Chamber's plea for EU reforms; MANIFESTO: Business group says changes are needed to boost local trade.

Byline: Jenny Waddington

A LEADING business organisation in Coventry and Warwickshire has launched its own manifesto ahead of this week's EU elections.

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the British Chambers of Commerce, has urged politicians to ensure the European Union does all it can to improve the conditions to do business in the region.

Alan Durham, director of policy, marketing and international trade at the Chamber, said a strong EU was crucial for the good of local businesses but changes were needed. He said: "Firms in Coventry and Warwickshire are all affected by what happens in Brussels and it is up to our local MEPs to ensure we get the best deal from Europe.

"The West Midlands as a whole is fortunate to have many MEPs who are willing to work together to the help promote business and the region. It's vital that continues to happen and we have issued our manifesto on where we think things can be improved..

"Trade with Europe and the rest of the world is crucial to future growth for companies in Coventry and Warwickshire." The Chamber has asked for a moratorium on social legislation and wants new employment laws to make the labour markets more flexible in order to create more jobs.

The organisation, which is based in Binley and represents around 2,000 members, is also demanding the completion of the single market - focusing on the liberalisation of energy and telecommunications markets, the creation of a single market in services and the full implementation and enforcement of single market rules.

The Chamber also wants a radical overhaul of the way the EU and member states legislate by imposing an SME test on all new laws and making the European Parliament and Council cost their changes to EU laws and by bring domestic parliaments closer to the process.

Finally, it is calling for the EU to tear down the barriers to global trade. Mr Durham added: "New barriers are being erected across the world which will have a dramatic effect on this region."