HL Deb 26 November 1975 vol 366 cc272-3

"With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will make a Statement about business to be taken in the Council of Ministers of the European Community during December. The monthly forecast for December was deposited yesterday.

"The Heads of Government of the Member States will meet in Rome on 1–2 December. There is no formal agenda for this meeting, but preparations for the forthcoming conference on international economic co-operation, direct elections to the European Assembly, and financial control in the Community are likely to be among those subjects discussed.

"At present eight meetings of the Council of Ministers are proposed for December. Budget Ministers will meet on 3; Environment Ministers on 8; Foreign Ministers on 9; Transport Ministers on 10 and 11; Finance Ministers on 15; Agriculture Ministers on 15 and 16; Social Affairs Ministers on 18 December and Research Ministers on a date yet to be set. In addition there is to be a meeting of Education Ministers on 10 December.

"Ministers at the Budget Council will consider the European Assembly's amendments and modifications to the Community's draft budget for 1976.

"At the Environment Council Ministers will resume their consideration of the draft directive on dangerous substances in the aquatic environment.

"Foreign Ministers will resume consideration of the preparation for the conference on international economic co-operation in the light of discussions at the European Council. Discussion will also take place on the negotiations with the Maghreb and on the mandate for the Mashraq and Ministers are likely to give further consideration to the mandates for negotiations with Canada and Portugal. There will also be discussion of the extension of import arrangements for ACP beef in the first half of 1976. Ministers will also consider a draft Council directive and regulation on tax and duty relief for small non-commercial consignments imported from third countries.

"At the Transport Council Ministers will have before them a number of proposals on social harmonisation in road transport, and for extending the Community quota and bracket tariff arrangements for international road transport. Ministers will also be considering the possibility of progress on alignment of national taxation systems and harmonisation of weights and dimensions for commercial vehicles. There may also be discussion of a proposal on the reciprocal recognition of navigability certificates for inland waterways vessels.

"Agricultural Ministers will carry out an initial examination of the Commission's price proposals for the 1976–77 marketing year. They will also consider proposals for assisting the grubbing-up of low quality vines and for prohibiting the use in certain milk products of non-milk fat and non-milk protein.

"The meeting of Education Ministers will consider a report drawn up by the Education Committee on future action in the field of education.