking today from the European Parliament in Strasbourg, West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne said:

"Asking civil servants to throw their own work in the rubbish bin is a bit like asking a snake to bite off its own tail. To make sure the European Union meets its targets, it needs more transparent measures and an independent watchdog to fight red tape."

The money for this watchdog is already available, but Liz stresses the need for Member States to ensure that they do not add unnecessary regulation on top of existing European laws.

"We should bear in mind that it is not only 'Brussels' that is responsible for red tape. Reducing the administrative burden is the joint responsibility of both individual Member States and the Commission."

"Often Member States including the United Kingdom misinterpret European legislation or simply gold-plate the texts issued from Brussels for their own domestic purposes. Therefore, we urge Member States to indicate exactly what is required by European legislation and what the UK government wants to introduce on a national level."

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso has made simplifying EU legislation one of his key reforms to restore economic growth and create more jobs across Europe. European legislation which is believed to run counter to competitiveness and growth will be examined and altered or scrapped as necessary".

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The report "Minimising Administrative Costs Imposed by Legislation" can be found via the following link: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sidesSearch/sipadeMapUrl.do?PROG=REPORT&L=EN&SORT_ORDER=D&S_REF_A=%25&LEG_ID=6&AUTHOR_ID=1965