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Strasbourg Diary October 2004 By John
Purvis, MEP
PROS AND CONS OF A LARGER EU
The representatives of the ten additional nations
which joined the EU in May are now finding their
feet in Brussels and Strasbourg and there is a
great buzz about the parliament buildings as we
welcome our new colleagues.
There should be a buzz in the Scottish business
community too because there are tremendous opportunities
for jobs and trade in the newly enlarged European
market where there will be demand for our goods
and expertise.
But a single market of more than 450 million
people also contains threats to our economy.
That’s because the new member states are
also attractive places to set up a business, with
lower labour costs, plenty of well-educated and
skilled workers and lower corporate tax rates.
This poses a potential threat to Scottish jobs
and business, so it is vital that the EU’s
legislative process, which affects most aspects
of business life, is understood and utilised to
best advantage.
It is essential that the business community learns
how to use all the points of access and influence
available to them. These include Commission consultations,
MEPs such as myself who can help in the parliamentary
process and during implementation of legislation,
MPs and Ministers in the Council of Ministers.
Even so, while the European Commission has become
a lot more proactive in consulting with businesses
and consumers before it adopts draft legislation,
“goldplating” by the UK government
is a problem.
For example, an EU directive on the labelling
of air conditioners, which became law in Britain
last year, ended up being three times as long
as the original Brussels’ version!
Industry needs to keep pressure on the UK and
Scottish governments to make sure that legislation
originating in Brussels is implemented in a way
that will benefit Scottish businesses rather than
making it tougher for them than for their European
neighbours.
EU GETS TOUGH WITH CUSTOMS
Delighted to see that the European Commission
has finally got tough with British Customs and
Excise. Confiscating tobacco and alcohol and even
people’s vehicles when they return to Britain,
even though the goods are patently for their own
use and gifts for their relatives and friends
has caused a lot of distress. I have had a number
of letters from constituents asking for my help
in this regard and the new line from the Commission
will, I hope, ease the situation for them and
others in the future. People must have certainty
as to what they can and can’t do. But remember
– the Canary Islands are not in the EU for
tax purposes so you can only bring back 200 cigarettes
from there.
DOCTORING THE NEWS
We all find it very amusing at times when our
national newspapers come out with another story
about the breathtaking arrogance/stupidity/illogicality
of EU legislation. It is true there is sometimes
too quick a resort to unnecessary legislation,
and its workings can seem cumbersome and clumsy.
However, our less responsible national press continues
deliberately to mangle the news in order to come
up with an angle designed to encourage the indignation
of its Scots and UK readers. For example, the
implications of the Working Time Directive are
only now being fully understood but back in August,
the Daily Express reported that the new rules
had “plunged the NHS into chaos” because
junior doctors were allowed to work “only
58 hours a week”. Only 58 hours a week?
How many journalists work those kind of hours?
What the paper failed to report was that the BMA
supported the move, saying it was important that
junior doctors worked sensible hours so that they
could give a safe, high quality service to patients.
Most of us would not argue with that view. Furthermore,
time on call but sleeping will not count towards
the 58 hours if the current proposals are adopted.
There are still some difficulties with the Working
Time Directive, I feel, where it is not flexible
enough for employers and employees but sleep deprivation
is a sure way of multiplying the mistakes doctors
are likely to make. And where we are dealing with
people’s lives, there is absolutely no excuse.
John Purvis is Vice Chairman of
the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
and a member of the Committee on Industry, External
Trade, Research and Energy.
For more information visit his website on www.scottishtorymeps.org.uk
Press Contact: Frances
Donald Tel 01592 643200
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