Annex 1: Letter from Mr Adrian Bailey, Chair
of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee
"The Business, Innovation and Skills Committee
considered the EU's Work Programme and a number of areas were
highlighted as of interest by our European Scrutiny Reporters.
"In respect of the Work Programme, we note the
forthcoming work on a resilient energy policy for the EU.
"We support the work on the deeper and fairer
internal market. However, we believe that it should be strengthened
in order to take account of the impact of manufacturing moving
to the East of the EU in search of cheaper labour costs. We also
support the work on a fairer economic and monetary union. This
work stream should address the unequal impact of the value of
the Euro on different countries and their exports.
"We also believe that the absence of a clear
strategy to address the problems of high unemployment rates among
young people should be addressed in the work programme.
"Although it is not in our policy remit we note
that some of the work of the EU - for example human rights - will
impact on the Council of Europe. We support the work of the Council
of Europe and its mandate in this policy area. We believe it important
the EU does not infringe on the work of the Council of Europe.
"May I also add our support for your Committee's
decision to recommend that documents relating to Ukraine and Russia:
EU restrictive measures be debated on the Floor of the House."
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