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Article for the Leeds International Magazine
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As a member of the Internal Markets and Consumer Protection committee, one of the most difficult problems I have is the prescriptive nature of Commission directives.
The legal system which reflects these is based on the Napoleonic Code. This means unlike British common law there has to be a list of things which can be done, rather than a more simplistic list of that which may not be done.
An example I often use is if you have teenage children you probably have a small list of forbidden activities. Loud music, friends after midnight, smoking etc. However, the continental system is “Here is a list of what you can do”. Even if the list is liberal and extensive you can see the problems.
If you cannot sleep look up the EU regulations on duck eggs! (Over 15,000 words). If the law removes the concept of caveat emptor (let the buyer beware) it necessarily becomes enormously burdensome.
My desk is always groaning under the weight of letters from small and medium sized businesses threatened by the minutiae of regulation. This is always difficult to explain to fellow committee members with almost no commercial experience. Please continue to lobby me by all means.
But fundamentally the system is not business friendly. |
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