European Commission taking legal action against UK

The European Commission (EC) is taking legal action against the UK, accusing the British government of breaching EU laws in almost 50 different cases.

The documents released by the Cabinet Office under The Telegraph’s freedom of information request revealed that the commission is pursuing different proceedings, ranging from Britain’s stance on port security to the conservation of wild birds and waste management.

The legal cases against the British government can end up in the European Court of Justice with the possibility of fines being imposed if the Tory-led government fails to address the accusations.

British Eurosceptics described the commission’s move as as an “extraordinary subversion of democracy,” saying the country’s independence is undermined by the European Union’s overstepping its powers.

Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) condemned the commission’s decision, saying, “You only have to look at the list of proceedings to understand that the EU now regulates and controls every single little aspect of our lives.”

“The continuance of Westminster and Parliament while we are EU members frankly is pointless,” he added.

Earlier this month, the government’s chief legal adviser Dominic Grieve also criticized Brussels’ attempts to reduce member states’ freedom of action, saying such behavior could jeopardize the continent’s prosperity and further alienate its population.

Grieve said he was “frankly astonished” by European Commission’s attempts to grab new powers over the country’s justice system and warned the UK “will not shy away” from taking legal action against the EU to protect its interests.