Gold-plating
Encyclopedia
Gold-plating is a term relating to European Union law
, used particularly in the UK.
Gold-plating refers to the practice of national bodies exceeding the terms of European Community directives
when implementing them into national law
. In the United Kingdom
business lobbyists argue that the government and its agencies often tag additional measures on to the back of European Directives which place UK business at a competitive disadvantage in relation to other EU states where directives are implemented more literally.
In Italy
, gold-plating has often been used as a device to pass through controversial measures and to ensure a lower degree of parliamentary scrutiny, particularly in periods of weak government.
EU governments committed themselves to a deregulation
agenda at the Lisbon Summit in 2000, and as a consequence the European Commission
has supported more maximum harmonisation
measures in recent years, which effectively prohibit gold-plating.
European Union law
European Union law is a body of treaties and legislation, such as Regulations and Directives, which have direct effect or indirect effect on the laws of European Union member states. The three sources of European Union law are primary law, secondary law and supplementary law...
, used particularly in the UK.
Gold-plating refers to the practice of national bodies exceeding the terms of European Community directives
European Union directive
A directive is a legislative act of the European Union, which requires member states to achieve a particular result without dictating the means of achieving that result. It can be distinguished from regulations which are self-executing and do not require any implementing measures. Directives...
when implementing them into national law
. In the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
business lobbyists argue that the government and its agencies often tag additional measures on to the back of European Directives which place UK business at a competitive disadvantage in relation to other EU states where directives are implemented more literally.
In Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, gold-plating has often been used as a device to pass through controversial measures and to ensure a lower degree of parliamentary scrutiny, particularly in periods of weak government.
EU governments committed themselves to a deregulation
Deregulation
Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
agenda at the Lisbon Summit in 2000, and as a consequence the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
has supported more maximum harmonisation
Maximum harmonisation
Maximum harmonisation is a term used in European Union law.If a piece of law , is described as maximum harmonisation, that means that national law may not exceed the terms of the legislation...
measures in recent years, which effectively prohibit gold-plating.