By Sandy Murray BBC Scotland business staff

Teaching in France has been difficult for Scottish instructors

Johnnie Cuthbert of solicitors Mitchells Roberton said the current approach was a mistake.

He claimed that barriers within the existing Europe need to be tackled first.

He cited the example of European ski instructors jailed for attempting to work in France.

Enlarged Europe

One of the key features of the European dream is a freedom for all its citizens to live and work anywhere they choose.

Enthusiasts for an expanded Europe believe this will encourage economic development.

Solicitor Johnnie Cuthbert

But Mr Cuthbert, a partner specialising in European law at Glasgow solicitors Mitchells Roberton, has highlighted problems which he believes have to be resolved before an enlarged Europe can work.

He said: "For politicians to fantasise about a new larger EEC at this stage of EEC development is a mistake."

Mr Cuthbert has in the past acted on behalf of the British Association of Ski Instructors to protect the rights of Scottish instructors who wanted to work in France.

"Severe difficulties were imposed on these instructors," he claimed, "and it was necessary to ask for the European Commission's help to try to facilitate their working in France."

Snowboard trouble

Mr Cuthbert believes these problems have yet to be addressed.

Not only have ski instructors from outwith France been threatened with punishment under local regulations, but some have ended up in prison.

For this particular group of workers, the situation has improved in recent years with an agreement covering Britain, France, Austria and Italy.

This allows qualifications gained in one country to be recognised in the others.

But the British Association of Snowsport Instructors has said problems remain with their qualification in snowboarding, which is not recognised in France.