'No unworkable new red tape" - Liz Lynne demands from new EU Commissioner designate at Parliamentary hearing

11.12.00am GMT Wed 13th Jan 2010

Liz Lynne is demanding that new EU Employment Commissioner László Andor backs pledges to stop pointless red tape

Local LibDem MEP Liz Lynne, who is first Vice President of the powerful Employment and Social Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, will today grill the proposed new Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner László Andor during his official hearing in Brussels.

Professor László Andor has been put forward by Hungary to be the candidate for the position of Euro Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs. Hearings are being held all this week and next in the Parliament.

Commenting prior to the meeting Liz Lynne said: "I want a clear assurance from the Commissioner Designate that he will not sign up to unworkable or unnecessary EU red tape for businesses which could stifle any economic recovery. The last thing we need now in the West Midlands is an increase in pointless bureaucracy or costs for struggling firms.

"I will also seek a commitment that employees in our region will be able to continue to opt out of the 48 hour week, so long as this is truly voluntary.

"Socialist MEPs are still calling for an end to the opt out, but I believe workers should be allowed to earn overtime if they wish to. Scrapping the opt could push people into illegal work where they are not be covered by Health and Safety legislation including the dangerous machinery directive."

END

Notes: The candidates for the Commissioner positions are put forward by Member States and are listed below:

Poland - Janusz Lewandowski (EPP) - Budget, Budgets Committee

United Kingdom - Catherine Ashton (PES) - EU foreign policy chief, Foreign Affairs Committee

Finland - Olli Rehn (ELDR) - Economic and Monetary Affairs, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee

Latvia - Andris Piebalgs (EPP) - Development, Development Committee

Belgium - Karel De Gucht (ELDR) - Trade, International Trade Committee

Lithuania - Algirdas Šemeta (EPP) - Taxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud, Budgetary Control Committee

Czech Republic - Stefan Fuele (PES) - Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Foreign Affairs Committee

Luxembourg - Viviane Reding (EPP) - Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, Legal Affairs Committee and Women's Rights and Gender Equality Committee

Bulgaria - Rumiana Jeleva (EPP) - International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Development Committee

Spain - Joaquín Almunia (PES) - Competition, Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee

Slovenia - Janez Potocnik (ELDR) - Environment, Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee

Hungary - László Andor (PES) - Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Employment and Social Affairs Committee

Ireland - Maire Geoghegan Quinn (ELDR) - Research, Innovation and Science, Industry, Research and Energy Committee

France - Michel Barnier (EPP) - Internal Market and Services, Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee and Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee

Estonia - Siim Kallas (ELDR) - Transport, Transport and Tourism Committee

Germany - Günther Oettinger (EPP) - Energy, Industry, Research and Energy Committee

Malta - John Dalli (EPP) - Health and Consumer Policy, Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee

Cyprus - Androulla Vassiliou (ELDR) - Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Culture and Education Committee

Austria - Johannes Hahn (EPP) - Regional policy, Regional Development Committee

The Netherlands - Neelie Kroes (ELDR) - Digital Agenda, Industry, Research and Energy Committee

Romania - Dacian Ciolos (EPP) - Agriculture, Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

Denmark - Connie Hedegaard (EPP) - Climate Action, Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee

Italy - Antonio Tajani (EPP) - Industry and Entrepreneurship, Industry, Research and Energy Committee

Slovakia - Maros Sefcovic (PES) - Institutional Affairs and Administration, Constitutional Affairs Committee

Sweden - Cecilia Malmström (ELDR) - Home Affairs, Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee

Greece - Maria Damanaki (PES) - Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Fisheries Committee