Make sense not law - Liz Lynne

4.49.17pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 4th Apr 2006

The EU must make better laws - and avoid unnecessary ones - Liz Lynne MEP, Lib Dem Employment Spokesperson, said today as the European Parliament hosted a day of debate on 'Better Lawmaking'.

Liz Lynne is calling for the EU to increase efforts to implement the 2003 Inter-Institutional Agreement on Better Lawmaking. In a recent reply to her oral question, the Commission admitted that there had been "disappointing progress to date" and "no real progress for better regulation", and called for "greater efforts to be made by all three Institutions".

Liz Lynne was Shadow Rapporteur for the Better Regulation report in the Employment Committee, and has long campaigned against unnecessary European red tape. Last year she successfully led the fight against the so-called 'tan ban', ensuring that exposure to the sun was excluded from the Optical Radiation Directive.

Speaking in Strasbourg today, Liz Lynne said:

"Rightly or wrongly, the EU has a reputation for passing unwieldy laws which are an unnecessary burden on business. 'Joke' lawmaking such as the tan ban only undermines sensible laws which add value to all our lives.

"The 2003 agreement on better lawmaking is a useful starting point, but unless it is properly implemented, it is redundant. The reply from the Commission makes it clear there is a long way to go."

"Given the increasing number of EU regulations and the disappointing progress on implementing better lawmaking, today's debate is a timely one. Making sure laws are sensible and effective must be a top priority."

ENDS