European Commission ideas on governance 'could represent a threat to democracy and justice'

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 12th Sep 2001

Speaking in this week's annual parliamentary debate on the application of EU law, Liberal Democrat MEP and solicitor, Diana Wallis flagged up fears about the EU Commission's proposals on governance also communicated to the Parliament this week.

She said they are proposing a system of secondary legislation by way of so-called co-regulation which sounds very friendly and practical, avoiding the necessity of consulting or involving Parliament as co-legislator but in effect of course this is potentially dangerous and undemocratic for several reasons.

Diana Wallis MEP said in the debate:

"The Commission states that co-regulation will not be appropriate where rules need to apply in a uniform way in each Member State or where fundamental rights or political choices are called into question. Yet contrary to that, this year we had to ask to produce Parliament's own initiative report on the EEJ NET - a European ADR network set up by the Commission using a co-regulatory approach.

"What could be more fundamental than this, as it relates to our citizen's access to justice and the way that law is applied and dispensed? Will we, in future be watching every arbitrator and regulator to see the correct application of community law?

"We have enough trouble at present with ensuring the correct application by the formal judiciary throughout Europe. We must watch out for these issues, they are fundamental to our citizens and also to the rights of this Parliament as a co-legislator, not to mention the possible fragmentary effect they could have on the achievements of the Internal Market unless they are carefully monitored."