Are there sufficient checks on EU laws?

The head of the CBI, Digby Jones, has accused MPs of not paying enough attention to EU laws that cover British businesses.

With half the legislation affecting UK firms drawn up by the European Commission, Mr Jones claims that MPs in charge of checking European laws are "asleep on the job".

The CBI leader has also suggested an "early warning system" should be introduced so MPs and interest groups can respond quickly to European Commission suggestions.

What do you think of Digby Jones's comments? Should there be tighter checks on EU laws where they affect British interests? Are Britain's MPs sufficiently diligent in scrutinising EU laws? Tell us what you think.

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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Michael, UK: What is your reaction to Digby Jones' comments that MPs should pay more attention to Brussels legislation? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

There are clearly not enough checks on EU laws. When laws are changed by Westminster there is debate in parliament, criticism in the press and we see ministers being grilled by aggressive journalists on TV. None of this happens with EU laws. You just wake up one day to find another EU directive has been imposed - no dissent, discussion, or explanation - it's an EU directive and you have no choice. The people who make these rules are faceless and unaccountable.
Al, London, UK

Given the total incompetence and corruption of UK politicians, the more influence the EU has over our laws the better. The superiority complex the UK has is completely unjustified.
Steve, London

It is interesting that this topic brings out the usual anti-European paranoia. Anyone who regularly visits any of the other EU countries will notice that they do not have the same problems with these so-called EU regulations, particularly those to do with health and safety.
Mike, Essex, UK

Unlike British laws, which all come from the same source, compliance with EU laws and directives is mandated in a variety of ways. Some are immediately legally binding, while others have to be enforced by national legislation. Even Ministers have difficulty understanding what is coming into effect and when, so no wonder the general population are caught out again and again. Varying enforcement standards across the EU don't help either.
Jamie, UK

I think Mr Jones' comments entirely reflect his own special interests. Employers dislike EU laws because they go against the heavy pro-employer bias of employment law introduced in Britain during the Thatcher years.
Ray, Exeter, UK

The sooner we get out of this shambles the better Les, Morpeth, England

I personally know of two garage businesses closing for the specific reason of ever increasing EU regulations that make them no longer feasible to operate. The sooner we get out of this shambles the better.
Les, Morpeth, England

The only word our Eurocrats should be allowed to use in Brussels is "Non"!
Richard, UK

With more competition from India and China, the last thing we need is more regulation. We need to 'interpret' the laws as the rest of Europe do, not follow them blindly and in doing so cripple the small businesses that employ the majority of people here in the UK. Something like 60% of the laws now being passed by our parliament come from the EU, so unless our MPs alter these rules to our benefit, what is the point in having them? We might as well sack them all and save a fortune. It doesn't take 600+ people to rubber stamp EU laws.
Anon, UK

The EU encourages national parliaments to be involved in the drafting of legislation. If our MPs held the government to account in the early stages of the process, we wouldn't have so many poor directives to implement in the first place.
Geraint, Glasgow, Scotland

The problem with EU labour laws (which we have all conveniently overlooked) is that while they make life much easier for those with jobs, they make life a lot harder for those without. If the cost of employment rises, then the number of employees drops. It's a formula that works consistently - to the disadvantage of the unemployed. That's why many EU countries (e.g. Germany) have rising unemployment these days.
Lloyd Evans, Brighton, UK

Regulation is the price for living in the modern world Alan, Maidstone, UK

Regulation is the price for living in the modern world. Everyone moans about it until something goes wrong, then they all cry "why doesn't the Government do something about it?". Well, the Government does, and the result is regulation. EU directives are agreed by member states' ministers, so if they don't want them why do they agree to them?
Alan, Maidstone, UK

To Alan, Maidstone: You are spot on in your analysis. If regulations are introduced critics accuse government of burdening business with red tape but as soon as anything goes wrong those same critics are shouting for new regulations.
Peter Rimmer, Wigan, Lancs

It takes between 3-5 years to formulate a piece of EU legislation, a process that involves continuous dialogue between the regulators (the European Commission) and interested parties so there are plenty of "early warning systems" in place. If British industry is being caught unawares by regulations coming out of Europe, surely it is the failing of the fat cat lobbying group who represents industry rather than the government. It sounds like Digby Jones is trying to outsource the function of his little special interest group to the state at the cost of British tax payers.
Mike, London, UK

Yes, EU regulations and directives warrant more open and constructive debate in our own Parliament before they are adopted. But it will be a waste of time, effort and representation if it's only the CBI raising the stakes here and other lobbies, which are more reflective of the general public's opinion, have chosen to remain silent.
Prabhat, UK

Our legislation often ends up being more brutal and restrictive Joe, Sheffield, UK

The problem of perceived gold-plating may actually be due to the difference between Euro and UK legal systems. UK legislation is "the letter of the law" whereas European legislation is often "in principle". The UK has the problem of drafting "letter of the law" legislation based on "in principle" directives from Brussels; hence, our legislation often ends up being more brutal and restrictive. One only has to look at the number of times the EU ticks the UK off for under-implementing EC directives to realise that the problem is rather more complex than "gold-plating".
Joe, Sheffield, UK

No, I do not think that the UK requires any checks to be made on EU business legislation. We already have a European Parliament. Why does the CBI think that the UK should be a 'special case' where the usual rules of legislation shouldn't apply to it ?
Simon Watkins, Cardiff, UK

We should ensure our MPs take more care with laws. It isn't just that inappropriate EU directives are being implemented inappropriately. In some cases additional restrictions have been added to the detriment of most companies and people in the UK and those making the additions claim the EU laws required them. I have contacted my MP and MEPs about this. My MP just passed my concerns to another government department who denied additions had been made. The only MEP who responded said he wasn't allowed to challenge mistakes made by MPs.
C Quinn, Exeter, UK

Business leaders always complain about EU legislation Peter, London

If UK businesses treated their staff fairly and didn't try to cheat consumers then these 'EU laws' would not make any difference to them at all because they would already be doing all they were asked to. Business leaders always complain about EU legislation but never point out which unfair/unsafe practices they want to be allowed to continue.
Peter, London

What is Mr Jones' strategic goal for the economic future of this country? One with employment laws handed down by the EU because our government is too scared to antagonise Mr Jones and his ilk, or a race to the bottom in a sweat-box economy which is justified on the grounds of (questionable) globalisation and bureaucratic allegations? One suspects that he would prefer the latter.
Craig McLean, Gateshead, UK

As a former Eurosceptic, it's been painful for me to realise that closer ties with Europe is about the only chance that's left for the global economy to overcome the hegemony of the almighty US dollar. As oil reserves dwindle, individual national interests are a luxury we can ill afford. At least by implementing more EU directives than our neighbours, we can maintain a moral superiority over them that we can use to our advantage in the future.
Matt Nailon, Bath, UK

The UK is significantly more business-friendly and economically competitive than its European neighbours. Westminster should endeavour to ensure this remains the case.
Duncan, London, UK

Of course Digby is right. For as long as I can remember companies have been complaining about the costs of implementing EU legislation and the impact it has on our competitiveness. On the other hand, UK civil servants are renowned for their "diligence" in applying the rules to the letter unlike other countries where rules are "interpreted" in accordance with what is in the best national interest.
Dick, Scotland

UK implementation of EU regulations is excessively zealous John Atkins, Bridgwater, England

Digby is spot on! The UK implementation of EU regulations is excessively zealous, and detrimental to the competitiveness of the UK. This is one situation where we should follow the example of France, and interpret the legislation to our national advantage.
John Atkins, Bridgwater, England

What the pro-EU lobby seems to forget is that when the rights of the "many" are placed above the rights of the "few" we all suffer. There's so much red tape in place nowadays it's taken me 17 months to sack an employee caught stealing. She claimed sick pay then maternity pay then even had the gall to press for a hearing on grounds of discrimination on racial and/ or gender basis. I ended up paying her a lump sum equivalent to almost 34 weeks pay to finally get shot of her. And the after effects? I have started closing my business down, am converting offices into flats as well as having the factory turned into building land. I'm not prepared to work in the UK anymore.
Anonymous, UK

Anonymous, UK's threat to leave the UK sums up the attitude of British business perfectly. Throwing their toys out the pram when they do not get their own way. My father runs his own business and employs two lads on a decent wage. He gives them loyalty and makes them feel valued. They return this loyalty, and work hard for him. There will always be some rotten apples in the barrel, but generally you get out of an employee what you put in. Employers have on the whole very little in the way of scruples. Labour laws are needed to protect the masses from extortion until a situation exists where this is not the case.
Dan, Wakefield, UK

Would Dan from Wakefield think it reasonable for a small business to go under because one of its staff couldn't be dismissed effectively after being caught stealing? What about the other staff who will lose their jobs? What about the owners of the business? Not everyone works for a megacorp, and small businesses are usually the ones who can't survive in today's culture. Proven theft should be a summary dismissal offence, no questions asked.
Chris, UK

I agree that parliament should scrutinise EU legislation but I suspect that Digby Jones is unhappy that the EU has given British workers minimum rights that he and his friend Tony Blair, would prefer that they did not have.
Tom, Belfast

My employer routinely and deliberately ignores any new laws which give employees any benefit. I wonder what Mr Jones has got to say about that? He ought to worry about what his members are not doing and leave our democratically elected MPs to do their job.
Andrew M, Walsall, UK

We are the only country who acts on these laws, most other countries give them lip service and then continue working as before.
Caron, England

I absolutely do agree. Very soon, European software patents are going to be made legal and enforced across the UK, it's going to have a frightening effect on software developers in the UK.
Colin Smith, London, UK

The problem is that no body, like the CRE, exists to give legal aid against the EU and Governments when they "interpret" law. Small companies don't have the cash to take action and independent professionals even less so.
Ian, Wroclaw, Poland

A member of my family closed down their butcher's business because they simply couldn't afford to comply with one set of EU-generated laws about refrigeration John B, UK

There is so much more to this than the typical "businesses are bad" brigade like to admit. Of course unscrupulous businesses should be brought to book, but they aren't the ones struggling under the weight of new legislation. The smaller, honest, businesses are the ones who suffer as each wave of regulations adds to the cost, sometimes requiring the employment of extra staff purely to ensure compliance. A member of my family closed down their butcher's business because they simply couldn't afford to comply with one set of EU-generated laws about refrigeration. Their shop had passed all the assorted health inspections but in the face of a bill for some £75,000 to install a new refrigeration unit they simply closed down the business instead.
John B, UK

Do people realise, particularly Digby Jones, that when we are forced to sign the European constitution Parliament will have no say, because European Law will be paramount. Just exactly what does Digby Jones want Parliament to do?
Tony, Welling Kent

It's all very well calling on our MPs to pay more attention to EU laws - but all the UK Parliament does is implement EU directives into UK law. In essence, all MPs can do is make sure that Whitehall doesn't "goldplate" directives by adopting regulations in excess of that required by EU law. What Mr. Digby Jones should have concentrated on is making sure that Britain's MEPs do their hardest to ensure that EU laws passed are the best for Britain - and the seemingly endless media blackout on MEPs is doing absolutely nothing to encourage MEPs to look after their constituents.
Anon, Kettering, England

People of Britain - wake up for Heaven's sake! Let's get out of this monstrosity now! Lobby your MP and Traitor Tony now!
M Hall, Worksop, England

How do you check an organisation that corrupts everyone that goes near it ? The more you send in the bigger the corruption.
Kev, USA

The only way such organisations as the EU show they do anything is by creating more bureaucracy. We should not accept any laws over business from the EU. If the EU does not stop doing everything other than arranging free trade then its days must be numbered.
JamesStGeorge, London England

I can imagine that MPs go to sleep on EU laws. Who can get excited about the size of bananas, standard condom sizes and the very best one was an afternoon spent by the commission on currency. The euro is written with a small "e" and it is divided into 100 cent (without an "s"). That took overpaid executives a whole afternoon to decide and also belongs in the EU scenario. I'm retired now but could use some extra cash SO if the country needs an EU checker, how about a retired Gnome of Zurich to do the job. I don't even need translations for 4 languages!
Gary, Isle of Man, Douglas, Isle of Man

What Hitler did not the EU will do. No further comment. Wake up England!
David, Devon, UK

For Britain to regain stability... getting out of this little clique whose sole intention is to bleed Britain dry remains the only option Ian, Brit in USA

I'm old enough to remember the days before Britain joined the then-Common Market, when the British Economy was still a major force. For the last 30 years, all that membership of the EU/EEC/whatever-it's-called-this-week has brought to Britain is more debt and less jobs. For Britain to regain stability and its global stature as an economic force, getting out of this little clique whose sole intention is to bleed Britain dry remains the only option.
Ian, Brit in USA

It is in the best interests of Europe (i.e. the French and Germans) to ensure that the British economy is rendered uncompetitive. With the plethora of incompetent rubbish coming out of Brussels, British Snivel Serpents have never had it so good.
Nigel MacDonald, Camborne, UK

Have any independent studies been done into how EC laws are actually implemented and upheld in different countries? I wonder what they complain about in France or Germany.
Pete, Mon

Our politicians are not "asleep on the job" - they are active collaborators Bob Harvey, Lincs, UK

Our politicians are not "asleep on the job" - they are active collaborators. How many times have they told us that "there is nothing we can do - it's an EU directive"? They are not negligently rubber stamping EU laws - they are delightedly using them to gain more control over our lives
Bob Harvey, Lincs, UK

A classic case is the waste directives which have drastically reduced the number of sites for certain waste. Or where cardboard cannot be burnt if classed as waste but can if classed as fuel. A major cause in addition to the MPs lamentable lack of scrutiny (partly caused by Blair's rule by ministerial dictat and contempt of parliament) but that the departments do not talk to one another. A lot of legislation is dreamt up by one department with no regard to the impact on other departments.
John, UK

The EU is a monolithic disaster where the individual Epitaph for each country absorbed is written! Who benefits from the EU? Not one individual voter anywhere! But those involved - oh boy don't they do well!
Maurice, Newcastle

Digby Jones and David Davis can cry on each other shoulder. The regulations that protect consumers and workers are here to stay. If the gentlemen are not making enough honest money they can go to some Latin American fascist country. Britons shall not be slaves
Justinian, Orpington, UK

Those of you who think the labour laws in the UK are strict, try operating a business in France or Germany...
Nigel Pond,