HL Deb 29 November 1978 vol 396 cc1300-1

2.59 p.m.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, a Statement is being made in another place today about business to be taken in the EEC Council of Ministers during December. I shall as usual, with the leave of the House, arrange for this to be made available in the Official Report.

Following is the Statement referred to: With your permission, Mr. Speaker, I will make a Statement about the main business to be taken by Ministers of the European Community during December. The more detailed monthly written forecast was deposited on Monday the 27th November. Heads of State and Government will meet in the European Council in Brussels on the 4th and 5th December. At present six meetings of the Council of Ministers are proposed for that month; full details are contained in the written forecast. The Budget Council will meet on the 5th to consider the budgetary implications of the decisions taken by Heads of Government on the Regional Development Fund. The Finance Council will meet on the 18th and will discuss the European Monetary System and any follow-up action necessary in the light of decisions reached at the European Council. It will also discuss the Commission's draft Annual Report on the economic situation in the Community and the Commission's Annual Economic Review for 1978–79. The Agriculture Council will meet on the 18th and 19th and is expected to have a preliminary exchange of views on the CAP price proposals for 1979–80, to consider further the wine market proposals and possibly matters concerning health and hygiene in the milk sector. No Fisheries Council has yet been arranged but one may prove necessary. The Environment Council will meet on the 19th and will hold an additional meeting on the 18th to discuss environment policy generally. The council is expected to consider the pollution of groundwater by dangerous substances, pollution caused by the paper pulp industry, the quality of water for human consumption, bird conservation and the cost of pollution control. The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on the 19th and will review any need for follow-up action arising from the European Council. In addition the council is expected to discuss the GATT multilateral trade negotiations; current negotiations between the EEC and the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; and those for a new EEC/ACP Lomé Convention; review progress in the negotiations on Greek accession to the Community and resume its discussion of the internal and external aspects of the Community's steel policy. The Energy Council will meet on a date still to be decided and will resume its discussion of the Community Energy Situation. The council is also expected to resume consideration of the place of coal in Community energy policy; to consider the scope for Community action in the areas of energy labelling and to discuss the progress of demonstration projects in energy saving".