NAFD gains MEP’s support on repatriation issues

At its latest meetings with MEPs and key advisors in Brussels, the NAFD’s European Liaison Group discussed delays and extra costs associated with EU repatriation with Michael Cashman MEP, who has agreed to try to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.

Labour MEP for the West Midlands since 1999, Mr Cashman was also an active member of the Citizens’ Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs Committee and in 2003 authored a report on an initiative about the repatriation of mortal remains.

“Many of the issues identified nine years ago are still causing problems for funeral directors today, so we were delighted when Mr Cashman agreed to re-examine his report and work with his fellow MEPs to try to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy,” says NAFD chief executive officer Alan Slater.

While in Brussels the NAFD European Liaison Group also met with representatives from the office of Catherine Stihler MEP, Labour Member of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, to discuss outdated Italian repatriation regulations, the absence of a cause of death with bodies repatriated from France and the use of embalming in EU Member States.

Malcolm Harbour MEP, Chair of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, updated the Group on unnecessary regulations applied in some EU Member States that can delay and increase the cost of funerals, while discussions with Marina Yannakoudakis MEP and Chris Davies MEP focussed on the future use of Formaldehyde and its availability to funeral directors and developments with the Biocides Directive.

“Since the NAFD European Liaison Group was formed in 2007 we have developed some excellent relationships with MEPs which are enabling us to understand and contribute to EU policy making,” adds Mr Slater.

“Our meeting with Michael Cashman MEP was particularly productive and I am extremely encouraged by the growing understanding that key MEPs now have on issues that matter to UK funeral directors.”