MEP Welcomes EU Move To Let Business Cut Red Tape

The Commission has set up a "Better Regulation" website with a comments section allowing firms to email them with details of administrative tasks based on EU law that have little or no benefit.

The move is part of attempts to cut red tape in Europe by 25% by 2012.

Mr Smith said;

"This is a good move by the Commission. We have just heard from George Mathewson, the chair of the Scottish Government's Council of Economic Advisers that red tape and regulation is one of the major issues holding back Scotland's economic growth.

"Every business accepts that there has to be some regulation and that will mean some time spent on paperwork when they could be doing something else. What is infuriating is form filling when you can see no purpose to it. It is these regulations the Commission wants businesses to report.

"I would urge any business, anywhere in Scotland to go to the website and lodge their complaints. This is a great idea and one that I hope will have a real positive impact in Scotland and across the EU."

To report a piece of red tape businesses should go to:
ec.europa.eu/enterprise/admin-burdens-reduction/online_consulation_en.htm