§ Lord DENHAMMy Lords, a Statement is being made in another place about the business to be taken during the month of March by the European Economic Community Council of Ministers. With the leave of the House, I shall as usual arrange for this Statement 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 March. The usual written forecast of business was deposited in the House yesterday. Heads of State and Government will meet in the European Council in Brussels on 31st March and 1st April. At present four meetings of the Council of Ministers are scheduled for March.
§ The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on the 3rd and 4th and again on the 26th and 27th to continue discussion of the Commission's proposals on CAP prices for 1980–81; the proposed economies in the CAP to help balance the markets and streamline expenditure and proposals on policy regarding agricultural structures. Ministers are also expected to discuss the common organisation of the market in sheepmeat and French import controls; the extension of the application of the European Currency Unit in the CAP and proposals to extend current arrangements for the distillation of wine.
§ The Finance Council is expected to meet on the 17th to resume discussion of the Commission's latest paper on Convergence and Budgetary Questions. The Council is also likely to consider the report on the European Monetary Fund; the Commission's first quarterly review of the economic situation in the Community and the proposal for a second tranche of loans under the Ortoli loan facility. Ministers will also continue their consideration of the financial effects of Commission proposals for CAP economies and the annual agricultural price-fixing.
§ The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on the 17th and 18th and is expected to discuss preparations for the next European Council, at which our main concern will be to find an adequate and lasting solution to the budget problem. Foreign Ministers may also discuss Community reaction to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan; the Community attitude to the global negotiations on international development issues, which are to be launched by the special session of the United Nations General Assembly late this year; safeguard action on synthetic textiles; the Community's external steel policy; a report on Community relations with the Gulf States; the conclusion of the European Community/ 1347 Yugoslavia co-operation agreement; a follow-up to the meeting of the European Community/ Turkey Association Council on the 5th of February and a review of progress in negotiations on adaptation protocols for Greek accession. The Council will also examine the short list of developers' projects selected by the Belgian Government for the construction of a new building to meet the Council's accommodation needs following enlargement.