A view from inside the EU

Summary

• North West England is a vast and varied region from urban Merseyside to rural Cumbria.
• There are areas of underdevelopment as well as new opportunity. European parliamentarians must identify those aspects of the North West region which have a European dimension and those aspects of European policy which have a North West relevance.
• Important factors influencing the economic development of the North West include EU funding, transport infrastructure and business legislation.

North West England is a vast and varied region from densely populated Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the more sparsely populated areas of Cumbria and Cheshire. We have important manufacturing and industrial zones, petrochemical plants and vehicle production lines, business parks and financial service centres yet also important agricultural and tourism sectors. There are areas of underdevelopment, underemployment and underinvestment as well as areas attracting new skills, entrepreneurship and opportunity.
Part of the answer to raising awareness of the benefits of EC membership lies in identifying those issues of the North West region which have a European dimension or can benefit from European funded programmes whilst at the same time looking out for those aspects of European policy that have a North West relevance. 2008 will be a key year for Liverpool which will be showcased to the outside world as European capital city of culture. Already the waterfront has experienced a very noticeable facelift and money has been ploughed into upgrading infrastructure and the urban environment. With luck the benefits will long outlast the year's cultural events and Liverpool will continue to prosper.
Merseyside has benefitted in the past from substantial funding from the European Union. Although its level of development means that it is no longer eligible for top tier funding for the period 2007-2013, the North West region will, nevertheless, receive £1.29 billion out of the £10.6 billion allocated to the UK as a whole.
North West interests are also directly affected by EC policies such as major transport infrastructure investment (TENs) which include recent upgrading the West Coast mainline and liberalisation of international rail freight which together create new opportunities and benefits for NW based businesses, transport companies and freight forwarders.
 
The business environment is also greatly influenced by European legislation. Lib Dems must work to ensure that important EC initiatives to encourage and stimulate small and medium sized enterprises are fully exploited in the North West whilst similarly assessing the potential business impact of new policies affecting employer and employee rights and obligations. Over 90% of EU businesses are SMEs (fewer than 200 employees). They are the motor for economic growth and a key factor in the level of employment but their ability to respond and comply with burdensome and bureaucratic legislation, whether emanating from Brussels or Westminster is not the same as that of major corporations and multinationals. The European Union should concentrate on abolishing the obstacles to cross border business and avoid increasing the regulatory burden unless absolutely indispensable. Constructive action includes setting up a European company statute, easier access to capital and ability to raise funds across the European Union, stimuli for business angel networks and joint ventures, action against late payments, dissemination of public procurement notices, removal of harmful or unfair tax competition and training, research and promotion of new technologies.