§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what amendments Her Majesty's Government have proposed to the draft proposal of the European Commission for a Council directive on the landfill of waste.
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§ Mr. YeoThe draft proposal for a Council directive on the landfill of waste was introduced by the European Commission in May 1991. An amended proposal was produced in June this year following the European Parliament's opinion. The present proposal was drawn up before the principle of subsidiarity was strengthened in the Maastricht treaty and endorsed at the Edinburgh Council and is very detailed and prescriptive. That principle requires that Community legislation deals only with issues that can be better attained at the level of the Community than at the level of individual member states. Accordingly the proposed directive fails the subsidiarity test.
§ Mr. MackinlayTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the European Community directive on the landfill of waste will be implemented.
§ Mr. YeoThe Belgian presidency of the European Community is giving priority to the draft proposal for a Council directive on the landfill of waste. Considerable negotiations lie ahead and it is not yet clear when Council will be able to agree a common position. The present draft requires member states to take the necessary steps to comply with the directive within one year of its notification.