Number of new EU laws increases by 170

The number of new EU laws has risen by 13 per cent in the last year, up from 1,327 in 2012 to 1,497 in 2013, according to Thomson Reuters.

This increase represents the largest number of new laws introduced in a single year since the Lisbon Treaty was signed in 2007.

Recent changes in EU laws include restrictions on the power of electrical equipment, the bankers' bonus cap, increased consumer protection for online purchases, new packaging regulations and the new EU Public Procurement Directives.

While most of the new legislation is designed to protect consumers and the environment, Reuters says that any increase to the EU rulebook tends to be viewed with concern by critics worried about the impact on UK businesses.

Laurence Gormley, a professor of European Law at the University of Groningen, said: "Supporters of the EU would argue that much of the legislation is reforming and is a welcome step forward in consumer and environmental protection. Critics often complain about the increased number of laws coming from Europe but in reality they are often very beneficial for the average person on the street."

However, Gormley contends that "consumer-focused regulation is an important focus area for the EU, especially regulating the growing e-commerce space where consumers can be quite vulnerable to confusing sales techniques and misleading advertising".

The UK government recently attempted to overturn the EU directive which imposed a cap on bankers' bonuses in the European Court of Justice, believing it would make it more difficult for London to compete with other financial hubs like New York or Singapore.

The EU has, however, resisted the UK's lobbying efforts, arguing that the directive will crack down on banks using shares and cash allowances to 'side-step' the new rules.

John van der Luit-Drummond is legal reporter for Solicitors Journal