EU Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services Charlie McCreevy has called for the introduction of basic internal market rules to assist freedom of trade throughout the EU.
Speaking at the University of Limerick today, Mr McCreevy said over or inappropriate regulation could damage European competitiveness.
"If we want goods, services, people and capital to circulate freely among 25 member states with their different legal and cultural traditions, clearly we have to have basic internal market rules," he said. "But what we need to assess is how heavy or light these rules should be or even if there are non-legislative ways of achieving the desired result."
Mr McCreevy also pointed out that business can help improve regulation at both national and European levels.