Ireland can do better in terms of putting EU directives into effect in national law, European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said today.
Speaking at the Public Affairs Ireland conference in Dublin, Mr McCreevy, Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, said Ireland is currently in 18 thplace among member states in terms of how it puts EU rules into place.
And he warned against the practice known as 'gold-plating', whereby national rules are made more complicated than the original proposal from Brussels.
"National regulators and governments must be disciplined when it comes to transposing directives - to avoid doubling up through gold plating, which adds cost and complexity and undermines the huge benefits that a single European rule book can bring,"
"It should not be necessary for me today to say much about how a country can prosper from the Single Market. Ireland's recent economic success owes quite a bit to that market. But I believe it can be useful from time to time to remind ourselves that the proper functioning of the Single Market depends on Member States implementing community legislation correctly and pursuing tough enforcement of the rules that are in place," Mr McCreevy said.
He said member states who continue to apply this "mal-practice" of gold-plating were standing in the way of enabling their businesses and consumers from enjoying the full benefits of the Single Market.
The Commissioner urged national regulators and governments to be disciplined when it comes to transposing directives.
"It is a real challenge to get everyone singing and acting from the same hymn sheet. But we are, I believe, making steady, perceptible progress. I hope and believe we can make more during the remaining term of this Commission. It is critical that we do for Europe, for our competitiveness, and for our future prosperity."
The Commissioner said efforts had been stepped up to ensure that transposition deadlines are met and that citizens and businesses can rely on rules being properly enforced.
On regulation, Mr McCreevy said the European approach works but that finding agreements with 27 member states "demands patience and courage".
"But this generally leads to carefully crafted legislation. We want to show the rest of the world this and why we think it works."
Mr McCreevy also said he had been "very vocal" with member states and national regulators when protectionist tendencies spring up.
"Protectionism is not for 21 stcentury regulators," he said.