Possible Clues:

• Bureaucratic obstacle
• Obstructive admin on record that's involved Democrat
• What (aptly?) holds up government projects
• Cause of some delays
• Came to a point when cycling progress is slowed by this
• Unnecessary rules
• Free trade -- empty promise producing complex paperwork
• Procedural form-filling
• Metaphor for official inefficiency
• Depart terribly stifling European bureaucracy