“The top 100 most costly EU regulations” and more

Cold weather, post Copenhagen blues etc and more from the European agenda…

The top 100 most costly EU regulations

by Open Europe blog team

Open Europe has today published a list of the top 100 most costly EU regulations, detailing the annual cost of the laws, the cumulative cost of them by 2020, and the article base in the Lisbon Treaty for each regulation . We estimate that these laws will in total cost the UK economy a staggering £184 billion by 2020. To put that figure in context: for the same amount, the UK Government could abolish the country’s entire budget deficit and still leave the Exchequer with some £6 bn. All cost estimates are based on the UK Government’s own impact assessments so the figures are instructive.

Read more

One step further, Turkey opens environment chapter

Turkey opens environment chapter in EU accession talks

Turkey opens environment chapter in EU accession bid – Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu smiles as he briefs the media after an accession conference at the European Union Council headquarters in Brussels December 21, 2009. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Read more