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The business lobby group, which represents more than 240,000 companies across the UK, is working with the BDI to enact reform in several areas, rather than repatriation. John Cridland, director general of the CBI, is believed to have held a number of conversations with Markus Kerber, his opposite number, about the plan. The two men are understood to feel that the EU’s labour laws need to be reformed in order to support economic growth in both countries.
But as well as repeal, the two men agree that there should be further harmonisation in a number of areas, in particular telecommunications and services. The discussions form part of the CBI’s agenda to boost the playing field for British industry.
A recent separate CBI/YouGov survey of more than 400 businesses found that if a referendum on the future membership of the EU was held tomorrow, a substantial majority of CBI members would support staying in, fearing an exit would affect access to trading markets and business investment. Some 78 per cent of firms favoured staying in the EU, while 10 per cent thought it was in their interests to leave.
At the time, Mr Cridland said: “The UK should take the lead on the push for reform and make sure rules are evenly applied across the EU. Businesses are also concerned about the UK gold-plating legislation from Brussels.”