#13 Brussels' Bureaucratic Bonanza, with Jonas Herby

In this episode of The We Are Innovation Podcast, host Federico N. Fernández interviewed Jonas Herby, a Special Consultant at CEPOS, a Danish think tank. Herby, an expert in regulation and socio-economic analysis, discussed his research on the significant increase in EU legislation since the Maastricht Treaty.

The conversation covered various aspects of EU regulation, beginning with the staggering 729 percent increase in EU legislation since 1992. Herby delved into the factors driving this growth and examined the von der Leyen Commission's regulatory activity, which has seen a 14 percent increase since 2020 despite claims to simplify laws. He also explored the shift from directives to regulations in EU lawmaking and its implications for member states.

Throughout the discussion, Herby addressed the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality, questioning whether the current trend in EU regulation adheres to these principles. He offered insights into the concept of the EU becoming a “regulatory superpower” and its potential consequences. The impact of EU regulations on Denmark's sovereignty and ability to create tailored national policies was also a key topic, with Herby noting that EU regulations account for about 60 percent of the total growth in Danish regulatory volume.

To conclude the episode, Herby responded to a thought-provoking question about citizens' willingness to accept regulators treating them as unable to protect their own rights. He then offered his recommendations for policymakers at both the EU and national levels to address the issues raised in his report, providing listeners with a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the complexities surrounding EU regulation and its effects on member states.

Our Guest:

Jonas Herby (DNK) is a Special Consultant at CEPOS, a Danish think tank. He is an expert in regulation with a focus on the consequences of the extensive regulation of the Danes' daily lives. Jonas is also an expert in socio-economic analysis and has helped develop the Ministry of Transport's official models and unit prices. He is also the host of two podcasts. In Regelstaten, he talks to experts, opinion leaders and more about how regulations affect our society and what they mean for the everyday lives of individual Danes. In Economic Principles, listeners are introduced to key economic topics and concepts and get a broad introduction to basic economic thinking. 

You can find his bio and social media profiles on the CEPOS website: https://cepos.dk/author-collection/jonas-herby/ 

Links and further reading: 

EU Regulatory Volume has Doubled Since the Treaty of Lisbon - https://cutt.ly/DenU9A4w 

Permissionless Innovation, Europe’s Path to Redemption - https://cutt.ly/venU3itV 

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