HL Deb 26 May 1976 vol 371 cc267-8
Baroness LLEWELYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, a Statement is being made in another place today about business to be taken in the EEC Council of Ministers in June. I will, as usual, arrange for the Statement to be made available in the Official Report.

Following is the Statement: 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 June. The monthly forecast for June was deposited yesterday. At present five meetings of the Council of Ministers are proposed for June. The Foreign Ministers' Meeting which begins on the 31st May will continue on the 1st June. Foreign Ministers will meet again on the 28th and 29th; Energy Ministers on the 10th; Agriculture Ministers on the 21st and 22nd and Social Affairs Ministers on the 29th and 30th June. There will also be a tripartite Conference on the 24th June of Finance and Employment Ministers, the Commission and European Employer and Trades Union organisations. As part of the follow up to the informal meeting of Foreign Ministers on the 14th and 15th May, Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on the 1st June are likely to resume consideration of the Tindemans Report and direct elections to the European Assembly. They are also likely to discuss Passport Union. On the 31st May, Ministers will sign the Commercial Co-operation Agreement concluded in March 1976 between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the EEC. There will also probably be consideration of Commission proposals for an agreement with Iran; the Community's external financial commitments; financial aid internal regulations in relation to the Maghreb and Malta; discussion on Spain and Cyprus sherry. Ministers will also consider the siting of JET and preparations for Association Councils with Greece and Turkey. At the Council on the 28th and 29th June, Ministers will resume discussion of the overall Mediterranean approach and relations with the CMEA. Ministers at both Council meetings will consider the problems posed by the prospect of 200 mile fishery limits and the current state of work in the four Commissions set up following the Conference on International Economic Co-operation. Ministers at the Energy Council will resume consideration of the energy policy guidelines adopted by the European Council on the 1st and 2nd December 1975 and measures to be taken in the event of oil supply difficulties. In June agricultural Ministers will resume their discussions of imports of New Zealand butter in the period 1978/80 and will also probably consider amended arrangements for beef imports. At the Social Affairs Council, Ministers are expected to have before them draft directives on the safeguarding of employees' rights in the case of mergers and on the education of migrant workers' children. They will also consider uniform payment of family benefits and may consider the outcome of the tripartite economic and social conference to be held on the 24th June. The tripartite Conference on the 24th June is expected to focus on the employment situation in the Community. The outcome of the Conference is likely to be considered at the Social Affairs Council.