NAFD makes headway on European funeral issues
The European Liaison Group has enhanced its understanding of funeral issues that affect all
EU members and gained an invaluable insight into lobbying in Europe, during a series of briefings with influential members of the European Parliament and European Commission in Brussels.
Alan Slater, chief executive officer of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) and Christopher Henley, the NAFD’s representative at the European Federation of Funeral Services (EFFS), were accompanied by Dodge Group chairman and former BIE President Adrian Haler, while EFFS President Birgit Baltzer flew from Copenhagen specifically to add her support.
Malcolm Harbour MEP – Conservative spokesman on Internal Market issues and a member of the Industry, Research and Energy, and Internal Market Committee, who helped form the European Liaison Group – played a pivotal role in ensuring the delegation gained access to key decision makers.
On Thursday, April 8, Mr Harbour hosted an informal dinner at the European Parliament which was attended by Jeffrey Titford MEP, Member of the Committee on Budgetary Control, and the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and a past president of the NAFD, and Syed Kamall MEP, Member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, and the Committee on International Trade. The discussion centred on the Biocides Directive, cross border repatriation issues and the potential threat posed by the forthcoming review of the VAT status of funerals.
On Wednesday, April 9, the delegation maximised its time by participating in four high profile briefings and started the day by reiterating the UK funeral sector’s position on the Biocides Directive during discussion with Paul Speight, Deputy Head of Unit, DG Environment - Biotechnology, Pesticides and Health.
Mr Speight advised that proposals arising from the recent review will be made known at a special event in Brussels on May 23 and they are then due to be presented to Ministers for debate in November. The members of the European Liaison Group also learned that for the first phase of registration in the Directive funeral directors and embalmers can expect no financial support from the USA.
The Group next met with Shane Sutherland to discuss repatriation issues. He is a high-ranking figure whose chief responsibility is the DG Internal Market and Services, specifically Legal Affairs including infringements, Unit B3 (Better Regulation Cycle: Legal Aspects), Unit D4 (regulated professions) and Unit F1 (free movement of capital). Great care was taken in making the UK funeral industry’s views known, since the delegation is aware that Mr Sutherland expects a variety of pressure groups to try and hijack the debate for their own ends.
Cross border issues, especially repatriation, were also the chief topic of discussion when the delegation returned to the European Parliament for a briefing with Arlene McCarthy MEP, who chairs the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.
The final meeting was with Paul Creary of UKREP, an organisation of 200 civil servants that promotes the UK’s interests in the EU. Mr Creary offered some invaluable advice on representing the UK funeral sector’s interests within Europe, especially with regard to legislation.
“Our first foray into Europe was extremely successful and has reinforced our decision to set up the European Liaison Group,” says Alan Slater. “We need to understand at the earliest possible stage how decisions that are being taken by the European Parliament, such as potential changes in VAT, will affect UK funeral directors so that we can campaign for the most favourable outcome. “We are indebted to Malcolm Harbour MEP for his assistance in setting up this series of briefings, which has helped us identify important decision makers and improve our understanding of how to influence the debate on key issues.”
The NAFD is committed to maximising resources to give UK funeral directors a voice within Europe and intends to set up another meeting with Malcolm Harbour MEP before delegates representing the European Liaison Group return to Brussels later in the year.
