More from the EU.

From 27th May to 19th June this year the European Union (EU) has passed 112 laws that will impact on the UK.

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The EU has announced more plans, which include rules relating to shipping that will undermine Britain’s ability to negotiate maritime law on the international stage.

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A series of directives and regulations are being proposed that will take control over Britain's tourism trade, what ever next.

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Well next is draft legislation currently working it’s way through the European Parliament will if it comes into law will in effect stop UK businesses selling to anyone in the EU outside the UK on the internet.

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What is proposed is that the law of the buyer’s country applies rather than the law of the seller’s as now. That means 27 sets of consumer law. It will surely mean that UK traders websites will have to be translated into all the languages of the European Union member states!

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The Federation of Small Business (FSB) commissioned top law firm Clifford Chance to examine the cost of compliance through legal and translation fees to operate in just one EU state. They “conservatively” reckoned it was £10,000 before considering issues such as VAT and staff costs.Comply with all 27 states and the cost would be nearly £250,000. How many small businesses selling on the web could afford that?

Tina Sommer, the FSB’s EU Affairs Spokesman, said recently:
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“This proposal would send shopping back into the dark ages. It is short-sighted and does not assist consumers – it restricts their choice.The internet has revolutionised shopping for consumers – giving them choices and information that they never had before. Shoppers can now use the web to compare prices online before buying, whether on the internet or on the high street.

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“To introduce these proposals would force many businesses to remove information from their websites. They would not be able to afford specialised legal advice to understand consumer laws in every EU member state. We speak on behalf of ourmembers who are also consumers - many are self-employed – and so buy as individuals. This proposal does not protect buyers, it merely adds to the EU red tape burden and returns us to the pre-internet age. The EU needs to think again.”

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Indeed so, the whole suggestion is ludicrous and if the European Members of Parliament have any commonsense they will all vote against it. But then they did want straight cucumbers and they have not thought again about that!
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So much for the single European Market; so why do we carry on as members of the European Union? Answers in the comments section below please.

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