Trade unions fight back on de-regulation initiative

Mr Monks argues such a move puts in risk a debate on the future of social Europe, promoted by the UK presidency.

He said the European trade unions lobby (ETUC) "will not take this debate seriously if pre-emptive strikes are made against key European regulations".

Unionists mainly object to Mr Barroso’s attack on a bill setting an obligation for employers to ensure workers’ protection from exposure to sunlight.

Mr Barroso referred to the bill as "a joke".

The European Parliament watered down the proposal last week, leaving it up to member states to regulate in the area.

However, in the run up to the crucial vote, the commission itself – along with the member states - had pressed MEPs to agree to an inclusion of sunlight as a natural source of optical radiation in the directive.

De-regulation on the way

Brussels announced an initiative to cut red tape in pending legislation earlier this year, with a total of 215 proposals given a second thought.

More than 60 of them will be scrapped in October, while commission officials will also be asked to start simplifying existing EU legislation.

European companies have welcomed the de-regulation campaign and have participated in it by sending lists of draft laws potentially harmful to their interests.

However, Erik Berggren from UNICE, the main industry lobby group in Brussels, argues that the simplification scheme itself can cause new difficulties.

"We noted in the past that some attempts aimed at reducing burdens could end up in just the opposite – boosting them, as the new proposals could bring along additional requirements adopted within the complex procedure of EU’s legislating", he told EUobserver.

On the other hand, small and medium enterprises have called for a new approach to policy-making.

"It is not simply the problem of "simplifying" or scrapping the laws which are burdensome for businesses, but the need to learn that you must approach those concerned by the legislative proposals. And SMEs and their costs in implementing new EU rules are still not considered enough in advance", said Luc Hendrick, from UEAPME, a lobby group for SMEs.