HC Deb 28 May 1982 vol 24 cc429-30W
Mr. George Gardiner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.

Mr. Hurd

At present eight meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for June. Heads of State and Government will meet in the European Council in Brussels on 28–29 June. The usual written forecast was deposited in the House on 27 May.

The Transport Council is expected to meet on 10 June to consider a European Parliament report on a common transport policy; measures to promote the development of combined transport vehicle weights; rail freight tariffs; railway co-operation within the Community; transport infrastructure and a proposal to monitor Eastern bloc road haulage. Ministers are also likely to discuss technical requirements for inland waterways vessels; the United Nations liner code convention; aircraft noise; interregional air services and Community air fares.

The Finance Council is expected to meet on 14 June to discuss the implications for the Community of the outcome of the Versailles summit, consider further the draft insurance services directive and agree a Community position in relation to the negotiations on the export credit consensus. Ministers are also expected to undertake one of their regular economic reviews in preparation for the European Council, assess the draft fifth medium term economic programme in the light of recent developments and may also consider aspects of the draft seventh company law directive on group accounts.

The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 14–15 June and may consider proposals for establishing criteria for determining the world price for oil seeds; proposals concerning tendering for export refunds in milk products; the use of the co-responsibility levy in respect of the milk sector and reform of the Community wine regime.

The Development Co-operation Council is expected to meet on 15 June to discuss North-South issues; food strategies; the forthcoming world food council; programme—non-project—aid by the Community, the problems of urbanisation as they relate to Community aid; trade promotion in developing countries; energy needs of developing countries and the role of women in development.

In addition to the informal meeting planned for 20 June, the Foreign Affairs Council is expected to meet on 21–22 June to discuss preparations for the European Council and to agree on further statements of the Community position on various aspects of both the Spanish and Portuguese accession negotiations to be made at ministerial level meetings with the two applicant States which will take place in the margins of the Council. Ministers will also consider renewal of the Community's steel anti-crisis measures, the review of the regional development fund, the Northern Ireland housing regulation and the Community's trade regimes with Cyprus and Malta. In addition, the Council may examine Community aid for Central America, the draft directives on liability for defective products and on the protection of consumers buying goods from doorstep salesmen and may discuss the draft company law directive dealing with the division of public companies—scissions—and the directive on group accounts—the seventh directive.

The Environment Council is expected to meet on 24 June to discuss draft directives on environmental assessment, cadmium in the acquatic environment and the monitoring of environments affected by waste from the titanium dioxide industry, as well as a draft resolution on the third environment action programme. It is likely that there will also be consideration of a draft regulation on the Washington convention on international trade in endangered species; of draft decisions on the consolidation of precautionary measures concerning chlorofluorocarbons in the environment and the exchange of information on air pollution, and of a draft directive on the control of major accident hazards. Depending on progress there may also be discussion of a draft directive on lead in the atmosphere.

The Research Council may meet on 30 June to continue discussion on the re-organisation of Community research and development; the future of the joint research centre and Community support for information technology. There may also be consideration of the programmes on medical and public health and on developing countries research and development.

The Fisheries Council may meet again in June to continue discussion of the outstanding issues of a revised common fisheries policy.