Memorandum submitted by the Local Government
Association
1. CONTEXT
1.1 Local authorities closely follow EU
legislative and policy developments. Over half of all legislation
impacting on councils has its origins in Europe. Whilst there
are demonstrable benefits from having EU-wide actions in certain
policy areas by virtue of the scale of the issue or its cross-border
nature, EU legislation has the potential to impose significant
financial and administrative burdens on local authorities. For
example, it is estimated that the cost to UK local authorities
of implementing the WEEE Directive in the last two years is in
the order of £140 million; extrapolating that across all
EU legislation indicates the potential burden on council resources.
1.2 It is for this reason that we have welcomed
EU initiatives towards better lawmaking, and to try to ensure
that local government is recognised as an integral part of European
governance with full consultative rights. Councils have an interest
in EU law and policy in their roles as community leaders, exemplars
of good practice, educators, employers, regulators, and major
purchasers of goods and services.
1.3 The Local Government Association seeks
to represent the interests of our member authorities on European
and international matters, including through our representatives
in the EU Committee of the Regions (CoR) and in collaboration
with our partner national associations of local government across
the EU and through the Council of European Municipalities and
Regions (CEMR).
1.4 In this context, the Local Government
Association welcomes this opportunity to submit evidence to the
Committee. In the areas identified below as our priorities, we
would be happy and indeed keen to discuss in more detail.
2. EUROPEAN UNION
PRIORITIES OF
THE LGA
2.1 This submission highlights the key priorities
for the Local Government Association from the European Commission's
Annual Policy Strategy for 2008.
2.2 It must be noted that the following
priorities only represent new proposals expected in 2008, and
do not reflect the priority that we will continue to give to the
the existing proposals on issues such as public services, climate
change and waste. These will continue to dominate the EU legislative
programme in 2008 as they progress through the institutions, and
will likely continue to play a major role in the LGA's work programme.
2.3 As in 2007, account has been taken of
LGA medium-term priorities and the wider implications for UK local
government (potential costs, obligations, opportunities etc) when
identifying the priority topics.
Suggested priorities for LGA are:
— Directives on labour migration, conditions
of entry and residence of seasonal workers.
— Simplifying and improving the regulatory
environment ("cutting red tape") and improving impact
assessment (eg to assess administrative burdens to local authorities).
— Consumer Protection and Health
and Safety:
— Legislative initiatives to strengthen
consumer protection.
— Initiatives designed to modernise
European labour law, in particular regarding flexicurity.
— Energy, Environment and Transport:
— Implementation and follow-up of the
Energy and Climate Change Package,
— Initiatives to promote adaptation
to environmental challenges, sustainable production and consumption,
— EU Action Plan on Urban Transport
to green the transport sector.
— Initiatives to combat discrimination
outside the labour market,
— Initiative aimed at the reconciliation
of family and professional life.
— Intercultural Dialogue:
— Actions for the European Year of
Intercultural Dialogue 2008.
— Strategic report and follow-up on
the first cycle of the renewed Lisbon strategy.
— Legislative proposals following up
the conclusions of the Single Market Review.
— Proposals clarifying the application
of Community law to social services, possibly together with EU-wide
quality criteria for social services of general interest, as a
follow up to the White Paper.
— Organised crime and terrorism:
— Launching a policy to tackle violent
radicalisation.
16 April 2007
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