Cameron idea to repatriate EU laws is ‘complete non-starter’

Report of a speech by European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, László Andor, at the Trades Union Congress, London, 13 February 2012.

He stated that the aim of the UK government to 'repatriate' some EU social laws has been deemed as 'complete non-starter'.

This message would be welcome to the TUC who had said in a recent pamphelet 'Single Market, Equal Rights?', that despite significant challenges at an EU level, attempting to take back powers on employment and social rights to the UK would be the wrong move. Not only are the costs of such laws overstated and benefits overlooked, but the UK would be unable to pull out of these laws without leaving the EU. Outside the EU, Britain would be isolated, impotent and still forced to do what the rest of Europe decides but without any say.

• Primary Source

TUC: Press Release, 8.2.12: Failure to support workers is turning people against EU, TUC & FPC warn http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/tuc-20607-f0.cfm

Foreign Policy Centre: Single Market, Equal Rights? UK perspectives on EU employment and social law, 2012 http://fpc.org.uk/publications/singlemarketequalrights

---