§ Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
§ Sir Ian GilmourNo meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for August, and at present seven meetings of the council are scheduled for September and October. The usual written forecast was deposited in the House on 28 July.
The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 14–15 September and 26–27 October.
The September Council is expected to carry forward work on the 30 May mandate and discuss arrangements for low-cost textile imports from the Community's preferential suppliers and for outward processing of textiles. The Council is also expected to discuss North-South issues, with particular reference to the forthcoming summit meeting in Mexico, arrangements for trade with Cyprus for 1982–83, and a proposal to improve the procedures for administering the Community's food aid programme. Ministers may also consider whether the Community should join the international tin agreement.
The October Council is expected to discuss a Commission mandate to negotiate voluntary restraint arrangements covering exports of steel from certain Yhird world countries to the Community in 1982; post-1981 arrangements for low-cost textile imports, including renewal of the multi-fibre arrangement; the outcome of the North-South summit meeting and draft guidelines on the European Regional Development Fund. Ministers are also likely to discuss economic aspects of the Euro-Arab dialogue and preparations for the ministerial meeting proposed for later in the year; continue discussion on the 30 May mandate; give further consideration to whether the Community should join the international tin agreement and continue the negotiations with Spain on her accession to the Community. The Council is also expected to approve a new method of calculating staff pay and may be asked to approve directives on rights of establishment for transport auxiliaries and an amending directive on rights of establishment for the medical professions.
The Finance Council is expected to meet on 17 September and 19 October. The September Council is expected to discuss a Community position in preparation for further negotiations on changes to the international consensus on export credits and continue consideration of the draft non-life insurance services directive and the new Community instrument. The October Council is expected to discuss the Commission's proposals for restructuring the Community budget contained in the Commission report on the 30 May mandate.
The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 28 September to discuss various commodity, structures and 472W animal health matters. It will meet again on 19–20 October when it is expected to discuss the Commission's report on the 30 May mandate as well as a range of other matters.
The Fisheries Council is expected to meet on 29 September to discuss proposals for a revised common fisheries policy and relations with third world countries.