Subsidizing the paper & pulp business

In response to my entry "Nothing to worry about", Ellie comments:

How many pages of treaty, regulations, etc. has the EU produced? We (yes, the US does this too)seem to LOVE paper. I'm especially fond of the Negotiated Agreement with North Korea. I wonder how many pages that was?

Well, never fear, Ellie! The legions of Dilacerator ferret gnomes have been scouring the internet in search of answers. Tabulating the sum total of all EU regulations would instantly throw the server farms at Google into meltdown, so my crack team of deaf-mute moles limited the search to just the acquis communautaire. This is the basic body of laws, rules and regulations which all EU countries much have implemented. And new entrants must also push the acquis through their parliaments in order to be allowed to join. So how big is it? The Greek-Cypriot EU accession site has the answer:

Today the acquis communautaire consists of about 80,000 pages, but it is continually being changed, improved and increased as the EU continues to more forward.

And this is a from a site that's actually in favor of Cyprus joining the EU! Yes, it's only 80,000 pages now, but don't worry, they're making more laws! Jeeez folks, what a mindset...

As for the page count of the Agreed Framework with North Korea, the underlings and servitors are Dilacerator Mansion are being spurred to erase their sinful failure of finding the answer. Gentle electric shocks and the occasional flogging will, ultimately, produce results.