Brussels mission hailed a success.Byline: COLIN LEWIS Business editor BUSINESS leaders from Coventry and Warwickshire say they made "great headway" during a two-day trip to Brussels. The fact-finding mission by West Midlands Confederation of Chambers of Commerce was aimed at pressing the concerns and issues of the region's business community. Organisers are confident the trip made an impression on the area's Euro MPs and key decision makers, and will boost the Chamber's lobbying power. Chairman Isabella Moore said: "We were out in Brussels for less than 48 hours and it was a highly effective, worthwhile exercise. There were about 20 representatives from the various Midlands Chambers and there were common issues we wanted to address." She said that delegates had met the MEPs on the first evening and expressed fears about the effect of legislation on smaller businesses and how the Chamber could most effectively lobby to help members across the region. Employment legislation, changes to the Working Time Directive The Working Time Directive of the European Union (Council Directive 93/104/EC of 23 November 1993 concerning certain aspects of the organization of working time, Official Journal L 307, 13/12/1993 pages 0018–0024; amended by Directive 2000/34/EC of the European Parliament and and transport links to Europe had been at the top of the agenda. "In particular, we were able to grill senior officials from the Employment and Social Affairs Directorate on the proposals to give temporary workers the same working conditions, including pay, as comparable permanent workers in the same company. "It was made clear that the UK had a different approach to temporary work compared with most other EU member states and that the proposed changes would seriously affect the competitiveness of British business as well as denying flexible working to many individuals." Ms Moore said that there were several meetings with officials from key organisations such as West Midlands in Europe to discuss building stronger links with European institutions to increase lobbying power and to have advance notice of new legislation. CAPTION(S): LOBBYING: The visiting delegation (from left) Ian Brough, Martin Pemberton Martin Pemberton (born 1 February 1976 in Bradford, England) is a central defender who has played for many different professional clubs before moving to non-league side Farsley Celtic in Spring 2005. , Annette Fitzgerald, Hari Rai Hari Rai (born 1630, Punjab, India—died 1661, Punjab) Seventh Sikh Guru (1644–61). He was nominated as Guru by his grandfather, Guru Hargobind, and his leadership marked a decline in the fortunes of his followers. , Louise Beard, Isabella Moore, Peter Burns, Leigh Hunt, Doug Mahoney, David Frost For other persons named David Frost, see David Frost (disambiguation). Sir David Paradine Frost, KBE (born 7 April 1939) is an English television presenter, famed as both a pioneer of TV satire and for a series of legendary political interviews. , Susan Arnold Susan Arnold is a member of the board of directors of The Walt Disney Company. She has been a Director of the company since 2007, and in 2004 she became vice chairman of Procter & Gamble. , Ron Dent, Anne Morris, Mike Heenan, John Spencer and Alan Durham |
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