Euro-Creep

Robert Oulds 

Bulletin #14

The UK has to be obey judgments made in Brussels which override decisions made by our own democratic institutions. What is more the British taxpayer has to pay Brussels £ billions each year for the ‘privilege’ of being bound by EU law.
Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over Britain.

These plans include:
- More EU control over finance
- More EU control over taxation
- More EU control over transport
- More EU agricultural protectionism
- EU control over the film industry
- More EU control over education
- More excessive regulations

MORE EU CONTROL OVER FINANCE

EU CONTROL OVER SMALL LOANS

EU proposals will allow for more people to be caught in the debt trap.
The European Union plans regarding what it describes as the micro-finance market seek to prohibit caps on interest rates. Currently many people in financial difficulties take on what appear to be small loans but find themselves hit by excessive interest rates.

The EU proposals, concerning loans below the value of €25,000, will go some way to giving a freehand to those who wish to exploit people without the UK authorities being able to rule that such exploitation is illegal.

Commission Communication: A European initiative for the development of micro-credit in support of growth and employment COM(07) 708

UK TO UNDERWRITE THE LOSSES OF THE EUROPEAN INVESTMENT BANK

British taxpayer at risk from the European Investment Bank (EIB) being encouraged to spend billions abroad.
The EU plans to expand the activities of the EIB so that it can spend more outside of the European Union with the member states being liable for any losses. The burden in these uncertain economic times will heavily fall upon the UK.

The European Union proposals will place increased costs on the taxpayer at an increased risk, but for less benefit as most of the money will go overseas.

Draft Decision granting a Community guarantee to the European Investment Bank against losses under loans and loan guarantees for projects outside the Community COM(08) 910

MORE EU CONTROL OVER TAXATION

EU CONTROL OVER THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE RECOVERY OF CROSS-BORDER TAXES

The EU is set to expand its power over the exchange of tax information and the recovery of taxes.
These proposals will introduce new administrative and reporting burdens onto businesses. Furthermore, the proposed EU rules will not adhere to the due process of innocent until proven guilty. Instead they will follow the precautionary principle and shall enable the recovery of taxes to assets to begin before someone has been found to be avoiding payment.

The plans add further threats to Britain’s tax sovereignty as the draft directives cover all types of national taxation, both indirect and direct.

Draft Council Directive on administrative cooperation in the field of taxation COM(09) 29

Draft Council Directive concerning mutual assistance for the recovery of claims relating to taxes, duties and other measures COM(09) 28

MORE EU CONTROL OVER TRANSPORT

MORE EU CONTROL OVER THE SECURITY OF PORTS

The UK’s maritime security is to be made answerable to the EU.
The European Commission’s plans to take more control over the security surrounding ports will hand them more power over them, but it will also enhance its power over shipping and the areas surrounding ports.

Commission report: Report assessing the implementation of the Directive on enhancing port security COM(09) 02

MOVES TOWARDS A COMMON TRANSPORT POLICY

The EU proposes to control transportation.
The European Commission is seeking more powers to allow it to be in charge of;

• technological innovation in transport
• intelligent systems to manage traffic
• the role of transport over water and ports
• airports
• issues relating to passenger and freight traffic

Green paper TEN-T: A policy review towards a better integrated Trans-European Transport Network at the service of the common Transport policy COM(09) 44

MORE EU CONTROL OVER CARS

The EU has restated its proposals to have spyware added to our cars.
This will allow for road charging using the EU’s Galileo satellite system which will give the European Union a new revenue stream. The European Commission is using the issue of climate change as an excuse for this new stealth tax on motoring.

These proposals will enable the European Union to enhance its traffic management policy plans and begin the harmonisation of traffic laws. The plans have a number of privacy implications relating to personal data and may infringe civil liberties.

Commission Communication: Action plan for the deployment of intelligent transport systems in Europe COM(08) 886

MORE EU AGRICULTURAL PROTECTIONISM

STEALTH EU MEASURES THAT PUNISH THIRD-WORLD FARMERS

Farmers in developing nations will find it even harder to export food to the EU.
The European Union is attempting to export its regulations to farmers in countries that are outside of the EU; forcing them to adopt burdensome rules if they are to trade their goods within Europe. This will oblige them to bear more costs which will make it even harder for them to overcome existing EU protectionist measures, such as punitive trade tariffs, and compete with well subsidised continental farmers.

Commission Green Paper on agricultural product quality: product standards, farming requirements and quality schemes COM(08) 641

EU CONTROL OVER THE FILM INDUSTRY

THE EU’S LAME ATTEMPT AT CULTURAL IMPERIALISM

The EU hopes that young people will choose to watch films that have been backed by the EU.
The proposals from the European Commission may lead to the harmonisation of the film industry. This important medium should be free from EU propaganda.

The stated aim of the European Union proposals is to, “enable the EU to play its cultural and political role in the world more effectively.” This is an express attempt to rival both Hollywood and Bollywood.

Draft Decision to establish an audiovisual cooperation programme with professionals from third countries MEDIA MUNDUS COM(08) 892

MORE EU CONTROL OVER EDUCATION

EU PLANS MORE ARBITRARY TARGETS IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING

EU proposals will expand the culture of having to meet targets set by bureaucrats.
The EU is planning to control education and training via laying down arbitrary performance indicators. The European Commission policy proposals will also allow it to begin taking control over the fight against illiteracy in children.

The EU’s plans will also allow for more students from outside of the European Union to use Britain’s education and training facilities. And allow it to influence how much the UK spends on higher education.

Commission Communication: An updated strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training COM(08) 865

MORE EXCESSIVE REGULATIONS

EU CONTROL OVER CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTS

The EU is planning to force small businesses in the UK to comply with their costly standards.
UK manufacturers of products used in the construction industry will, under EU proposals, have to adopt common EU standards and display the common marks on those products. This will lead to producers of construction equipment being hit with a combined cost of £40 million with on-going costs totalling £7 million per year. An additional burden which many will not be able to afford during these troubled economic times.

As a result of the absurdity of the European Commission’s proposals, British standards may be lowered in areas that are safety-critical. This may undermine the UK’s reputation for excellence in highly technical areas.

Draft Regulation laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products COM(08) 311

THE FLOOD OF EU LAWS

From 21st February 2009 to 25th April the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHT!
Since May 2007 the total is 2,823.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• EU Control over the transport industry
  Council Regulation (EC) No 169/2009 applying rules of competition to transport by rail, road and inland waterway



• More EU control over shipping
  Council Regulation (EC) No 246/2009 on the application of Article 81(3) of the Treaty to certain categories of agreements, decisions and concerted practices between liner shipping companies (consortia) (Codified version)



• EU control over aviation security
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 272/2009 supplementing the common basic standards on civil aviation security laid down in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council



• More EU control over aviation
  Directive 2009/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on airport charges



• Even more EU control over aviation
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 298/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 474/2006 establishing the Community list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the Community



• More EU control over the milk industry
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 149/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 214/2001 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards intervention on the market in skimmed milk powder



• Price of fruit and veg
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 155/2009 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Importation of garlic
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 171/2009 on the issue of licences for the import of garlic in the subperiod from 1 June to 31 August 2009



• More control of the olive oil industry
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 182/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1019/2002 on marketing standards for olive oil



• More EU control over deposits
  Directive 2009/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 94/19/EC on deposit-guarantee schemes as regards the coverage level and the payout delay



• EU control over lights
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for non-directional household lamps



• More EU control over lights
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 245/2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for fluorescent lamps without integrated ballast, for high intensity discharge lamps, and for ballasts and luminaires able to operate such lamps, and repealing Directive 2000/55/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council



• More EU control over trademarks
  Council Regulation (EC) No 207/2009 on the Community trade mark (codified version)



• EU control over fruit in schools
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 288/2009 laying down detailed rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards Community aid for supplying fruit and vegetables, processed fruit and vegetables and banana products to children in educational establishments, in the framework of a School Fruit Scheme



• More EU control over HM Revenue and Customs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 312/2009 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code

BULLETIN #13

EXPOSING THE EU's PLANS
Ever-closer Union underway

The UK has to be obey judgments made in Brussels which override decisions made by our own democratic institutions. What is more the British taxpayer has to pay Brussels £ billions each year for the ‘privilege’ of being bound by EU law.
Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over Britain.

These plans include:
- More EU control over taxation
- More EU control over financial services
- More EU control over justice and home affairs
- EU control over resources
- More EU control over energy
- EU control over building regulations
- More EU control over healthcare
- More EU control over the transport industry

MORE EU CONTROL OVER TAXATION

EU TO EXPAND ITS POWER OVER INCOME FROM SAVINGS

As a further blow to UK tax sovereignty the EU is set to take further control over the taxation of savings.
The EU proposals will mean that the scope of the EU’s power to control the taxation of savings will be expanded to include;

• more financial products
• more life insurance products
• payments made by intermediaries
• income derived from securities
• more collective investment funds

Draft Directive amending Directive 2003/48/EC on taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments COM(08) 727

MORE EU CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL SERVICES

EU CONTROL OVER THE CITY OF LONDON

The European Union is taking from the UK the right to regulate financial services.
The EU proposals put this important economic field firmly under the control of Brussels. The latest areas targeted by the EU include taking control over:

• Credit rating agencies:
  Only allowing credit institutions to trade in rated securities if the EU grants them a licence to do so. Brussels plans do not allow for a right of appeal if the European Union decides not to issue such a licence.
• Investment funds:
  Removing investment funds from UK regulation and placing them under the control of the EU.
• Cross-border financial transactions and payments in euros:
  The EU plans to control these transactions and the issuing of credit related to them.

Draft Regulation on credit rating agencies COM(08) 704

Draft Directive amending Directives 2006/48/EC and 2006/49/EC as regards banks affiliated to central institutions, certain own funds items, large exposures, supervisory arrangements, and crisis management COM(08) 602

Draft Directive on the coordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCTIS) COM(08) 458

Draft Regulation on cross-border payments in the Community COM(08) 640

Draft Directive amending Directive 98/26/EC on settlement finality in payment and securities settlement systems and Directive 2002/47/EC on financial collateral arrangements as regards linked systems and credit claims COM(08) 213

MORE EU CONTROL OVER JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

EU CONTROL OVER THE RECOVERY OF ASSETS

The EU wishes to expand the power of Europol and Eurojust to control the recovery of the proceeds of ‘crime’.
The EU plans will undermine the principle of innocent until proven guilty as no prior criminal conviction will be needed for it to recover assets. They will create the new criminal offence of ‘owning unjustified assets’, i.e. wealth which is higher than can be expected according to the owner’s declared income.

Furthermore, the proposals will also almost reverse the burden of proof because the evidence for a confiscation can be circumstantial. The European Union also proposes to take the power to force member states to give them the bank account details and information of people it suspects.

Handing such powers to the EU, a corrupt and undemocratic organisation, should not be an option.

Commission Communication on the proceeds of crime COM(08) 766

EU TO EXPAND ITS POWER INTO NATIONAL SECURITY

The EU is seeking to expand its power to control the security of what it regards as ‘European critical infrastructure’.
The European Commission will be given the power to develop and control strategies for protecting the security of:

• energy
• chemical installations
• financial centres
• food production
• health care
• information technology
• the nuclear industry
• research sites
• the space industry
• transport
• water supply

Draft Council Decision on a Critical Infrastructure Warning Network (CIWIN) COM(08) 676

EU CONTROL OVER RESOURCES

EU CONTROL OVER NON-ENERGY RAW MATERIALS

Under EU proposals the EU will take more power over industrial policy.
The EU is seeking to control the right to use raw materials. Even controlling access to the land from where raw materials can be mined.

This will undermine the UK’s planning system. Local government will also lose even more control over recycling and refuse collection to the EU.

Commission Communication: Raw materials initiative COM(08) 699

MORE EU CONTROL OVER ENERGY

EU CONTROL OVER ENERGY STOCKS AND NETWORKS

As part of the EU’s plans to take more control over natural resources, the EU is seeking to have access to a minimum of 10% of the UK’s energy reserves.
The European Union plans also include taking control over gas and oil pipelines; and, at an enormous cost to the British taxpayer, expand the interconnection of energy networks so that other EU member states can share in the UK’s energy resources.

The European Union is also seeking to make the member states of the European Union answer to the European Commission as to how gas and oil stocks are to be used, with the EU taking control over:

• how demand for resources is to be managed
• how stocks are to be used in a crisis
• and how and where the stocks are to be stored

Commission Communication: Second strategic energy review – An EU energy security and solidarity action plan COM(08) 781

Commission Green Paper: Towards a secure sustainable and competitive European energy network COM(08) 782

Draft Council Directive imposing an obligation on Member States to maintain minimum stocks of crude oil and/or petroleum products COM(08) 775

Commission Communication on Directive 2004/67/EC concerning measures to safeguard security of natural gas supply COM(08) 769

MORE EU CONTROL OVER NUCLEAR ENERGY

The EU is seeking to control the development of nuclear power stations.
Under these plans the European Commission will be granted the right to regulate and control:

• the granting of licences for building new facilities
• where nuclear power stations can be located
• how they can be constructed
• how nuclear stations should be maintained and operated
• and how they should be decommissioned

Draft Council Directives COM(08) 790, COM(04) 526 and COM(03) 32

Commission Communication: COM(08) 766

MORE EU CONTROL OVER OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY

Under EU plans the UK is to be forced to expand the number of offshore wind turbines.
The EU also seeks to control how the wind turbines are incorporated into the national grid. These proposals will make the debate in Britain on so-called renewable energy even more irrelevant.

Commission Communication: Offshore Wind Energy – Action needed to deliver on the Energy Objectives for 2020 and beyond COM(08) 768

EU CONTROL OVER BUILDING REGULATIONS

EU CONTROL OVER THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF BUILDINGS

EU proposals will add more bureaucracy to the construction of homes and offices.
The EU will have control over the minimum energy performance requirements of buildings, including the specifications for air conditioning units and heaters; and where alternative heating systems should be installed. Brussels is also set to expand the complexity of energy performance certificates.

These rules regarding buildings will apply regardless of floor area. They will not only affect the construction of new buildings but will also apply when a home or office is undergoing a major renovation.

Draft Directive on the energy performance of buildings (recast) COM(08) 780

MORE EU CONTROL OVER HEALTHCARE

EU TO DICTATE TO MEMBER STATES RULES REGARDING MEDICINES

EU is set to give more power to the European Medicines Agency.
The European Union is also looking to expand its power in an attempt to create a fully functioning single market for pharmaceuticals across the EU.

Commission Communication: Safe, Innovative and Accessible Medicines: a Renewed Vision for the Pharmaceutical Sector COM(08) 666

Draft Directive Com(08) 665 and Draft Regulation COM(08) 664

EU CONTROL OVER PATIENT SAFETY

The EU is set to take control over the fight against hospital acquired infections.
The European Union plans to lay down patient safety programmes and policies that the National Health Service must follow. Furthermore, Brussels bureaucrats plan to take charge of the training of doctors and nurses in preventing the spread of hospital superbugs.

The European Union shall also be setting the targets for patient safety; which is part of their efforts to standardise healthcare across the EU.

Commission Communication on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections COM(08) 836

Draft Council Recommendation on patient safety, including the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections COM(08) 837

EU CONTROL OVER ORGANS FOR TRANSPLANTATION

Under European Union plans Brussels is to take control over the quality and standards of organs for donations.
The EU proposals also set where organs can be transplanted. The European Union plans also decree that organ donations must be voluntary. The selling of organs for donations is to be made an EU offence.

Brussels bureaucrats also aim to improve the knowledge of doctors and nurses in the organisational procedures relating to organ donations; and to enhance the communication skills of healthcare professionals when discussing transplantation issues.

The European Union proposals will lead to the harmonisation of organ donation.

Draft Directive on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation COM(08) 818

MORE EU CONTROL OVER THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY

MORE LIMITS ON ROAD HAULAGE WORKERS

The EU plans to limit the working time of self-employed drivers.
This will mean more costs for the road haulage industry which will have to be passed onto the consumer; which during these tough economic times cannot be afforded. The planned restrictions are to be brought in under the guise of safety. However, they are being pushed for by the German authorities to protect their own road hauliers from the competition of harder working hauliers from different countries, most notably those from Eastern Europe. Furthermore, limiting working hours just forces drivers to take more risks driving so that they can remain competitive.

Draft Directive amending Directive 2002/15/EC on the organisation of the working time of persons performing mobile road transport activities COM(08) 650

MORE EXPENSIVE REGULATIONS FOR BUS, COACH AND FERRY OPERATORS

The EU is set to add more costs onto passenger carriers.
Using the issue of passenger rights the EU is seeking to establish a new bureaucratic agency to enforce the EU’s rules. The regulations could cost UK operators over £387 million. This will increase the financial burden on the transportation industry.

Draft Regulation on the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport COM(08) 817

Draft Regulation concerning the rights of passengers when travelling by sea and inland waterways COM(08) 816

MORE EU CONTROL OVER AVIATION

The EU is aiming to bring the UK’s aviation industry into compliance with EU law.
As part of its plans for a Common Aviation Area the European Union wants to standardise regulations across the EU and beyond to neighbouring countries to create a single aviation market governed by Brussels.

Commission Communication: Common Aviation Area with the neighbouring countries by 2010 – progress report COM(08) 596

THE FLOOD OF EU LAWS

From 16th July 2008 to 20th February 2009 the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is EIGHT HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN!
Since May 2007 the total is 2,615.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• More EU control over air transport
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 668/2008 amending Annexes II to V of Regulation (EC) No 2096/2005 laying down common requirements for the provision of air navigation services, as regards working methods and operating procedures



• Even more EU control over air transport
  Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on common rules for the operation of air services in the Community (Recast)



• More EU control over air transport information
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 29/2009 laying down requirements on data link services for the single European sky



• More EU control over aviation security
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 820/2008 laying down measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security



• More EU control over the railways
  Directive 2008/57/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the rail system within the Community (Recast)



• Even more EU control over the railways
  Regulation (EC) No 1335/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 881/2004 establishing a European Railway Agency (Agency Regulation)



• Price of fruit and veg
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 691/2008 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Restrictions on the British fishing industry
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 891/2008 establishing a prohibition of fishing for cod in I and IIb by vessels flying the flag of United Kingdom



• More restrictions on the British fishing industry
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 985/2008 prohibiting fishing for red seabream in Community waters and waters not under the sovereignty or jurisdiction of third countries of VI, VII and VIII by vessels flying the flag of Great Britain



• Even more restrictions on the British fishing industry
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 899/2008 establishing a prohibition of fishing for cod in Norwegian waters of I and II by vessels flying the flag of United Kingdom



• Defining a pig
  Council Directive 2008/71/EC on the identification and registration of pigs (Codified version)



• Exchanging information on pigs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 834/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1319/2006 on the exchange between the Member States and the Commission of certain information concerning pigmeat



• More control over exporting pigs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 854/2008 providing for exceptional measures regarding export licences for pigmeat



• Tariffs on pigs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 918/2008 on the issuing of import licences for applications lodged during the first seven days of September 2008 under tariff quotas opened by Regulation (EC) No 806/2007 for pigmeat



• More control over the marketing of pigs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 710/2008 setting the weighting coefficients to be used in calculating the Community market price for pig carcases for the 2008/2009 marketing year



• Protection of pigs
  Council Directive 2008/120/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs (Codified version)



• More control over immigration
  Regulation (EC) No 767/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Visa Information System (VIS) and the exchange of data between Member States on short-stay visas (VIS Regulation)



• Control over inland waterway vessels
  Commission Directive 2008/87/EC amending Directive 2006/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down technical requirements for inland waterway vessels



• More EU control over trailers
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1060/2008 replacing Annexes I, III, IV, VI, VII, XI and XV to Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive)



• Enforcing principles from the Charter of Fundamental Rights
  Directive 2008/104/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on temporary agency work



• More EU control over justice and home affairs
  Directive 2008/99/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of the environment through criminal law



• More EU control over customs and excise
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1192/2008 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2454/93 laying down provisions for the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 establishing the Community Customs Code



• Controlling the price of fruit and courgettes
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1277/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1580/2007 as regards the trigger levels for additional duties on pears, lemons, apples and courgettes



• Control over the development of hydrogen-powered cars
  Regulation (EC) No 79/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on type-approval of hydrogen-powered motor vehicles, and amending Directive 2007/46/EC

BULLETIN #12

EU Centralisation Continues Apace

Here the Bruges Group exposes the policies that the EU wants to force on Britain over the coming year. These latest EU power grabs are the challenges that we must face in 2009 and are coming regardless of the fact that the EU Constitution/Lisbon Treaty has been rejected in three referenda and has not come into force.

These plans include:
- Adding more costs onto business
- More EU control over financial services
- The EU and the nuclear industry
- More EU control over energy policy
- EU control over asylum and immigration
- An EU threat to consumer rights
- More EU control over transport
- More EU control over justice and home affairs
- More EU involvement in health and education

ADDING MORE COSTS ON BUSINESS

MORE UNCOMPETITIVE SOCIAL-MODEL ECONOMIC POLICIES

The EU plans to step-up its legislative agenda for a more ‘social’ Europe.
The European Commission is increasingly pushing for the agenda which it describes as ‘European values’ (as opposed to Anglo-Saxon values) as powerful evidence of the EU’s commitment to the ‘social dimension.’

These policy proposals will make the economy of the EU even more uncompetitive in the global economy; and gives the lie to the claim that Europe is coming our way.

Commission Communication: Renewed social agenda: opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe COM(08) 412

EU TO FURTHER UNDERMINE FLEXIBLE LABOUR MARKETS

Trade union power to be expanded.
The establishment of European Works Councils will enhance the power of trade unions and will mean employers shall be further hamstrung by EU law. This will make the EU less attractive to investors and drive jobs out of Britain to more adaptable labour markets, particularly those in Asia.

This policy proposal comes on top Article 138 of the EC Treaty which lays down that the EU must consult with ‘social partners’ (trade unions) when making social law.

Draft Directive on the establishment of a European Works Council COM(08) 419

MORE EU UNDERMINING OF THE FREE MARKET

EU to further tie Britain’s hands in the area of social policy.
The EU via Articles 136, 137, 140 and 144 of the EC Treaty has the power to force the UK to implement social measures. The EU wishes to expand its power here and produce more costly policies in the fields of social services, social security, housing and health care.

Here the European Commission reaffirms its commitment to make social policy issues the cornerstone and aim of all EU law making; leaving the elected British government with not very much to do in that important area.

Commission Communication: A renewed commitment to social Europe COM(08) 418

EU PLANS TO TAKE OVER THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY

EU proposals will see it force upon the UK its approach to tackling poverty.
In the UK the issue on how best to tackle poverty and social exclusion has become an important debate; with different approaches and strategies emerging from the two main political parties. However, this debate in the UK will become less relevant as the EU plans to expand its power into this field.

The European Commission is proposing that:

• it can begin dictating strategies for tacking poverty
• that member states must create a National Implementation Body to apply the EU’s plans; alongside that body should be National Advisory Group

Draft Decision on the European Year for combating poverty and social exclusion (2010) COM(07) 797

FURTHER EU CONTROL OVER THE WORK LIFE BALANCE

EU plans changes to social security and leave from work.
The European Union is intending to produce more laws to enforce its views on the work life balance. The proposed rules will see maternity leave, for both spouses and ‘life-partners’ increased. The spouses and ‘life-partners’ will also be able to gain more access to social security.

These measures will add more costs onto businesses and the taxpayer at a crucial time when they simply cannot be afforded.

Commission Communication: A better work-life balance COM(08) 635

MORE EU CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL SERVICES

EU CONTROL OVER TACKLING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS

The European Commission is reinforcing its control over how the UK can handle the economic crisis.
The EU is bolstering its rules on how and when state aid can be used to include how rescuing and restructuring proposals are applied, managed and targeted. This means that there is not full UK democratic control over how financial institutions are rescued.

Commission Communication: The application of state aid rules to measures taken in relation to financial institutions in the context of the current global financial crisis COM(08) 6045

EU CONTROL OVER ELECTRONIC PRE-PAYMENT PRODUCTS

Schemes which involve pre-payment shall be taken under EU Control.
This may mean that the UK’s Oyster card scheme will in future be regulated by the European Commission.

Draft Directive on the tacking up, pursuit and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions COM(08) 627

THE EU AND THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

EU CONTROL OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF NUCLEAR FUEL

EU proposals seek to force the UK to store nuclear waste underground; rather than reprocessing the spent fuel.
Britain may be forced to adopt the policy of geological storage of nuclear waste. This policy will undermine Britain’s reprocessing industry in favour of French style disposal of spent nuclear fuel. It will also lead to more EU control over Britain’s energy policy.

Commission Report on radioactive waste and spent fuel management COM(08) 542

MORE EU CONTROL OVER NUCLEAR POWER

Nuclear security and safety will come further under the control of the EU.
Instead of being under the democratic control of the British government; it is proposed that the EU will take more power over the nuclear industry.

Commission Communication: Addressing the international challenge of nuclear safety and security COM(08) 312

MORE EU CONTROL OVER ENERGY POLICY

EU CONTROL OVER THE RESPONSE TO HIGH OIL PRICES

The EU is seeking to govern how the UK can respond to increased fuel prices.
The European Commission is against the cutting of taxes on fuel to offset high oil prices because they feel that this would ‘send the wrong signal’. Therefore, the EU wants member states to redistribute income, in particular to vulnerable groups who may be suffering from higher fuel costs, rather than reduce the price of fuel through the tax regime.

OPEC has recently announced a cut-back in production to again force up the cost of oil. Yet, these proposals will limit the freedom of movement of the British government to respond to future fuel shocks.

Commission Communication: Facing the challenges of higher oil prices COM(08) 384

EU CONTROL OVER ASYLUM AND IMMIGRATION

FULL EU CONTROL OVER IMMIGRATION

The European Commission is re-doubling its efforts to develop a common immigration policy.
The EU already has extensive powers over Britain’s immigration rules, but now wants to expand these powers. The European Union aims to;

• take over the coordination of immigration
• promote legal immigration into the UK
• control the fight against illegal immigration
• manage the security issues which arise from immigration
• importantly the EU also wants to control how integration is handled

Commission Communication: A common immigration policy for Europe: principles, actions and tools COM(08) 359

THE EU’s ASYLUM POLICIES

The EU aims to create the completion of a Common European Asylum System.
The EU already controls the minimum standards for the treatment of asylum seekers, the minimum rules for granting and withdrawing refugee status and the minimum standards for granting temporary protection. The EU also controls the database recording asylum seekers details. Now it wishes to grab more power which will allow the EU to:

• establish a European Support Office to further control the policies of member states
• determine who is a refugee allowing the EU to decide who should enter the UK
• make asylum more accessible
• grant more rights to those who qualify for subsidiary protection
• make the system more responsive to gender and other ‘vulnerable groups’
• create a single procedure across all EU member states, which will undermine the independence of the UK’s legal system in that area

Commission Communication: Policy plan on asylum – an integrated approach to protection across the EU COM(08) 360

AN EU THREAT TO CONSUMER RIGHTS

MORE EU CONTROL OVER CONTRACT LAW

Under EU proposals the right of British consumers to reject defective goods and products that are of unsuitable quality and get their money back will be abolished.
Furthermore, the consumer would lose their right to decide whether sub-standard merchandise should be repaired or replaced; instead the EU wants this prerogative to be given to the trader. This will reduce the power of the consumer.

Draft Directive on consumer rights COM(08) 614

MORE EU CONTROL OVER TRANSPORT

EU CONTROL OVER CHARGES PLACED ON HEAVY GOOD VEHICLES

The EU wishes to control how and when ‘green’ stealth taxes are placed on heavy goods vehicles.
The Levying of tolls and congestion charges will be coming under the control of EU rules. Such charges will have to be made according to a complex methodology decided in Brussels. The EU proposals will add costs onto Britain’s haulage industry for little, or no, environmental benefit. As this is in effect a stealth tax it shows that the tax ‘redline’ is little more than a myth.

The proposals will also allow the EU to further define which routes are to be considered Trans-European Road Networks.

Draft Directive on the charging of heavy goods vehicles COM(08) 436

EU CONTROL OVER CAR TYRES

EU to place more costs onto the car industry and drivers.
The EU is to change the type of tyres that cars can have. It is also proposing to make it mandatory for all cars to have tyre pressure monitoring systems installed. The costs of the draft regulation are expected to be around €200 million.

Draft Regulation concerning type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles COM(08) 316

EU TO PLACE COSTS ON PUBLIC SECTOR TRANSPORT

Under EU proposals the procurement of transport by the public sector will have to be based on the amount of CO2 the vehicle emits.
The European Union’s obsession with carbon dioxide will place more costs on the public sector, public transport and in particular local government; which may have to bear costs in the hundreds of millions as a result of EU proposals.

Revised Draft Directive on the promotion of clean and energy efficient road transport vehicles COM(07) 817

MORE EU CONTROL OVER AVIATION SAFETY

European Union proposals seek to take more power over the safety of airports, air traffic management and air navigation services.
The EU has already established a European Aviation Safety Agency, and now wants to increase its powers to run Britain’s airports.

Draft Regulation in the field of aerodromes, air traffic management and air navigation COM(08) 390

MORE EU CONTROL OVER JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS

EU TO TAKE POWERS OVER THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

The European Union is proposing to control how Britain tackles drug use.
The aim of the EU is to take the powers to decide how to reduce the demand for drugs, reduce their supply and direct international cooperation in the fight against drugs. This will mean that the EU will take over Britain’s right to advocate its independent position at international meetings in particular the UN Committee on Narcotic Drugs.

The EU’s plans will specifically grant it the power to establish control over:

• policies relating to asset recovery and confiscation
• to expand the powers of Europol’s Criminal Assets Bureau
• intelligence-led policing and control over intelligence databases
• strategic planning against future drug threats
• and the treatment of drug use

Commission Communication on an EU Drugs Action Plan for 2009 – 12 COM(08) 567

EU CONTROL OVER CRIMINAL RECORDS DATABASES

The EU proposes to take control over national databases of criminal convictions.
The EU will take possession of the criminal records databases of each member states. And will determine the encryption system and software when sharing the information with other EU member states.

MORE POWER FOR THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE (ECJ)

The ECJ is set to gain more power over issues relating to visas, immigration, asylum, and powers to escalate judicial cooperation in civil matters.
It is proposed to allow all courts the right to appeal directly to the European Court of Justice. This shall mean that its decisions, often politically motivated, are more likely to reach into a greater number of legal cases; bypassing much of the British legal system.

Commission Communication: ensuring more effective judicial cooperation COM(06) 346

MORE EU INVOLVEMENT IN HEALTH AND EDUCATION

EU CONTROL OVER TRAINING AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

EU proposals will see it managing training and burdening this area with red tape.
The EU will govern vocational education and training by establishing the criteria and indicators by which it is managed and judged. The policy will also see the EU control the evaluation of investment in the training of teachers and trainers.

Surely it is the nation states that should be deciding the skills they want to promote in their own country and how best to teach them.

Draft Recommendation on the establishment of a European Quality Assurance Reference Framework for vocational education and training COM(08) 179

EU POWER OVER HEALTHCARE

EU plans to increase its legislative programme to harmonise healthcare.
Under European Union proposals the EU wants to establish the:

• harmonisation of health technology
• mutual recognition of prescriptions across the EU
• harmonisation of information systems, which could mean the end of the Government’s NHS computer system meaning the whole project will become a complete waste of resources

Draft Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare COM(08) 414
Commission Communication: A Community framework on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare COM(08) 415

BULLETIN #11

Ever-closer Union underway

These plans include:
- Control over the UK's assets
- More control over the military
- More control over Britain's borders
- Control over emergency law enforcement units
- Control over civil protection operations
- Foreign criminal friendly policies
- Expanded propaganda activities
- Using climate change to expand its foreign policy powers
- More green stealth taxes
- More control over energy policy
- Control over beauty products

EU CONTROL OVER THE UK’S ASSETS

The European Union is proposing to take control over Britain’s sovereign wealth fund.
A sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is a state-owned investment fund composed of financial assets. Sovereign wealth funds are held by central banks, who accumulate the funds in the course of their fiscal management of a nation's banking system; this fund is of major economic and fiscal importance.

The assets contained in sovereign wealth funds across the EU are worth trillions of dollars. The European Union intends to use their control to enhance the international role of the Euro; increasing its strength in an attempt to make it a reserve currency.

MORE EU CONTROL OVER THE MILITARY

The EU, driven by the French, wants to have its own military planning capability and autonomous action backed up by credible military forces.
The European Union is proposing to increase its powers so that it can plan and execute military operations separate to the planning of the nation-states and of NATO. This proposal will enhance the role of; The Political and Security Committee, The European Union Military Committee and The European Union Military Staff.

This is part of the developing Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The European Union will further enhance its European Security and Defence Policy by training Britain’s military top-brass at its European Security and Defence College. The aim is to create a pro-EU policy network amongst the senior personnel of the armed forces.

MORE EU CONTROL OVER BRITAIN’S BORDERS

The European Union is proposing to develop a surveillance force to monitor borders.
This will allow the European Union to take more power over Britain’s borders. It shall also enable the European Commission to take control over the UK’s existing national surveillance systems, including the coast guard.

EU CONTROL OVER EMERGENCY LAW ENFORCEMENT UNITS

The European Union is proposing to take control over the use of cross-border special intervention units.
Special intervention units are law enforcement divisions used to control criminal crisis situations. The proposals will allow a member-state to call in these ‘special intervention units’ to restore order.

EU CONTROL OVER CIVIL PROTECTION OPERATIONS

The European Union is proposing to take more power over emergency action in the event of a disaster.
These plans will lead to the creation of a European civil protection force that can conduct civil protection operations.

EU FOREIGN CRIMINAL FRIENDLY POLICIES

The European Union is pushing for an increase in non-custodial supervision orders for suspected criminals.
To avoid keeping suspected foreign criminals in detention pending their trial, the EU wants them to be able to move freely, whilst under supervision, between their country of origin and the state in which the offence was committed, rather than being held on remand.

This proposed legislation comes on top of EU Directive 2004/38/EC which prevents the deportation of foreign EU criminals from British soil back to their country of origin; thus allowing the free movement of criminals within the European Union.

EU TO EXPAND ITS PROPAGANDA ACTIVITIES

The European Union is to expand its communication activities.
This is a follow up to the previous propaganda initiative called Plan-D for democracy, dialogue and debate. It will involve trying to sell the idea of European integration by more effectively communicating the EU’s message via the mass media. Another arm of the strategy will be to bypass existing methods of gaining democratic legitimacy by engaging with select groups, known as Civil Society Organisations, and buying them off individually.

They will also expand the number of Europe Direct Information Centres from 478 to 500 by 2013.

The three themes of the EU’s latest propaganda initiative will revolve around;

• Institutional Settlement
• Intercultural dialogue

and
• Energy and Climate Change

EU USING CLIMATE CHANGE TO EXPAND ITS FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY POWERS

Using the perceived threat of global warming, the EU is proposing to take powers key to the sovereignty of the nation-state.
This power grab argues for more EU control in the following areas:

• More EU control over foreign policy planning and over foreign policy itself
• More EU control over immigration

MORE EU GREEN STEALTH TAXES

The EU wants to impose a stealth tax on the carbon dioxide emissions of cars and light commercial vehicles.
The proposals from the European Commission will use financial penalties against those who produce vehicles that do not conform to the EU’s mandatory targets. The resulting financial penalties will then be channelled to the budget of the European Commission thus opening up a new source of revenue for the European Union.

This will also add more costs onto the car and goods vehicle industries.

MORE EU CONTROL OVER ENERGY POLICY

The EU is attempting to expand its power over Britain’s energy policy.
The European Commission is the source of the apparent Government policy to increase the amount of renewables in the energy mix. The EU is ultimately responsible for the costly wind power policy; forcing the British Government to go ahead with this policy despite the fact that wind energy cannot reduce the UK’s reliance on conventional forms of power generation.

The EU is trying to expand its mandatory targets for renewable energy and force the UK to increase its use of biofuels. This makes the debate in Britain irrelevant as decisions on these issues are decided elsewhere.

Furthermore, the European Union is also seeking to control Britain’s policy relating to the capture and storage of Carbon Dioxide.

EU CONTROL OVER BEAUTY PRODUCTS

The European Union wants to control cosmetics.
The EU’s interference in the daily lives of the people it governs knows no bounds. They are even trying to standardise cosmetics across the EU.

THE FLOOD OF EU LAWS

From 1st May 2008 to 15th July the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO!
Since May 2007 the total is 1,798.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• Nest feathering - better pay, pensions and expenses for Brussels bureaucrats
  Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 420/2008 adjusting with effect from 1 July 2007 the remuneration and pensions of officials and other servants of the European Communities



• Control over credit
  Directive 2008/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on credit agreements for consumers and repealing Council Directive 87/102/EEC



• Involvement in civil law mediation
  Directive 2008/52/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain aspects of mediation in civil and commercial matters



• More funding for tobacco farmers
  Council Regulation (EC) No 470/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 as regards the transfer of tobacco aid to the Community Tobacco Fund for the years 2008 and 2009 and Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 with regard to financing of the Community Tobacco Fund



• Control over the marketing of apples
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 460/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 85/2004 laying down the marketing standard for apples



• More control over Customs
  Regulation (EC) No 450/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Community Customs Code (Modernised Customs Code)



• Control over telecommunications equipment
  Commission Directive 2008/63/EC on competition in the markets in telecommunications terminal equipment (Codified version)



• Control over the marketing of eggs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 598/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards of eggs



• Restrictions on the UK's fishing industry
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 614/2008 2008 establishing a prohibition of fishing for tusk in Norwegian waters of IV by vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom



• Control over driving licences - relating to licences for driving clutch pedal vehicles
  Commission Directive 2008/65/EC amending Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences



• Movement of social security schemes
  Regulation (EC) No 592/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community



• Control over firearms
  Directive 2008/51/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons



• Price of eggs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 448/2008 fixing representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1484/95



• Petfood
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 399/2008 amending Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards requirements for certain processed petfood



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 389/2008 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

BULLETIN #10

Ever-closer Union underway

These plans include:

- More EU control over rail transport
- EU control over road safety
- More EU control over electronic communications
- EU control over energy networks
- More EU attempts to enforce a social Europe
- More EU control over defence
- EU control over health
- More EU control over criminal law

MORE EU CONTROL OVER RAIL TRANSPORT

The European Union is planning to expand its interference over the railways with dire consequences for passengers.
The EU is proposing that railway routes that are used for passenger and freight transportation will come under the control of the European Commission. It is proposed that on those lines priority will be given to freight trains over passenger services. It is estimated that this will lead to a 10% increase in journey times for passengers.

The European Commission is also proposing that railway networks should also give priority to trains carrying international freight over those transporting domestic goods. This will damage economic activity within the UK.

The EU is also planning to control the rail market and train policies.

EU CONTROL OVER ROAD SAFETY

The European Union is proposing to take control over road safety, infrastructure and even signage.
The EU plans to subordinate local authorities to its management plans, forcing them to follow the EU’s procedures.

MORE EU CONTROL OVER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

The European Union is proposing to take more control over cyberspace
The EU is attempting to take control over the electronic communications market; creating new regulatory burdens and replacing national control with EU control. The areas that the EU is seeking to regulate include control over pricing and network security.

A new regulatory authority shall also be established called the European Electronic Communications Market Authority (EECMA). The cost to the taxpayer of the regulatory agency alone is likely to be over €60 million in its first three years. The agency will be able to regulate everything from the radio spectrum to the allocation of telephone numbers.

EU CONTROL OVER ENERGY AND GAS AND ELECTRICITY NETWORKS

The European Union is proposing to expand its power over energy with a powerful regulatory agency to govern the market.
Included in the EU’s plans is the proposal to force energy suppliers to bill customers on a monthly basis rather than issuing quarterly bills. It is estimated that the EU’s proposals will cost around £75 million.

The EU’s plans to govern the gas and electricity infrastructure and networks will mean that the European Commission will take control over:

• Grid connection
• Pricing
• Investment
• Storage
• Security
• Data exchange and research

MORE EU ATTEMPTS TO ENFORCE A SOCIAL EUROPE

The European Union is strengthening its influence over social policy.
The European Commission is seeking to control policies aimed at:

• Promoting the integration of immigrants
• Promoting the inclusion of ethnic minorities into the labour market
• Allow access to decent accommodation and basic services
• The EU also wants to influence training and digital literacy

MORE EU CONTROL OVER DEFENCE

Without any mention of NATO the European Commission is seeking to expand its influence over defence.
Alongside the European Defence Agency the Commission is seeking to regulate and control the defence market and military products.

The European Union will expand its control over the procurement of arms, munitions and war materials. This will lead to a harmonisation of equipment with other EU states, potentially making co-operation with the USA inoperable. As a duplication of the role of NATO the European Union will also be able to influence defence planning. It will also be able to influence investment in the armed forces and over strategic assets.

EU CONTROL OVER HEALTH

The European Commission is seeking to standardise the health market across the EU.
The European Union will establish the fundamental health values that shall govern health policy across. The EU also proposes to control health data and seeks to harmonise health policies to make them more cost-effective alongside this willo be control over the procurement of technology. Health care will also be co-ordinated with the EU’s employment, social security and social care policies. The European Commission is also planning to shift care away from hospitals to prevention and primary care.

The European Union also desires to become involved in the fight against cancer by setting rules on its prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

MORE EU CONTROL OVER CRIMINAL LAW

The European Union is proposing to take more control over criminal law.
The European Union’s plans are a step towards the creation of a European Public Prosecutor and will give Eurojust the power to direct law enforcement in member-states. Under the EU proposals Eurojust will be able to:

• Initiate arrests
• Initiate prosecutions
• Take control over national authorities law enforcement

The flood of EU laws

From 9th January 2008 to 30th April the EU has passed 402 laws which will impact on the UK.
Since May 2007 the total is that is ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN!


Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• Residence permits for immigrants
  Council Regulation (EC) No 380/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1030/2002 laying down a uniform format for residence permits for third-country nationals



• Anti-terrorism
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 374/2008 amending for the 94th time Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban



• Aviation security
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 358/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 622/2003 laying down measures for the implementation of the common basic standards on aviation security



• Plane steps
  Commission Directive 2008/49/EC amending Annex II to Directive 2004/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the criteria for the conduct of ramp inspections on aircraft using Community airports



• Maritime security
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 324/2008 laying down revised procedures for conducting Commission inspections in the field of maritime security



• Control over aerosols
  Commission Directive 2008/47/EC amending, for the purposes of adapting to technical progress, Council Directive 75/324/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to aerosol dispensers



• Protecting plants and animals
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 318/2008 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein



• Training for air-conditioning personnel
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 307/2008 establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council, minimum requirements for training programmes and the conditions for mutual recognition of training attestations for personnel as regards air-conditioning systems in certain motor vehicles containing certain fluorinated greenhouse gases



• Analysing milk
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 273/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards methods for the analysis and quality evaluation of milk and milk products



• Milk delivery
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 228/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 595/2004 with regard to intensity of controls on deliveries and direct sales of milk



• Labour market
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 207/2008 adopting the specifications of the 2009 ad hoc module on the entry of young people into the labour market provided for by Council Regulation (EC) No 577/98



• Storage of pigmeat
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 179/2008 allowing the extension of the duration of private storage contracts in the pigmeat sector



• Control over postal services
  Directive 2008/6/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 97/67/EC with regard to the full accomplishment of the internal market of Community postal services



• Pregnant animals
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 384/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1266/2007 as regards the conditions for exempting pregnant animals from the exit ban provided for in Council Directive 2000/75/EC



• Taxation
  Council Directive 2008/7/EC concerning indirect taxes on the raising of capital



• Energy efficiency labelling
  Regulation (EC) No 106/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Community energy-efficiency labelling programme for office equipment (recast version)



• Windscreen wipers
  Directive 2008/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the field of vision and windscreen wipers for wheeled agricultural or forestry tractors (Codified version)



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 383/2008 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables

BULLETIN #9

Ever-closer Union underway

Despite the fact that the revived EU Constitution is yet to be ratified, ever-closer Union is already underway. Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over Britiain.
These plans include:

- EU control over the insurance market
- EU environmental taxes
- Usurping UK’s positions in tax negotiations
- Tighter EU controls over HM Revenue & Customs
- Charter of Fundamental Rights enforced by stealth
- EU control over electronic communications
- More EU involvement in education
- EU social-security
- More EU control over sport
- More costs on the shipping industry
- Control over transport

EU CONTROL OVER THE INSURANCE MARKET

The EU wants to take even more control over Britain’s insurance and reinsurance market.
The European Union is proposing to harmonise insurance services across the EU and make sure that the UK market complies with the EU’s regulatory agenda.

Under the control of the EU will be the following areas:

• The principles that determine the valuation of assets and liabilities, especially those of policy holders
• Issues relating to capital, introducing a standardised formula to determine capital requirements
• Insurance companies must conduct costly and time consuming evaluations of their company to make sure that it complies with EU practices
• Place insurance businesses under the regulation of the EU and force them to disclose information to the European Commission

EU ENVIRONMENTAL TAXES

The European Union is proposing to control the introduction of so-called green taxes.
The EU plans to amend the Energy Taxation Directive which already seeks to set the minimum level of tax on fuel. The Brussels term for regulation via taxation is ‘market-based instruments’.

The proposed new taxation strategy will target transport, in particular shipping and heavy goods vehicles. Other areas to be initially targeted by the market-based instruments (MBIs) are the use of water, where the EU will make sure that consumers pay for the environmental cost of using water; this could lead to the mandatory nation-wide introduction of watermeters. The EU will also continue to increase the cost of landfill, which has already led to higher Council Tax and infrequent bin collections in some areas.

It is intended that the MBIs will work alongside the existing Emissions Trading Scheme.

USURPING UK’S POSITION IN TAX NEGOTIATIONS

The European Union is seeking to replace Britain’s position in negotiations on tax policy when it is being discussed with the World Bank, OECD and the IMF.
This will be in a similar fashion to how it represents the UK in discussions on trade matters.

This is an attempt to further undermine the UK’s ability to determine its own tax law and could lead to attempts to abolish tax sovereignty and harmonise taxation across international boundaries.

TIGHTER EU CONTROLS OVER HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS

Britain’s Revenue & Customs department main purpose is to enforce EU, not UK, law. It is now set to lose control over how it manages its own affairs and how it enforces European Union law.
The European Commission will gain control over how and when investigations are carried out. This breaches the ‘redline’ on Justice and Home Affairs. A database shall also be established to allow the European Union to further harmonise customs departments across the EU.

The proposed directive shall also undermine how the UK collects VAT and could thus further undermine Britain’s tax sovereignty.

Agriculture will also be covered by this proposed change to EU law.

CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS ENFORCED BY STEALTH

The European Union is increasing its efforts to make sure that the Charter of Fundamental Rights is enforced.
Regardless of whether or not the Charter of Fundamental Rights is ratified as part of the revived EU Constitution, Brussels wants the Charter’s doctrines brought into law by expanding the power and scope of the European Agency for Fundamental Rights.

It will influence decision making across the EU in many areas, most notably; issues relating to crime, security, immigration, asylum, border control, and justice.

Its remit clearly breaches the Government’s red lines on the Charter and on Justice and Home Affairs.

The Agency was originally established without the authority deriving from a Treaty, instead it derives its authority from Article 308 on the dubious legal ground that it relates to the smooth functioning of the single market.

EU CONTROL OVER ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

The European Union is seeking to expand its power over cyberspace.
This will create an EU wide set of laws that will govern how electronic communications, including e-mail, SMS, fax and websites operate in the UK.

It is also intended that this latest power grab will build upon the powers the EU already has over radio frequencies and their allocation.

The EU is also seeking to take power over the delivery of television to mobile phones with the aim of limiting technological competition allowing the European Commission to pick winners and control Britain’s mobile spectrum rather than leaving the communications operators free to determine how the spectrum is used.

^{Commission Communication: Consolidating the internal market for Electronic Communications 11807/07 COM(07) 401 + ADD 1}

Commission Communication: Strengthening the Internal Market of Mobile TV 12028/07 + ADDs 1-2 COM(07) 409

MORE EU INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION

The EU is proposing to take more power over education and training.
Under European Union plans the UK will have to justify to Brussels what action is being taken to improve educational standards in schools. The EU also wishes to encourage harmonisation, via cooperation, of member states education systems.

The European Union is also planning to expand upon the Erasmus Mundas programmes which will expand its power in higher education.

These measures will give the EU greater ability to use education as means of propaganda.

^{Commission staff working document: “Schools for the 21st century” 11808/07 SEC(07) 1009}

Draft Decision 11708/07 COM(07) 395

^{Commission Communication 13426/07 COM(07) 558}

EU SOCIAL-SECURITY

The European Union is seeking to expand its power over social-security making the British taxpayer liable to fund welfare payments across the EU.
As a result of the EU’s over-regulation and damaging economic policies; jobs are being driven to other parts of the world. To make up for this, instead of de-regulating to encourage job creation, the EU has decided to enhance a scheme intended to show ‘solidarity with workers affected by redundancies’. This scheme allows the EU to call on the British taxpayer to subsidise the costs of workers losing their jobs across the EU.

France is set to be the main beneficiary from this fund.

MORE EU CONTROL OVER SPORT

The European Union is proposing to fully open up the field of sport to EU legal control. It also wants to end discrimination in sport on the grounds of gender and disability.
The EU has already intervened in the football transfer market, demanded that sport have a ‘European’ dimension and taken control over TV rights. Now the EU wants to enforce its will over the following areas:

• EU to control member-states exercise policies, especially in schools
• EU to control the fight against criminal activities and anti-social behaviour in sport
• EU to control the financing of sport
• Sport will be used to teach ‘European’ values
• Introduce quotas for sports teams
• Force member-states to implement sports policies designed to encourage the participation of ethnic minority immigrant women, placing them in decision-making positions
• The EU will control media coverage by regulation, insisting that the media broadcast women’s sport

MORE COSTS ON THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY

The European Union is planning to take more control over Britain’s maritime industry adding massive costs onto shipping businesses.
Currently shipping is regulated by a series of international agreements which are proving sufficient; the EU however is proposing to breach them by forcing new rules upon ships using ports in the EU. This will threaten the current system of regulation, potentially leading to a breakdown in the existing regulatory framework.

More costs will also be placed on the industry by unreasonably expanding the liability of shipping firms. The EU will also expand its bureaucracy that regulates shipping thus adding a greater burden on the taxpayer.

CONTROL OVER TRANSPORT

The EU is proposing to take power over transport issues in cities across the EU.
The EU is looking into expanding its power so that it will have influence over transportation issues. The European Union would like the authority to push for the introduction of;

• Congestion charging
• Seeking to influence a shift from private transport to public
• More ‘green’ taxation
• Influence how lanes are used
• Influence over speed cameras and surveillance
• Control over the procurement of public transport
• Introduce a Charter of Rights and Obligations for passengers

The flood of EU laws

From 22nd September 2007 to 8th January 2008 the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO!
Since the start of May the total is 1,114.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• Marketing of eggs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1336/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 557/2007 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006 on marketing standards for eggs



• More business red-tape
  Directive 2007/63/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directives 78/855/EEC and 82/891/EEC as regards the requirement of an independent expert’s report on the occasion of merger or division of public limited liability companies



• Control over the dried fodder market
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1388/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 382/2005 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1786/2003 on the common organisation of the market in dried fodder



• Regulation of railways
  Regulation (EC) No 1370/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on public passenger transport services by rail and by road and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) Nos 1191/69 and 1107/70



• More regulation of railways
  Directive 2007/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community’s railways and Directive 2001/14/EC on the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure



• Even more regulation of railways
  Directive 2007/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the certification of train drivers operating locomotives and trains on the railway system in the Community



• Regulation of political parties
  Regulation (EC) No 1524/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 2004/2003 on the regulations governing political parties at European level and the rules regarding their funding



• Taxation
  Council Directive 2007/75/EC amending Directive 2006/112/EC with regard to certain temporary provisions concerning rates of value added tax



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1101/2007 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Control over milk
  Council Regulation (EC) No 1153/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk



• Control over car trailers
  Directive 2007/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of establishing a framework for the approval of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles (Framework Directive)



• Control over the sugar industry
  Council Regulation (EC) No 1261/2007 of amending Regulation (EC) No 320/2006 establishing a temporary scheme for the restructuring of the sugar industry in the Community



• Control over airplane communication
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1265/2007 of laying down requirements on air-ground voice channel spacing for the single European sky



• Restrictions on British fishing vessels
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1283/2007 establishing a prohibition of fishing for herring in ICES zones Vb and VIb; EC and international waters of VIaN by vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom



• Control over flooding
  Directive 2007/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment and management of flood risks

BULLETIN #8

Taxation Special

More EU tax plans

Despite the so-called red line in taxation that the Government claims it has secured the reality is that much of our taxation is already controlled by the EU, such as indirect taxation. Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over British taxation. These plans include:

The European Union is planning to expand its powers over taxation and introduce EU-wide taxes to fund the European Union.
Currently the EU is primarily funded by contributions from member-states. However, the anti-democratic European Commission, with the support of the European Parliament is pushing for EU taxes to fund the EU. This will allow it to by-pass national governments and take money directly from the people and businesses of Europe.

The European Commission recognises that as this is controversial they can instead receive funding by raising money directly for themselves via new EU stealth taxes including;

• Taking over a share of corporate income tax
• An additional EU VAT on top of the VAT which national governments are forced to impose by the EU
• EU ‘green’ taxes on motor fuel, aviation fuel and taking the money from road tax which will be charged according to a car’s efficiency

The European Parliament in its own resolution in support of an EU wide tax has added to the list of areas where they intend to introduce new taxes. These are;

• taxes on dealings in securities
• taxes on transport or telecommunications services
• income tax
• withholding tax on interest
• ECB profits (seigniorage)
• ecotax
• taxes on currency transactions
• taxes on savings
• taxes on financial transactions (Tobin tax)

Another possible option is to encourage member-states governments to impose new taxes and make the European Union the beneficiary of those funds.

The proposals also expressly state that the aim is to make sure that controversial projects, which member-states may not wish to fund, such as the EU’s Galileo program and the Transeuropean Networks can proceed. It is also intended that it will allow the EU to reject the attempts, which have been led by the British government, to rationalise the costly Common Agricultural Policy.They hope to begin work to establish this during the current Portuguese Presidency.

The proposal argues that the EU deserves more finance. The EU also fears that the project to further centralise the EU will stall if larger member such as the UK are allowed to influence what monies are spent where instead of the EU making those decisions themselves.

Allowing the EU to raise funds independently of member-states will remove any leverage that national democracies have over the anti-democratic and federalist EU institutions in Brussels.

The proposals will also finally lead to the elimination of the British rebate.

An EU tax makes a further mockery of the Governments so-called red-line on taxation.

Commission report on the operation of the own resources system

Report to the Committee on Budgets on the future of the European Union’s own resources (2006 / 2205 (INI) A6-0066/2007)

The flood of EU laws

From 29th August to 21st September the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is ONE HUNDRED AND ONE!
Since the start of May the total is 662.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• Restrictions on fishing
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1035/2007 establishing a prohibition of fishing for tusk in EC and International waters of ICES zone V, VI and VII by vessels flying the flag of United Kingdom



• Control over selling diamonds
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1038/2007 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2368/2002 implementing the Kimberley Process certification scheme for the international trade in rough diamonds



• Restricting Airliners
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1043/2007 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 474/2006 establishing the Community list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the Community



• Control of financial services
  Directive 2007/44/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 92/49/EEC and Directives 2002/83/EC, 2004/39/EC, 2005/68/EC and 2006/48/EC as regards procedural rules and evaluation criteria for the prudential assessment of acquisitions and increase of holdings in the financial sector



• Control over medical devises
  Directive 2007/47/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Council Directive 90/385/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to active implantable medical devices, Council Directive 93/42/EEC concerning medical devices and Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products on the market



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1088/2007 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Price of meat and eggs
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1094/2007 fixing representative prices in the poultrymeat and egg sectors and for egg albumin, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1484/95



• Restrictions on certain plants
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1037/2007 suspending the introduction into the Community of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora

BULLETIN #7

The EU carrying on regardless

THE EU'S FORTHCOMING PLANS
Including costly employment proposals and more control over asylum and immigration policy

THE FLOOD OF EU LAWS
From 19th July to 28th August the European Union has passed 159 laws which will impact on the UK

The EU's Forthcoming Plans

Even without the Reform Treaty being agreed the EU is continually taking more powers from our national democracy.

Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over the UK. These plans include:

EU to enforce more anti-business employment legislation.
Currently Article 125 of the Treaty of Rome demands that members of the EU coordinated their employment policies.

The EU wants Britain to adopt proposals that will;

• Make employment contracts less flexible than UK rules currently permit
• Expand social security to the unemployed including migrants
• Prevent reform of the welfare state
• Allow migrants easier access to the job market
• Encourage consultation between the Government and trade unions
• Promote wide trade union membership
• Strengthen the European social model

EU plans to control how many asylum seekers are allowed into Britain.
Further to the EU’s plans exposed by the Bruges Group where they are proposing to take more control over migration making it easier for people to enter Britain; the EU is now even looking into;

• Replace the minimum standards for asylum seekers with mandatory standards to improve their treatment
• Establishing a single process for designating and assessing applications for refugee status and those that should receive subsidiary protection
• Determining an EU wide status for allowing entry to those which the EU deems should receive subsidiary protection
• Mutual recognition of asylum decisions across the EU, allowing asylum seekers who received their status in one EU county to travel to Britain and automatically be given the same rights and benefits in the UK
• Determining how the UK integrates asylum seekers into British society

The EU thinks that Britain’s rules on who should be allowed to reside here permanently are too stringent.
Currently the EU allows anyone, except refugees, from outside of the EU who has lived in the UK for five years indefinite leave to remain, unless there are exceptional circumstances; which the EU also determines. The EU also insists that they receive the same rights as full British citizens.

The European Union is proposing to grant this right to refugees as well as those that the EU decides should receive subsidiary protection.

The EU is also proposing that refugees that are awarded indefinite leave to remain in one EU country can then come and reside in Britain.

This will make it almost impossible for the UK to return refugees to their country of origin opening up wide gaps in the UK’s borders.

STATE FUNDING OF EU WIDE POLITICAL PARTIES

EU could deny funding to political parties that do not support European integration.
The European Commission is proposing to amend Regulation (EC) 2004/2003 on the funding of political groups in the European Parliament, aiming to turn them into quasi EU-wide political parties.

It will also add a duty onto European political parties to contribute to the debate on EU.

If they do not fulfil this criterion EU funding will be withheld; therefore this proposal could allow the EU to deny financial support to those that do not support ever-cloer Union. It may also stymie those in the Conservative Party that desire to leave the EPP.

COSTLY EU PLANS TO APPEASE THE EU FUNDED GREEN LOBBY

The European Commission is proposing a whole raft of costly measures designed to appease the green lobby.
The national debate on whether climate change is happening and what action is needed, if any, to tackle it will soon be made irrelevant by the EU. The European Commission will remove from national-governments the power to decide their own policies in this area.

The EU’s proposals are partly driven by the fear that global warming may add to the water shortage that they say we are facing.

FULL CONTROL OVER AID

EU plans to take over Britain’s aid program.
The EU as well as individual member states run their own aid and international development programs. The European Commission is proposing to take more control over the UK’s policies in those areas.

The EU is proposing that;

• Its Directorate-General (DG ECHO) should be the co-ordinator of international aid
• Any aid should be given according to the EU’s standards laid down by the Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) Initiative
• The EU will seek to determine how much the UK spends on aid
• That money the UK does spend should in future be as part of the EU’s own plans

The flood of EU laws

From 19th July to 28th August the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE!
Since the start of May the total is 561.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• EU involvement in civil law
  Regulation (EC) No 861/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a European Small Claims Procedure



• Immigration counting procedure
  Regulation (EC) No 862/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Community statistics on migration and international protection and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 311/76 on the compilation of statistics on foreign workers



• EU Immigration police
  Regulation (EC) No 863/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a mechanism for the creation of Rapid Border Intervention Teams and amending Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004 as regards that mechanism and regulating the tasks and powers of guest officers



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 960/2007 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Fruit export license system
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 967/2007 of on the issue of system B export licences in the fruit and vegetables sector (table grapes)



• Statistical economic analysis
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 973/2007 amending certain EC Regulations on specific statistical domains implementing the statistical classification of economic activities NACE Revision 2



• Duty on apples
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 977/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 1555/96 as regards the trigger levels for additional duties on apples



• Rules on importation of sugar
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 985/2007 setting the allocation coefficient for issuing of licences applied for from 13 to 17 August 2007 to import sugar products under tariff quotas and preferential agreements



• System for calculating the price of pig carcasses
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 846/2007 fixing the weighting coefficients to be used in calculating the Community market price for pig carcasses for the 2007/08 marketing year



• Rules on examining vegetables
  Commission Directive 2007/49/EC amending Directive 2003/91/EC setting out implementing measures for the purposes of Article 7 of Council Directive 2002/55/EC as regards the characteristics to be covered as a minimum by the examination and the minimum conditions for examining certain varieties of vegetable species

BULLETIN #6

The EU's Forthcoming Plans

Even without the Reform Treaty being agreed the EU is continually taking more powers from our national democracy.

Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over the UK. These plans include:

EU proposals want trade unions to have greater input into the legislative process and to be able to have an influence across national boundaries.
This will be achieved by elevating unions to the position of ‘social partners’ and creating EU wide collective. This will undermine Britain’s voluntary approach to industrial relations by making collective agreements legally enforceable.

This proposal will increase union power and potentially undermine the successful balance that has been achieved in the UK.

The European Union is proposing to add more costs onto road transport businesses.
In the name of harmonising rules across the EU, the European Union will expand upon it existing regulations and seeks to force the introduction of new rules into Britain.

Companies wishing to operate in the road haulage business will now have to jump through a series of legal hoops. They will have to:

• employ a transport manager who will be legally responsible for his drivers;
• transport managers must undergo 140 of training and pass an EU examination;
• transport operators must provide proof of their financial status;
• restrictions on the number of jobs carried out by transport operators that are registered in one member state but carried out in another will be limited to three per week;
• licences will be standardised across the EU;
• road haulage operators will have to re-apply for their licenses regardless of the fact they have already been approved by the UK authorities;
• an electronic register of operators and drivers will have to be established.

Aviation safety to be weakened by EU proposals.
At times of high security alerts the UK Government takes action to make sure that terrorist attacks will not happen on passenger aircraft based in the UK, such as by banning liquids being taken onto flights. This policy, however, is due to be stopped by the EU.

Although this may be convenient for passengers; the undermining of the UK’s ability to fight terrorism is a source of concern. In order to help the duty free industry it is intended that these rules will apply before the start of the peak summer traffic season.

CONTROL OVER CIVIL LAW

Common Law to become regulated by the EU.
Legal precedents have established a body of law in England and other Anglo-sphere countries, this system is known as Common Law and has its routes in Anglo-Saxon England, later being enhanced by Henry II. But the process of making this once independent body of law subservient to the EU has begun in earnest.

EU regulations will decide when and where Common Law will apply and establish rules as to when claims can be made in the following fields; negligence, road traffic accidents, law of trusts, matrimonial law and rules which relate to freedom of the press including defamation and privacy law.

The proposals will also allow for the introduction of non-compensatory, exemplary or punitive damages, which may be excessive, to be awarded in areas of civil wrongs.

REHABILITATION OF FOREIGN CRIMINALS

EU proposals want the UK Government to rehabilitate foreign criminals in Britain.
It is already the case that Britain cannot deport criminals who come from other EU states back to their country of origin. As part of the EU’s continuing involvement in Justice and Home Affairs, the EU is seeking to create the mutual recognition of non-custodial sentences across the European Union. This is to allow convicted offenders to have greater freedom to decide in which country they can reside when they receive their punishment.

Furthermore, when the British authorities are dealing with criminals from other EU states, the European Union's plans will limit the UK’s ability to enforce the deterrent, justice and retribution models of criminal justice; instead the UK authorities should issue sanctions against offenders that are aimed at rehabilitating the criminal rather than punishing them.

It doesn't take a treaty

How the EU uses Article 308 to force ever-closer Union

The British Government is conspiring with the EU to force through further integration using Article 308 of Britain’s membership of the European Union.

This article reads:
"If action by the Community should prove necessary to attain, in the course of the operation of the common market, one of the objectives of the Community, and this Treaty has not provided the necessary powers, the Council shall, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission and after consulting the European Parliament, take the appropriate measures."

This means that the EU can take extra powers in order to help the common market.

However, the European Court of Justice’s interpretation of this article allows for greater centralisation than what is permitted under our treaty obligations. The ECJ has decided that Article 308 can be used in matters that do not relate in any way to the common market. This shows that the argument that there is a limit to EU power is merely pretence. The Government has recently announced that they support the EU’s loose interpretation of the meaning of Article 308.

The European Union is even using the EU Constitution to back-up its arguments. Here they argue that Article 308 should not be considered as just a measure to help the operation of the common market because the EU Constitution has a similar clause that does not mention the common market. Choosing to interpret the meaning of Article 308 as it is set out in the Constitution, which incidentally has not been ratified, allows them to feel free to take more powers in any area they see fit.

Below are some examples of where Article 308 has been used to force further integration:

• Third world aid
  Regulation to grant exceptional food aid to the least-developed countries (Council Regulation (EEC) No 3723/81;
• Involvement in Northern Ireland
  Regulation to introduce an exceptional Community measure to promote urban renewal in Northern Ireland (Council Regulation (EEC) No 1739/83;
• Involvement in Mongolia
  Regulation to provide assistance to economic reform in Mongolia (Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 1279/96.
• Translation
  Regulation to set up a Translation Centre for bodies of the European Union (Council Regulation (EC) No 2965/94;

The flood of EU laws

From 11th to 18th July the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is FORTY FOUR!
Since the start of May the total is 402.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• Compulsory training for those who keep chickens
  Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production



• New system of analysis of loading and unloading in road haulage
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 833/2007 ending the transitional period provided for in Council Regulation (EC) No 1172/98 on statistical returns in respect of the carriage of goods by road



• Mirrors on lorries
  Directive 2007/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the retrofitting of mirrors to heavy goods vehicles registered in the Community



• Standardisation of rules relating to shareholders
  Directive 2007/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the exercise of certain rights of shareholders in listed companies



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 805/2007 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Price of pork
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 806/2007 opening and providing for the administration of tariff quotas in the pigmeat sector

European Parliament report on Reform Treaty

The European Parliament approves the mandate for the Reform Treaty and exposes the fact that it is a guise for reviving the EU Constitution.
The European Parliament has recently approved a report by Joe Leinen, the German socialist chairman of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, on the proposed Reform Treaty. The report was approved by 500 to 111 against.

Key elements are listed below:

• Reform Treaty IS the EU Constitution revived and the Charter of Fundamental Rights is binding
  8. Welcomes, nevertheless, the fact that the mandate safeguards much of the substance of the Constitutional Treaty, notably the single legal personality of the Union and the suppression of the pillars structure, the extension of qualified majority voting in the Council and co-decision by Parliament and the Council, the elements of participatory democracy, the legally binding status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the enhancement of the coherence of the external action of the Union and the balanced institutional package;



• Reform Treaty mandate derives from the Convention
  9. Observes that all positive results in terms of the strengthening of democratic procedures and citizens rights, in terms of enlargement of competences and in terms of definition of the EU's values and objectives derive exclusively from the work of the Convention on the Future of Europe;



• Britain’s euro opt out is undermined
  10. Welcomes the fact that economic and monetary union was introduced in the Treaty on European Union as an objective of the EU;



• Control over energy
  11. Welcomes the fact that the mandate provides for the introduction of certain new elements in the treaties, such as the explicit mention of climate change and solidarity in the field of energy;



• EU Flag and anthem should have official status
  23. Invites its competent committee to study the introduction of a modification of its Rules of Procedure so as to lend official character to the European Union flag and hymn contained in the European Constitution in its activities and premises.

BULLETIN #5

The EU's Forthcoming Plans

Recently the EU announced its intention to pass more laws that will undermine Britain's competitiveness. These plans include:

EU proposals will add more costs onto the shipping industry.
At the expense of ship owning companies, the European Union is seeking to undermine the ship dismantling industry in Bangladesh by demanding that in future many redundant ships should be broken up within the European Union, not outside of the EU.

These proposals will damage the mutually beneficial industry in the Indian Sub-Continent where ships are recycled at low cost whilst local people benefit from the jobs and raw materials generated by this business.

Under the EU’s plans the costs of ship recycling will increase massively at the expense of the firm that owns the vessel. This will undermine the competitiveness of Britain’s maritime industry.

The EU is planning more regulation to control Britain’s water system adding an extra £1 billion per year onto water bills.
In order to meet the European Union’s proposed environmental quality standards the UK may be forced to spend billions of pounds changing its water treatment system.

These costs are additional to those already forced onto the UK by the EU’s Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC); which cost billions of pounds to achieve; massively increasing prices for consumers.

EU proposals will take even more control over the City of London and Britain’s financial services.
The EU plans to expand its power into the following areas:

• Control over insurance
  The EU will lay down a series of rules relating to insurance
• Control over mortgages
  The European Commission will determine the rules which govern; mortgages, equity release schemes and the role on non-banking institutions in the supply of mortgages.
• Banking
  The EU will seeks to expand upon its existing power and make changes to competition in the banking market

EU uses Constitutional Treaty to expand its foreign policy ambitions.
Without the final details of the so-called Reform Treaty being agreed, the EU has already made proposals to heighten the role of the European External Action Service.

The EU’s plans will increase the power and scope of its foreign policy ambitions in the following areas:

• presenting, explaining and implementing EU policy
• analysing and reporting on the policies and developments of the countries to which they are accredited
• conducting negotiations with those countries

MORE CONTROL OVER IMMIGRATION

Under European Commission proposals the EU will be able to make agreements with non-EU states that will allow foreign nationals to enter the UK.
Described as ‘mobility partnerships’ the EU will take control over migration and will make it easier for people to enter Britain. This the EU hopes will cut down on illegal migration, but will undermine Britain’s points based immigration system.

The EU also demands to have details on the agreements between individual member states and third countries. The proposals also plan to beef up the power of FRONTEX (the EU agency for the management of operational cooperation at the EU's external borders) thus giving the European Union more power over the UK's borders.

EU proposes to make it a criminal offence to use labour from migrants who are staying without permission.
In a clear breach of the so-called ‘red line’ regarding Justice and Home Affairs; the EU is proposing to punish contractors who use, knowingly or unknowingly, sub-contractors that employ immigrants who do not have work permits.

Those who commit an offence under this proposal must face ‘effective, proportionate and dissuasive criminal sanctions.’.

These proposals attempt to place a band-aid over the failure of asylum policy. Through Article 63 of the Amsterdam Treaty the EU already controls asylum policy and is now forcing the burden of its failure onto businesses who may have unwittingly employed sub-contractors who use migrant workers that do not have the necessary permission to work within the EU.

The flood of EU laws

From 1st to 10th July the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is THIRTY THREE!
Since the start of May the total is 358.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• Marketing of headed cabbages
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 782/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 634/2006 laying down the marketing standard applicable to headed cabbages



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 803/2007 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Checks on car insurance
  Commission Decision on the application of Council Directive 72/166/EEC with regard to checks on insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (notified under document number C(2007) 3291) 2007/483/EC



• Incomes on agricultural holdings
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 800/2007 amending Regulation (EEC) No 1859/82 concerning the selection of returning holdings for the purpose of determining incomes of agricultural holdings



• Restricting imports of steel
  Council Regulation (EC) No 752/2007 on administering certain restrictions on imports of certain steel products from Ukraine



• Restricting fishing
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 798/2007 establishing a prohibition of fishing for herring in ICES zone VIIg, VIIh, VIIj and VIIk by vessels flying the flag of the United Kingdom



• Banning certain air carriers from EU airspace
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 787/2007 amending Commission Regulation (EC) No 474/2006 establishing the Community list of air carriers which are subject to an operating ban within the Community



• Restrictive measures relating to the former Yugoslavia
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 789/2007 amending, for the eleventh time, Regulation (EC) No 1763/2004 imposing certain restrictive measures in support of effective implementation of the mandate of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

BULLETIN #4

The EU's Forthcoming Tax Plans

Despite the so-called red line in taxation that the Government claims it has secured the reality is that much of our taxation is already controlled by the EU, such as indirect taxation.

Recently the EU announced its intention to take more control over British taxation. These plans include:

The European Union is planning to take further control over Britain’s corporation tax base.
EU control in this area will mean that the UK would no longer be able to determine who is liable to pay company taxes. The European Commissions timetable will see there plans introduced possibly as early as 2008.

The EU is looking into four main areas:

• assets and tax depreciation;
• reserves, provisions and liabilities;
• taxable income; and
• international aspects of a common consolidated corporate tax base

EU to keep energy costs high.
The European Union is proposing to increase the tax on diesel and petrol. It is proposed to increase the minimum excise duty on diesel by over 26%. The increases will be in 2010, 2012 and 2014 until the cost reaches £256 per 1000 litres. The unleaded petrol excise rate, currently £241 per 1000 litres, would also steadily rise until it reaches £256 in 2014.

These proposed increases will limit a British governments ability to reduce the costs of fuel.

The EU is planning to codify its rules which compel the British tax authorities to collect taxes in Britain for other member-states.
If British citizens owe other EU states taxes, duties or other levies the UK HM Revenue and Customs will be obliged to collect the money directly from the individuals or businesses and pay it to the state requesting the money.

SHARING OF FINANCIAL DETAILS

EU proposals want personal financial information to be shared with other member-states.
The European Union plans regulation establishing a monitoring system to make sure that member-states assist the work of other tax authorities by supplying them with financial information.

Deals behind closed doors.
The EU code of conduct on taxation leads to the standardisation of tax systems. Under the guise of eliminating ‘harmful tax competition’, i.e. low taxes, the EU has established a code of conduct that leads to tax systems across the EU being standardised by stealth. The Code of Conduct group assesses member-states tax systems approximately six times a year and reports for the elimination of ‘harmful tax competition’ are submitted to the European Council of Foreign Ministers (ECOFIN).

Furthermore, ECOFIN approved on 27th March 2007 a strategy titled "Coordinating Member States’ direct tax systems in the Internal Market". This requests member states to begin the process of coordinating their tax systems so that they are compliant with EU law.

The flood of EU laws

From 20th June to 30th June the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is ONE HUNDRED AND NINE!
Since the start of May the total is 325.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• The Maritime Labour Convention
  Council Decision authorising Member States to ratify, in the interests of the European Community, the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, of the International Labour Organisation Commission 2007/432/EC



• Use of alien species in aquaculture
  Council Regulation (EC) No 708/2007 concerning use of alien and locally absent species in aquaculture



• Lighting on motor vehicles
  Commission Directive 2007/35/EC amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Council Directive 76/756/EEC concerning the installation of lighting and light-signalling devices on motor vehicles and their trailers



• Price of fruit and vegetables
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 726/2007 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Approval of motor vehicles
  Commission Directive 2007/37/EC amending Annexes I and III to Council Directive 70/156/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the type approval of motor vehicles and their trailers



• School milk
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 704/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 2707/2000 laying down rules for applying Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards Community aid for supplying milk and certain milk products to pupils in educational establishments



• Refunds for eggs and egg yolks
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 689/2007 fixing the rates of the refunds applicable to eggs and egg yolks exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty



• Storage of butter
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 688/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999 as regards the entry into storage of intervention butter put on sale



• Characteristics of olive oil
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 702/2007 amending Commission Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis



• Restrictive measures against Usama bin Laden
  Commission Regulation (EC) No 732/2007 amending for the 79th time Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 467/2001

BULLETIN #3

The flood of EU laws

From 27th May to 19th June the EU has passed laws which will impact on the UK. That is ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE!
Since the start of May the total is 216.

Examples of the laws recently introduced are below:

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 576/2007 of 25 May 2007 establishing the standard import values for determining the entry price of certain fruit and vegetables



• Commission Regulation (EC) No 579/2007 of 25 May 2007 fixing the minimum selling price for butter for the 64th individual invitation to tender issued under the standing invitation to tender referred to in Regulation (EC) No 2771/1999



• Commission Decision of 21 May 2007 on guidelines to assist Member States in preparing the single integrated multi-annual national control plan provided for in Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (notified under document number C(2007) 2099) (1) 2007/364/EC



• Commission Regulation (EC) No 587/2007 of 30 May 2007 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 as regards the granting of private storage aid for certain cheeses in the 2007/2008 storage period



• Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2007 of 30 May 2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 1555/96 as regards the trigger levels for additional duties on tomatoes, apricots, lemons, plums, peaches, including nectarines, pears and table grapes



• Commission Directive 2007/29/EC of 30 May 2007 amending Directive 96/8/EC as regards labelling, advertising or presenting foods intended for use in energy-restricted diets for weight reduction



• Decision No 574/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 May 2007 establishing the External Borders Fund for the period 2007 to 2013 as part of the General programme ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows'



• Commission Regulation (EC) No 639/2007 of 8 June 2007 amending for the 78th time Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002 imposing certain specific restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban, and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 467/2001



• Commission Decision of 7 June 2007 amending Council Directive 90/377/EEC with regard to the methodology to be applied for the collection of gas and electricity prices charged to industrial end-users 2007/395/EC

Forthcoming plans

Recently the EU has announced more plans, which include:

Rules are being proposed relating to shipping that will undermine Britain’s ability to negotiate maritime law on the international stage.
Just as European Union membership means that Britain is unable to determine its own trade policy in WTO negotiations the EU’s policy, if implemented, would further limit the UK’s ability to influence maritime policy in the International Maritime Organisation.

^{Draft Directive on compliance with flag state requirements 6843/06 COM(05) 586}

A series of directives and regulations are being proposed that will take control over Britain's tourism trade.
This will enforce via the back door Article III-281 of the Constitutional Treaty which hands tourism over to the Commission as an EU competence.

This follows on from a 2003 Commission communication that raised concerns about the seasonal nature of the tourism industry and that it was unfortunate that tourism was concentrated in the summer months.

The European Commission is proposing to take control over the management of soil.
This will involve enforcing EU polices to tackle the following problems; soil erosion, landslides, loss of organic matter, compaction, salinisation, soil contamination, and soil sealing. It will also involve raising awareness.

The implementation of these policies in the UK could cost between £1.5 and 3.7 billion, whilst providing only minimal benefits, if any, to British soil.

The EU is proposing to limit freedom of information in some areas.
Despite the Treaty of Amsterdam enshrining the right to freedom of access to information held by the European Community the reality is somewhat different. One fifth of requests to the European Parliament for information are refused and over 30% to the Commission and Council are refused.

The proposals will add restrictions by placing conditions on EU documents that will in some cases grant interested parties privileged access whilst denying public access.

Bulletin #2

The flood of EU laws

From 14th May to 26th May the EU has passed laws impacting on the UK.

Since the start of May the total is 104.

An example of the laws recently introduced is below:

• Commission Regulation (EC) No 557/2007 of 23 May 2007 laying down detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1028/2006 on marketing standards for eggs

Each time the anti-democratic EU legislative process passes a law, a new cost is added onto British businesses. As members of the European Union there is nothing that our own democratic process can do to overturn those decisions.

Forthcoming plans

In May the EU has announced more plans, which include:

MORE CONTROL OVER BRITAIN’S DEFENCE IS PLANNED

Further to the EU’s Green Paper on defence, “European Defence — Industrial and market issues — towards an EU defence policy", the European Union is seeking to strengthen the plans for a robust European Defence Agency (EDA).
The EU will do this by introducing a specific defence procurement directive.

^{Commission Interpretative Communication on the application of Article 296 of the Treaty in the field of defence procurement 6223/07COM(06) 779}

TAXATION OF PASSENGER CARS

The European Commission, supported by the German Presidency, proposes to enforce the abolition of the existing road tax system by 2016 and replace it with a phased in system of taxing cars according to the amount of cardon dioxide they produce.
By 31st December 2008 at least 25% of the total tax revenue from registration and annual circulation taxes would originate in a carbon dioxide based element of those taxes and that by 31 December 2010 this proportion would increase to at least 50%.

This will mean that the UK may not be able to determine its own policies on car taxation.

^{Draft Directive on passenger car related taxes 11067/05 COM(05) 261}

FURTHER CONTROL IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

EU Plans European Research Area (ERA) to control Member States' research activities.

It is proposed to have:

• an internal market for research, where research workers and knowledge would circulate freely;
• in which initiatives could be implemented and funded at European-level;
  and
• where there would be coordination of national and regional research activities, programmes and policies.

An improvement in the funding for Research and Development (R & D) was part of the EU’s Lisbon Agenda. But despite the European Union’s rhetoric on this matter, the EU has admitted that it is nowhere near reaching its 2010 target for 3% of GDP to be invested in Research and Development; the proportion in 2005 was just 1.85%.
It is suggested that the EU may seek to create a European regulatory initiative to facilitate the creation of public-private partnerships.
Even Howard Wicks MP, the Minister of Science and Technology, feels that;
"It would be undesirable if any actions emerging from this process were to inhibit the UK's ability to take forward actions at national levels designed to strengthen the UK science base or impose legislative solutions in fields where UK practice is in advance of that elsewhere in Europe."

^{Commission Green paper — The European Research Area: New Perspectives 8322/07 COM(07) 161}

EUROPOL TO BE BEEFED-UP

The EU considers that the European Police Office (Europol) is not sufficiently weighty. It proposes to change the nature of Europol and transform it into an EU agency directly funded out of the European Union budget.

It is also proposed to:

• Give EUROPOL staff the same regulations that apply to EU staff. (Article 38). This will allow officers of EUROPOL to enjoy the special reduced rates of taxation that staff of the European Commission have.
• EUROPOL staff and its Director should have immunity from prosecution (Article 50)

It is envisaged that changing EUROPOL from an organisation funded directly by member states to one that is under the EU budget will lead to an increase in its costs to the taxpayer. Article 38 will also lead to a greater demand for more expenditure.

^{Draft Council Decision establishing the European Police Office 5055/07 COM(06) 817}

Bulletin #1

The flood of EU laws

In the first two weeks of May the EU has passed laws impacting on the UK.

Each time the anti-democratic EU legislative process passes a law, a new cost is added onto British businesses. And the legal ratchet of EU membership becomes even tighter as another area of law making becomes occupied by the EU, meaning that our own Parliament loses the right to legislate in that area. And as members of the European Union there is nothing that our own democratic process can do to overturn those decisions.

Forthcoming plans

In May the EU has announced more plans, which include:

• New Commission plans are afoot to incorporate the Treaty of Prum into EU law. If the plan is implemented other member states will gain access to British DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registrations databases whenever they wish.
  When questioned by the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee, Government ministers, who support the plans, admitted that taxpayers would have to pick up a £31 million bill for computer systems which will, in effect, handover the personal details of British citizens to foreign governments.



• Under new EU proposals website providers and bloggers will face prosecution if they "advertise" certain products.
  Under the guise of reforming the 1989 Television Without Frontiers Directive the EU is planning to regulate the content of blogs and personal websites. The main purpose of the proposals is to bring web-based TV within the scope of the Directive. In particular new rules will outlaw the placement of certain products in moving pictures. However, the proposals will also affect websites and blogs. This means that website providers and bloggers may face prosecution if they unwittingly show images of alcohol, cigarettes and illegal drugs on their pages.

^{Draft Directive amending Council Directive 89/552/EEC on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the pursuit of television broadcasting activities}

• Europol powers to be increased.
  The European Police Office (Europol) is to be given new powers. Currently Europol is restricted to investigating cross-border organised crime. Under new proposals Europol's remit will be widened to include any "serious" cross-border crime. The list of serious crimes includes swindling, racketeering, sabotage, racism and xenophobia. These proposals raise the prospect of UK subjects being pursued by an organisation part-funded by the British taxpayer for offences that may not be recognized in the UK.

^{Draft Council Decision establishing the European Police Office}