Foreign Affairs Council (Hansard, 1 November 1991)

§ Mr. Hurd

The Foreign Affairs Council met in Luxembourg on 21 October to pursue its negotiations on the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA is intended to extend the single market to the seven countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) from 1 January 1992. My hon. Friends the Minister for Trade, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food represented the United Kingdom. Representatives of the EFTA countries were in Luxembourg. The two sides reached political agreement on all the key outstanding issues in the negotiations.

On fish, the two sides agreed that under the EEA the EFTA countries will remove all tariffs on imports from the EC of fish species and products. The Community will reduce or remove tariffs on imports from EFTA of most species and products. Full tariffs will remain on certain sensitive species such as salmon, mackerel and herring. The EFTA countries have also undertaken to adapt their national legislation to avoid distortion of competition in the fisheries sector.

Norway will guarantee the EC's share at north Norway of the total allowable catch for north east Arctic cod and increase it from its present level of 2.14 per cent. to 2.9 per cent. This will continue to be allocated within the Community in accordance with the present arrangements. The United Kingdom will thus receive around two thirds 6W of this allocation. Norway will also make available to the Community a separate fixed quantity of north Norway cod: 6,000 tonnes in 1993, rising to 11,000 tonnes in 1997. The United Kingdom will not benefit from this. Iceland will make available to the Community a quantity of redfish or redfish equivalent as an exchange of fishing opportunities. The allocation of this within the Community will be decided later, though we have made clear that our historic rights in the area should be taken into account. The arrangements for allocation within the Community of fish obtained under the EEA will not prejudice the principle of relative stability or the 1992 review of the common fisheries policy.

The two sides reached agreement on the cohesion fund, through which EFTA will give financial support to less favoured regions of the Community. The fund will comprise 500 mecu in grants and 1.5 becu in soft loans. Northern Ireland will be eligible. The other recipients will be Spain, Portugal, Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

The Community also reached agreement in principle with Austria and Switzerland in the negotiations on Alpine transit. There will be a limited increase in the numbers of Community trucks permitted to pass through the two countries, in exchange for measures to reduce pollution and encourage the use of alternative means of transport.

The two sides will now aim to complete work rapidly on the text of the draft EEA agreement, with a view to signature later this year. A statement will be made to the House prior to signature.

This meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council has thus cleared the way for the conclusion of the EEA agreement. I warmly welcome this. The EEA will create the largest single market in the world and facilitate membership of the Community for those EFTA countries who wish to join. I believe that the EEA will be good for the United Kingdom, good for the Community, and good for the wider Europe.

§ Mr. Garel Jones

The Telecommunications Council will meet on 4 November. Ministers will discuss the draft directive on high definition television; a proposal to harmonise radio frequency bands as from 1 January 1992 for the introduction of digital short range radio; the draft directive on the harmonisation of leased lines; and the harmonisation of the internal telephone access code to 00. Ministers will also discuss the satellite communications work programme, and will make a statement on the postal services Green Paper.

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 4 November. It will discuss EC/Jordan relations in preparation for the meeting of the EC/Jordan co-operation Council which will take place that evening. It will review the successful negotiations of the comprehensive settlement agreements signed by the Paris conference on Cambodia on 23 October. The Council will also discuss EC immigration issues possible measures against Yugoslavia and the GATT Uruguay round. Ministers will review progress in the Inter-Governmental Conference on Political Union. Ministers will also meet the Arab Maghreb Union.

The Labour and Social Affairs Council will meet on 6 November. Ministers may discuss the proposed directives on the protection of pregnant workers, and working time. Ministers may also discuss the Commission report on poverty.

The Internal Market Council will meet on 7 November and Ministers will discuss the proposed sweeteners directive. Ministers are also likely to discuss vehicle type approval, and the European company statute. Ministers may also discuss food irradiation; the pensions fund directive; trans European networks; and the Presidency situation report on the state of Internal Market Council work.

The Health Council will meet on 11 November. Ministers may discuss an amending proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 89/622 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states concerning the labelling of tobacco products, and on the prohibition of the marketing of certain types of tobacco for oral use; and a Commission draft directive for a ban on tobacco advertising. In the absense of opinions from the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Affairs Committee there will only be an "orientation" debate on this issue. Ministers are likely to discuss the link between health and the environment in the context of a draft resolution to request the Commission to draw up an inventory of initiatives in national and international forums. Ministers might also discuss the critical choices in health policy which face member states; needs of drug addicts in prison; and of proposals for an integrated system for future licensing of medicines for human veterinary use in the EC. Ministers may also discuss overall health policy concerning drug abuse; the Commission proposal that 1995 should be European Code on Doping in Sport Year. There will be a Commission presentation on measures to control AIDS.

The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 11 November and will consider member states' programmes for economic convergence as part of the Council's regular multilateral surveillance; the remaining tranches of the balance of payments loans to Bulgaria and Romania; the new 1.25 billion ecu food credit package for the Soviet Union; the Commission proposal for the revision of the financial perspective; and measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions including a possible carbon/energy tax in the Community. Ministers will discuss the abolition of fiscal frontiers and hope to reach agreement on the legal text of the excise movements directive. Ministers may also discuss the investment services directive.

The Budget Council will meet on 12 November and Ministers may discuss the European Parliament's amendments and modifications as a result of their first reading of the draft budget for 1992.

The Justice Council will meet on 13 November. Ministers are likely to consider the results of work on the relationship between Community law and national criminal law, particularly in respect of fraud against the Community budget. Ministers may also consider data processing for legal purposes, and judicial training within the member states.

The Cultural Affairs Council will meet on 14 November. Ministers are likely to agree two Presidency resolutions promoting cooperation over cultural networks and conservation and access to archives. Ministers will also discuss the Commission's paper on future cultural priorities and an Italian paper on the promotion of theatrical events in 1993. Ministers may also consider the Commission's proposals on national art treasures. The Agriculture Council will meet on 18 and 19 November and Ministers will discuss reform of the common agricultural policy; the agricultural aspects of the GATT Uruguay 8W round; welfare of pigs and calves, and the transitional reform of the oilseeds regime. Ministers may also discuss meat products; foot and mouth disease vaccine banks; a co-ordination centre for foot and mouth disease; classical swine fever and non-harmonised animals.

The Industry Council will meet on 18 November and Ministers will consider the Commission communications on biotechnology, textiles and maritime industries. Ministers will also discuss a draft resolution on the electronics and information technology industries; and state aids.

The Education Council will meet on 25 November and Ministers are likely to discuss the teaching profession and the Commission's memorandum on higher education, covering quality assessment and mobility. Ministers may also discuss the statute for the European Schools; and the European Dimension in education.

The Fisheries Council will meet on 26 November and Ministers will consider EC negotiations with third countries; and 1992 fish guide pricing. Ministers may also discuss technical conservation measures.

The Development Council will meet on 28 November and Ministers are likely to consider Presidency proposals for operational guide-lines on human rights and democracy for all EC aid; the Commission report on the progress of the programming of Lomé IV and on the evaluation of Community aid; the Presidency report on the fact finding missions to Ethiopia and Bangladesh; and the Commission proposals for the coordination and management of emergency aid. Ministers may discuss the EC aspects of the preparations for the 1992 United Nations conference on the environment and development; and the administration of the next five year programme for Asia and Latin America. Ministers may also discuss the rehabilitation plan for Angola; and the untying of aid. Ministers may consider Commission proposals for a new period of the programme for the stabilisation of export earnings; and a further pilot stage of the EC investment partners scheme.