Today the UK has welcomed the Commission’s ReFit Communication:

Business Minister Michael Fallon said:

The Commission is beginning to make some progress in reducing the burden of EU regulation, and we have fought hard to secure new proposals to cut the cost of EU rules. In particular, I welcome the progress
which has been made towards delivering nine out of thirty of our Business Taskforce’s recommendations for reform. These will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy around clinical trials and environmental impact >assessments.

The Commission now needs to go further to lighten the burden of red tape on business. And it is vital that the REFIT programme remains a top priority for the next Commission.

Regarding the consideration of withdrawal of proposal for a revised Directive on pregnant workers, which would extend maternity leave to 20 weeks, a UK Government spokesperson said:

This is good news for businesses. The UK Government and the business Taskforce believes that this proposal would be hugely costly to UK and European firms, and recommended that it be withdrawn. The UK
already has an effective and generous maternity leave system that goes beyond what some other European Member States offer. It is encouraging that the Commission has listened and taken action to protect jobs
and growth.

Background:

The UK has welcomed the Commission’s renewed efforts to reduce regulatory burdens on business. The UK has been pressing for meaningful action on this front through the Prime Minister’s Business taskforce. They have developed a set of recommendations for reform for the British and European governments as well as the EU institutions with input from hundreds of firms, individuals and business associations across Europe.

For more information on the Business Task Force:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cut-eu-red-tape-report-from-the-business-taskforce

For more information see:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-682_en.htm