Tomorrow – Tuesday 19 May - European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans will launch his controversial ‘better regulation’ proposals.
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) sets out the big questions it will be asking about ‘better regulation’:
- Will EU law apply equally to all?
A basic principle of law is that it applies to all. Will the European Commission propose to exclude small businesses from some EU regulation?
- Will the democratic rights of MEPs and Ministers be reduced?
Drafts seen by the ETUC ask the European Parliament and Council not to make significant changes to Commission proposals without an impact assessment. Such a request would seem to contradict Jean-Claude Juncker’s stated aim of a more democratic Europe, and will be seen as power-grab by the Commission.
- Will it be ‘better regulation’ or deregulation?
Previous ‘better regulation’ and ‘regulatory fitness’ initiatives have stopped better protection of workers from cancer and other much-needed health and safety actions. 150,000 people have died of work-related cancers since work on the Directive on Carcinogens and Mutagens was stopped in October 2013 for the European Commission to evaluate ‘red tape’.
For more info see /press/150000-have-died-while-eu-evaluates-%e2%80%98better-regulation%e2%80%99
- Will it give unelected ‘experts’ the power to hold up EU action?
Drafts seen by the ETUC propose a ‘Regulatory Scrutiny Board’ which would have to give the green light before the Commission goes ahead with an initiative. It is rumoured that the final proposal will not involve such an obvious transfer of power to the Board.
- Will it cut red tape or create more bureaucracy?
Drafts seen by the ETUC propose not only a ‘Regulatory Scrutiny Board’ but also ‘impact assessments’ extended to all EU institutions, more ‘public consultation’, an ‘Impact Assessment Committee’, ‘competitiveness proofing’ etc.
Whatever it does, ‘better regulation’ seems to involve enough jargon to fill a dictionary.
- Will agreements between employers and trade unions be put to public consultation?
Such a move would be contrary to practice in EU member states. Public consultation on the outcome of collective bargaining is opposed by employers and trade unions alike, and contrary to common sense.
