“By counting only the volume of regulation, this ignores the value that these rules have brought to Britain. The peak was during the creation of the Single Market, which has been hugely positive for British business."
- Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe 

A new report on the proportion of UK law originating at EU level is an entirely misleading assessment of its impact, say pro-European business group, Business for New Europe. Responding to a new Business for Britain report, BNE says that most EU rules are implemented in order to get rid of 28 different rules across Europe, and that the benefits of EU rules far outweigh the costs to business. 

Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:

“It is wrong to imply that all laws originating at EU-level are undemocratic or over-burdensome. The UK gets a seat at the negotiating table, and most of the time, one EU law gets rid of 28 different national laws across Europe, making it much simpler and easier for businesses to export.

“By counting only the volume of regulation, this report fails to recognise the value that these rules have brought to Britain. The peak of EU regulation was during the creation of the Single Market, which has been hugely positive for British business, described by the Prime Minister has described as ‘the greatest asset we’ve got… the biggest market in the world’.

“Those who suggest that leaving the EU would reduce this impact have not realised that in order to retain access to the world’s largest market we would need to comply with the vast majority of those rules, but would have no seat at the negotiating table. Norway are currently in that situation and must comply with 75% of EU rules with no say over what they are.”

“Manufacturers know that membership of the Single Market lets them export without barriers to a market of 500 million consumers.”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

Business for New Europe, the pro-European business campaign, today welcomed manufacturing group the EEF’s support for Britain’s membership of the European Union. Martin Temple, the EEF’s Chairman, is expected to warn today against letting Britain “sleepwalk out of Europe.” He will say that while the EU is beginning to reform, demanding unrealistic changes backed by a referendum would be counterproductive.
 
Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“The EEF is absolutely right to warn against sleepwalking out of the EU. Manufacturers know that membership of the Single Market lets them export without barriers to a market of 500 million consumers; that Europe provides vital research funding that will help build a high-tech economy; and that big exporters dependent on the European market support thousands of small manufacturers that do not export.
 
“Manufacturers, like all business people, also know that the EU must be reformed. It must reduce the volume of regulation, complete the Single Market and sign more free trade agreements. Mr Temple rightly points out that reform in Europe is progressing- in the last fortnight, Brussels has set out plans to create a single energy market and a single capital market.  
 
“The best way to reform the EU is for Britain to fully engage in the EU, and lead the alliance for reform. Completing the Single Market could be worth £110 billion to our economy. Making impossible demands and flouncing out of the room when they are not met would be madness.”

“What British businesses and consumers need is for Brussels to get moving on creating an Energy Union.”
– Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

Business for New Europe, the pro-European business campaign, today welcomed the EU’s proposals for a single market in energy. The Energy Union package seeks to break down national bottlenecks preventing cross-border energy supply; harmonise regulations across the EU; reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign gas and contribute towards reducing carbon emissions. The European Parliament estimates that an Energy Union will create efficiency gains worth €50 billion a year across the EU.
 
Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“The European Single Market has boosted growth, cut costs and created jobs in Britain ever since it was created. But now it needs to be extended into new sectors, such as energy. Having one European energy market, instead of 28 fragmented national ones, will make the sector much more efficient. It will reduce the cost of infrastructure, advance the fight against climate change, and reduce energy bills for hard-pressed families here in Britain.
 
“But the benefits of Energy Union are not just economic. Recent events in Ukraine have shown how important it is that Europe gains greater independence from Russia.  The state of affairs where the EU imports 30% of its gas from Russia is bad for Britain’s national security. By shifting energy production around Europe, this plan will help reduce dependence on Russia.
 
“The new European Commission has made an encouraging start. What British businesses and consumers need is for Brussels to get moving on creating an Energy Union; and for the UK government to engage in Europe to make sure that they do so.”

“Britain would lose all our power and influence, while still footing the bill”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

Britain leaving the EU would damage our prosperity and influence in the world, according to the Norwegian Minister for Europe. Vidar Helgesen said that Norway had to implement three-quarters of EU legislation, but had no influence over what that legislation was. He said: “I have a hard time seeing the UK, with your global ambition, dedication and contributions, being comfortable with such an arrangement.”
 
Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“Norway's own EU minister is clear that this is no model for Britain to follow: they implement over 75% of EU regulation but have no right to vote on what it is. Britain would lose all of our power and influence, while still footing the bill."

"This shows the benefits for Britain of engaging and leading in Europe."
- Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe

The new plan unveiled today to boost capital markets is good news for British Business, Business for New Europe, the pro-European business campaign, said today, The green paper on the subject was unveiled in Brussels by Britain’s EU Commissioner Lord Hill, who highlighted the benefits that financial centres like the City of London would feel from the project.
 
“Capital Markets Union” refers to a number of actions designed to create true free movement of capital across the EU. It will break down barriers to investment within member states, create a free flow of capital between member states and harmonise more financial regulation. According to the European Parliament, Capital Markets Union could be worth €60 billion a year to businesses across the EU.
 
Lucy Thomas, Campaign Director of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“Capital Markets Union, like the creation of the Single Market, could be a great win for Britain in Europe. Britain’s small businesses will not need to depend so much on banks for funding, as CMU will make alternatives such as venture capital and crowdfunding much more attractive. The City of London, as the EU’s financial centre will also benefit, channelling money to the four corners of Europe.
 
“It is important to note that this process is being driven by Britain’s Commissioner. David Cameron has been talking about creating a Capital Markets Union for three years now, so that fact that it is being delivered shows how much influence we have in the Brussels corridors of power. This shows the benefits for Britain of engaging and leading in Europe.”
 
You can read the green paper in full here:http://ec.europa.eu/finance/consultations/2015/capital-markets-union/docs/green-paper_en.pdf

“None of the options would be any better for Britain, and all would see us losing power and influence.”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

All the alternatives to EU membership have flaws that would be bad for British business, according to a new report. The report by the Senior European Experts group finds myriad problems with options to full EU membership.
 
Norway and Switzerland have to adopt most EU regulation without having any say over how it is made; we trade less with NAFTA than with the EU, and there is no certainty that we would be able to join; Commonwealth countries have shown no desire to create a free trade bloc; and trading under WTO rules would mean British exporters would face high tariffs from all our largest markets.
 
Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“There is no clear vision of what ‘out’ would look like. As this report shows, none of the options would be any better for Britain and all would see us losing power and influence. As Norwegian MPs say: if you want to run Europe, you’ve got to be in it; if you want to be run by Europe, feel free to join us outside.”
 
Responding to a report by out tomorrow by Civitas, which argues in favour of the Norway option, Mr Rudd said:
 
“The truth is that Norway has no power over EU legislation, but needs to implement most of it in order to access the single market. Despite this, Norwegians still pay £78 per person per year to the EU for the privilege. Norwegian politicians are clear that their model is flawed, and should not be copied by Britain. Being forced to implement 75% of EU regulation with no say over how it is made is a funny kind of independence.”

“It would take time for reforms to be agreed with the rest of the EU, so any process should be allowed to take place without any rush to hold a referendum”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

Business for New Europe, the pro-Europe business campaign, said today that while businesses are clear that a referendum on Britain's EU membership will create uncertainty, it is for politicians, not businesspeople, to decide on the timing of any referendum.

BNE was responding to the comments of John Longworth, Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce.

Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said: 

"It isn't for business to dictate whether or when there should be a referendum on Britain's EU membership. However, businesses are clear that any referendum causes uncertainty - as we saw with the Scottish referendum - and that has an impact on investment decisions, particularly for foreign firms.
 
"It would take time for reforms to be agreed with the rest of the EU, so any process should be allowed to take place without a rush to hold a referendum."

“Our prosperity would be put at risk if we lost our access to the world's largest market.”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

The UK economy would be badly affected by leaving the EU, a new report from Dutch bank ING has found. There would be a fall in foreign investment causing a slow-down in growth and possible job losses. As with last year's Scottish independence referendum, the uncertainty caused by this kind of vote would also have an impact on the economy, say the report authors.
 
The pro-European business campaign, Business for New Europe, says the report demonstrates how widely the repercussions from Brexit would be felt.
 
Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said:
 
“This report highlights just how damaging a UK exit from the EU would be to Britain’s economy: investment would fall and there would be a direct impact on jobs and growth. The UK currently has the second highest stock of foreign direct investment in the world, which would be put at risk if we lost our access to the world’s largest market.
 
“Just as worrying as the economic implications is the possibility of reigniting the campaign for Scottish independence. If England were to vote to leave the EU, but Scotland to stay this would raise a serious question about the future of the Union.
 
“For those who think we could negotiate a better deal outside, this report makes clear that the EU would be likely to have the upper hand given that just 10% of its it exports come to the UK, whereas almost half of our exports go to other EU countries.”

“We must work with our European partners to find common ground, rather than making unworkable, unilateral demands.”
– Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe

The demands for reform made by Business for Britain are unrealistic, unworkable and would effectively take the UK out of the EU, says pro-European group, Business for New Europe.
 
A unilateral veto for the UK would be tantamount to breaking up the single market, as William Hague made clear last year, when he said that neither the single market, nor a Swiss-style free trade arrangement with the EU would work under that arrangement.

Roland Rudd, Chairman of Business for New Europe, said: 

"It is right that the EU needs reform in order to make it work better for businesses of all sizes in the UK and across Europe. But the suggestion that the UK should be able to veto each and every rule would be impractical and would leave the EU in disarray. Exempting non-exporting businesses from EU rules would leave a two-tier system so that those trading overseas would have to comply by two different standards. This could stretch as far as employing different workers under different conditions in the same workplace. It would also deter successful British companies from exporting.
 
"The European Commission is making progress on cutting red tape but there is much more to do. We must work with our European partners to find common ground to ensure they do so rather than making unworkable, unilateral demands."