EU Commissioner set for the East Midlands

Emma McClarkin, East Midlands Conservative MEP, has invited EU Commisioner Michel Barnier to the East Midlands to visit businesses. McClarkin was thrilled that Mr Barnier accepted her invitation and looks forward to welcoming him to the region. The Tory Euro MP hopes that his visit will reveal to him the impact of EU legislation on businesses in the region and also help establish whether any EU laws could be developed to support companies.

Michel Barnier is based at the European Commission – the EU’s executive body. The European Commission manages the day-to-day business of implementing EU policies and the spending EU of funds. It has 27 Commissioners, all from a different member state, who oversee the development of EU policy. Legislation is handed down from the European Commission to the MEPs who discuss and amend it at committee meetings.

Michel Barnier is the Commissioner of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee. It is an important committee that impacts on everyone as it develops the policies which govern the movement of goods across the EU as well as laws to protect consumers.

Emma McClarkin MEP, of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, comments from Brussels:

“In an Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee meeting this week I took the opportunity to invite Mr Barnier to the East Midlands to visit businessmen and entrepreneurs whose work is directly affected by decisions made by the EU.

“I am delighted that Mr Barnier has accepted my invitation. This will be a fantastic opportunity for businesses across the region to have their say directly to the Commissioner who oversees so much of the EU’s commercial legislation.

“The EU should be focusing on increasing trade and jobs, not needless red tape for businesses. I hope that this visit will show Mr Barnier how EU legislation impacts on real people and real businesses in the East Midlands.”