§ Dame Elaine Kellett-BowmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe usual forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present seven meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for March.
The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 7 March to discuss the European Court of Auditors' annual report on the 1986 financial year; prepare for the April IMF interim committee meeting; and consider the Commission's quarterly review of the economic situation in the Community. The agenda may also include a follow-up to the European Council agreement on the future financing of the Community.
The Agriculture Council meets on 7/8 March to discuss follow-up action on agricultural stabilisers; olive oil production aid; set-aside of farmland; cessation of farming (early retirement); hormones; pesticide residues; and materials and articles in contact with food.
The Transport Council will meet on 14/15 March. Discussion will cover access to the road haulage market; increasing the road haulage permit quota; draft proposals on international bus liberalisation; vehicle taxation; the Commission's proposed amendments to social regulations (driver's hours); the width of refrigerated lorries; vehicle weights and dimensions and road haulage tariffs.
The Environment Council meets on 21 March to consider proposals for the control of emissions from large combustion plants; the control of discharges of chromium into water; the reduction of wastes from the production of titanium dioxide; the control of chloroform; emission standards for small cars; and the protection of the ozone layer from chlorofluorocarbons. The Council will also 505W discuss a proposal for a five-year programme illustrating the favourable impact of environmental projects on unemployment.
The Foreign Affairs Council meets on 22 March to discuss follow-up action to the European Council conclusions on financing the Community; the 1988 guidelines for the Community's programme of aid to developing countries in Asia and Latin America; the Commission's recent sectoral negotiations with Japan; and progress made in negotiations with Hungary on a trade and co-operation agreement.
The Internal Market Council will meet on 22 March to discuss a number of measures relevant to completion of the single European market.
The second Agriculture Council this month, on 28 and 29 March, will concentrate on the 1988 price-fixing proposals.