Euro Myths (Fiona Hall MEP)

Fiona Hall MEP <info@fionahall.org.uk>

Euro Myths

The EU is often used as a scapegoat for unpopular policies and decisions. Many stories about the EU are simply untrue.

Below are some examples of recent untrue EU rumours.

Is the European Union behind Post Office closures?

Demand for post offices has fallen, as the growth in email has drastically reduced the number of letters we send and the demand for post offices.

There is no European legislation forcing post office closures. The European Parliament did pass the European Union postal reform directive in 1997 (amended in 2002 and 2008) which looked to secure standards, protect consumers, improve quality of service and promote choice for postal users. The directive does not say how many post office the UK must have, states that access to postal services, collection and deliveries must be provided in remote, rural, urban and deprived areas and does not prohibit the UK government from giving rural post offices state funding.

The UK government announced that Post Office Ltd would close 2,500 post offices across the country and set up 500 outreach services as an alternative in some areas. They have also squeezed post office services by taking away its financial business such as pension books.

Metrication: Pint and Loaf packaging under threat

Under a drive against red tape, the Commission wanted to repeal a number of useless European laws leaving businesses free to decide what kind of packaging to use for goods such as the pint and loaf.

So the loaf and pint are here to stay, protected and not threatened by the European Union's rules.

Made in Britain labels to be banned

The European Commission recently produced a document entitled "Made in the EU Origin Marking - Working Document of the Commission Services". As the name suggests, this is not a proposal, but merely a consultative document looking at the pros and cons of products being marked with "Made in the EU". It does not contain any plans to ban "Made in Britain" labels.

EU planning to remove the Queen's head from passports

The EU has no intention to "drop" or "purge" the Queen from UK passports, as the Mail and the Telegraph suggested in 2006.

There has been talk about including in passports a passage on all EU citizens' right to consular protection outside the EU but there is currently no legal proposal to that effect. And under no circumstances would this replace any existing texts or symbols in passports, including references to Her Majesty.

EU nationals make some 180 million trips each year to third countries and this number is likely to rise. The Commission wants to make sure EU nationals are not stranded if when abroad. This will not lead to replacing texts or symbols in passports but providing EU citizens with more information about their rights to consular protection even if their own government is not represented in their country of destination.

More Euro myths can be busted at http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/press/euromyths/index_en.htm