§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list in theOfficial Report the occasions when discussions have taken place in the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community covering the future of its structural funds, the relevant reports made by him to the House, and the likely future timetable of further discussions prior to final adoption of each legislative instrument.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 10 January 1989]The Foreign Affairs Council discussed the future of the structural fund on the dates listed. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs reported to the House on those meetings on the dates shown:
Council meetings Reports to the House Official Report column numbers 23 to 24 November 1987 25 November 1987 222-224 14 to 15 December 1987 16 December 1987 575 25 January 1988 27 January 1988 240 24 to 25 May 1988 26 May 1988 239-240 13 to 14 June 1988 16 June 1988 217-218 26 September 1988 19 October 1988 876-879 25 October 1988 158-159 24 to 25 October 1988 27 October 1988 411 21 to 22 November 1988 24 November 1988 11 19 December 1988 21 December 1988 274 In addition, the European Council discussed the subject on 4 to 5 December 1987 and 11 to 12 February 1988. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister reported to the House on those meetings on 8 December 1987 and 15 February 1988 at columns 167-178 and 705-717.
Debates on Community documents about the reform of the funds were held on 18 November 1987 and 21 December 1988 at columns 1090-1162 and 549-570. They were opened by, respectively, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and me.
Five legislative instruments have now been adopted, and entered into force on 1 January 1989
Council regulation (EC) No. 2052/88 of 24 June 1988Council regulations (EEC) (not yet numbered) adopted in December 1988 laying down provisions for implementing regulations (EEC) No. 2052/88 as regards:coordination of the activities of the different structural funds between themselves and with the operations of the EIB and the other financial instruments,the European regional development fund,the European social fund,the EAGGF guidance section.No further general legislative instruments on the funds are in prospect, but article 10 of the new regulation on the EAGGF provides that the Council is to decide by 31 December 1989 on the forms of and conditions for the fund contribution to improve the conditions under which 762W agriculture, forestry and fishing products are processed and marketed. The necessary Commission proposals for this have not yet been made.