All policy is actually passed by elected people, the beauracts draft legislation, they don't approve it. Making some regulation centrally actually reduces effort.
EU tyre markings? There's not a day goes by where I don't think of the injustices these cause
In what world does it make more sense to have different standards (not just on tyres) for every single country in Europe, than having one standard across the continent? Why do something once, when you can do it 28 times?