MEPs must become the guarantors of the competitiveness of the European economy if the EU is to meet the very serious challenges it faces in the global marketplace, according to EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation which today published its European Election agenda.
Commenting on the agenda, EEF Director General, Martin Temple, said:
"We face very serious challenges in the global marketplace. If industry is to meet the pledge made at Lisbon in 2000 it needs a light, high quality regulatory environment which encourages the investments necessary to generate growth. MEPs have a key role to play in policing the legislation that eminates from the Commission and ensuring that it enhances rather than damages our competitiveness."
EEF acknowledged that the creation of the single market had led to greater competition, wider choice, lower prices, more jobs and increased growth. However, it believes that the EU’s potential contribution to jobs and growth has been held back by a tendency to over-regulate. This has been compounded by uneven implementation and enforcement of regulations, whilst changes have been made without allowing sufficient time for existing regulations to bed down.
The challenge to Europe comes not just from the US where growth has exceeded that of the EU for all but one of the last twenty years, but the rapidly emerging economies of China and India which are rapidly developing their knowledge and research capacities. In addition the EU also faces the challenge of low or no growth in some of its major economies.
Welcoming the recent enlargement of the EU, EEF also believes MEPs from the new states will have a key role to play in scrutinising legislation to ensure it doesn’t impose any additional burdens.
In response, EEF has listed a number of specific proposals which are already in the pipeline to ensure that they are acceptable to business. Supporting their role, the agenda urges MEPs to:
Ensure the Commission’s review of the Working Time Directive preserves the right of individuals to opt out from the average 48 hour working week.
Resist any amendments to the European Works Councils Directive and the introduction of European legislation on Corporate Restructuring.
Oppose the proposed EU Directive on Temporary Agency Workers
Support a voluntary approach to Corporate Social Responsibility rather than legislation
Ensure that a risk-based, rather than volume based, approach is taken to REACH (EU Chemical Strategy), which does not impose excessive costs on, or damage the competitiveness of downstream users of chemicals.
Ensure a workable and proportionate approach is taken to health & safety and, in particular, the last Physical Agents Directive.
"MEPs have a busy agenda ahead in the near future and we would urge them to ensure regulations do not damage companies ability to compete internationally. They must also ensure that it is evenly implemented and enforced to ensure a level playing field for all" added Mr Temple.