7TH REPORT: THE COMMISSION'S 2007 LEGISLATIVE
AND WORK PROGRAMME
Letter from Jim Murphy MP, Minister for
Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman
Thank you for the copy of your report on the
European Commission's 2007 Legislative and Work Programme (CLWP).
I regret that this response is delayed well beyond the Government
commitment to respond to reports within two months. Unusually,
no government department gave evidence for this inquiry, and no
department was specifically alerted to the requirement for a response
until recently.
The Government welcomes the quality of analysis
and expertise, reflected in this report, that the Committee contributes
on European issues. I read your report with interest and welcome
your conclusions.
I note that you welcome the sections in the
CLWP that relate to Better Regulation. For its part, the Government
also welcomes the Commission's ongoing work on Better Regulation.
I note too that you have identified potential
subsidiarity concerns. I welcome your undertaking to pay careful
attention to the balance between these concerns and any advantages
of EU action. You are correct to identify in your conclusions
that any such subsidiarity concerns can only be properly examined
when full legislative proposals are published.
15 January 2008
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