Oil and gas industry leaders had their last chance to discuss European Union proposals to take regulatory control of the North Sea sector yesterday.
European Commission officials want blanket health and safety rules for all EU member states, and the proposals were debated in Brussels yesterday.
Scottish MEP Alyn Smith, of the SNP, a member of the European Parliament’s energy committee, said after the meeting that the draft proposals would hinder, not help, the UK’s health and safety regime.
He added: “The package as it stands is well intentioned but is simply not fit for purpose.
“A recent joint industry and trade union paper argued the regulation would be a step backwards and an analysis by Fitch Ratings concluded that the proposed regulation could cost the sector billions of pounds with no benefit.”
A report will now be prepared on the proposals, which will be published in July and voted on in October.