MEPs have backed measures that call for national parliaments' to have a greater say on EU legislation.

The European Parliament today approved a report by ECR MEP Sajjad Karim, which advocates extra checks to ensure the EU legislates only on areas not best left to Member States and that the legislation is fit for purpose as well as proportionate.

Mr Karim said: “I am delighted that MEPs across Europe have once again supported measures to give national parliaments a greater ability to check the EU’s work.

“ECR MEPs are leading the way in reforming the EU and reducing the democratic deficit. My report supports this reform agenda by promoting a greater respect for national parliaments.

“The EU should only act when it wouldn’t be better left to the national or regional level. My report underlines that it must also be sure that its actions do not create an unnecessary burden on small or medium sized businesses or damage competitiveness and if this is the case that they should be withdrawn. In order to have the most effective legislation, national parliaments must be able to give their opinion on proportionality, not just subsidiarity.

“The EU should not be afraid of working with national parliaments as it ultimately makes for better, more response legislation."

His other proposals include:

* Reviewing the time limit for national parliaments to submit opinions on whether action is best left to Member States

* An evaluation of the number of parliaments needed to trigger a yellow card - which call for legislation to be reviewed

* The European Commission to automatically check that its proposals do not create an unnecessary burden on businesses and competitiveness.

The European Parliament voted 545 to 25 in favour of adopting Mr Karim’s report. 

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Contact: Cameron Smith, +447769833605, cameron.j.smith@europarl.europa.eu

The ECR was created to take the EU in a new direction, according to the principles of our founding Prague Declaration. It is the third largest group in the European Parliament with 74 MEPs from 18 EU states.

For more information on the ECR, watch our promotional video at http://youtu.be/F5syQt1JuQI or visit our website: www.ecrgroup.eu