Getting Europe's priorities right

EU policies have a huge impact on IoD members and their businesses. Although estimates vary, roughly half of new regulations on British businesses originate at EU level.

The IoD's key message to EU policy-makers is that the priority should be economic reform, not building new political structures. The EU should focus on streamlining regulation, boosting competition, completing the Internal Market and making progress on global free trade. These are the key policies that will help EU-based businesses to compete in a globalised economy.

Briefing Papers

• Briefing Paper: Proposal for an Amendment to the Working Time Directive

Briefing Paper to MEPs on the Proposal for an amendment to the Working Time Directive.

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• Briefing Paper: Proposed Pregnant Workers and Mothers Directive

Proposal for a Directive amending Council Directive 92/85/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding.

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• Briefing Paper: EU Regulation

Although senior figures in the European Commission are looking to make progress on 'Better Regulation', too many of their colleagues across the EU institutions simply do not see it as a priority.

Unless all EU policy-makers pull their weight on this issue, over-regulation will continue to undermine EU competitiveness. Read more>>

• Briefing Paper: Representing Business at EU Level

Representing our members' views at EU level is crucial for the IoD for two reasons.

Firstly, 65 per cent of our members do business in Europe, so they have a direct interest in making the Single Market work well. Secondly, even members whose business activities are conducted solely within the UK are affected by EU decisions, as around half of all new UK regulations on business originate in Brussels. Read more>>

• Briefing Paper: EU Policy - The IoD's Approach

The EU has spent too much time and effort on building new political structures, rather than addressing the key challenge of economic reform. We need an open, lightly regulated, free trading Europe to help our businesses respond to the pressures of globalisation.

The Irish No Vote is a clear signal that the EU needs to move on. Instead of yet another round of negotiations aimed at reviving the Lisbon Treaty, Europe should focus on tackling over-regulation and strengthening the Internal Market. Read more>>

• Briefing Paper: The Treaty of Lisbon

From the business point of view, the Lisbon Treaty has been an unnecessary distraction. The IoD wants to see EU leaders concentrating their efforts on economic reform to help Europe respond to the pressures of globalisation. Instead, wrangling over the new Treaty has been allowed to absorb too much political time and commitment.

The Irish No Vote is a clear signal that the EU needs to move on. Instead of yet another round of negotiations aimed at reviving the Lisbon Treaty, Europe should focus on tackling over-regulation and strengthening the Internal Market. Read more>>

Latest Publications:

• Response to second consultation on implementation of Agency Workers Directive
• Response to first consultation on implementation of Agency Workers’ Directive
• European Union must embrace radical economic reform now, says IoD