This is a vast area of law which impacts on almost every aspect of the wide ranging regulatory framework affecting the carrying on of business in Ireland and elsewhere in the EuropeanUnion (EU). This field includes the following areas of law:

• Environmental
• Trade
• Consumer
• Free movement of goods
• Intellectual property
• Competition law
• Telecommunications and information technology
• Customs and taxation
• Pharmaceuticals and medical devices
• Food
• Air transport
• Financial services
• Public procurement
• Data protection
• E-Commerce

There has been a huge volume of legislation emanating from Brussels in the various fields covered by the EU sphere of competence. Many of the legislative initiatives at European level are designed to meet the following objectives:

• To harmonise the laws of the member states so as to create uniformity throughout the EU in terms of the regulatory environment facing businesses thereby doing away with the need for business to comply with significantly differing legal systems;
  
  
• To liberalise the market for various goods and services allowing for the free movement of goods and services throughout the EU; and
  
  
• To ensure that public policy issues such as health and safety are adequately addressed in the liberalised environment.

The members of the firm's European Union and Competition Law Unit have dealt with many aspects of the differing facets of European Union law including:

• Advising on proposed Directives which may impact on our clients' businesses;
  
  
• Contacting and lobbying the Commission's services in various contexts including seeking to ensure that a particular activity engaged in by a client is included in a market liberalisation initiative;
  
  
• Seeking the Commission's view on the interpretation of EU legislation; and
  
  
• Complaining to the Commission, as the executive body for enforcing EU law, that Member States have failed to implement EU legislation which, if properly implemented, would benefit our clients resulting in the Commission applying pressure on Member States to ensure implementation.

Our EU, Competition and Regulated Markets Unit would be pleased to discuss the implications of this area of law for you or your business.