THE WEEK THAT WAS... (June 24, 2013)

The Dutch government has just said that it is convinced the time of an ‘ever closer European Union’ in every possible policy area is behind us. There is a need for ‘creating a European Union that is more modest, more sober’. The trend of the paper, leaked by the end of last week, is quite clear: ‘European where necessary, national where possible’. 54 points of action are mentioned.

The Dutch government highlights a recent fiasco on olive oil as ‘a good example’ of how EU law creates silly ‘administrative burdens’. In May the European Commission retracted a ban, justified on hygiene grounds, on refillable olive oil jugs in restaurants after a wave of ridicule in the media. In what it dubs ‘creeping competences’, the Dutch government’ paper says the European Commission should stop publishing non-binding ‘communications or recommendations’ in areas where it has no mandate. It aims to roll back EU projects on construction material norms, forestry management, anti-flood measures, and milk and fruit programmes for schoolchildren. The paper also says there is ‘no reason for EU level legislation’ on quotas for women on corporate boards.

The Dutch initiative follows after British Prime Minister David Cameron January criticism of the notion of an ‘ever closer union’. William Hague, British Foreign Minister, promised review ‘meddlesome’ EU activities. This study is expected in 2014 and with no doubt will go further than the Dutch one, with a focus on EU criminal legislation and social politics.

One last example from the Dutch government paper: EU officials’ salaries should be calculated in a way that lets member states cut them more easily. Undoubtedly that would bring the Eurocrats to the streets for a strike. By the way, a strike about salaries is already planned by them during the EU Summit on June 27 and 28.