HL Deb 02 July 1996 vol 573 cc98-9WA
Lord Lyell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will report on the outcome of the Civil Protection Council held on 23rd May.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)

Mr. David Bostock, the Deputy Permanent Representative to the European Union, represented the United Kingdom at the Council in Brussels. In accordance with the policy outlined in the Prime Minister's statement on 21st May, he was unable to agree to any decisions requiring unanimity in the Council other than those which were purely formal or procedural.

Three agenda items were blocked and a statement made on the Government's policy of non co-operation in the European Union. The three matters dealt with at the Council were as follows.

The Council discussed a compromise proposal for a Decision establishing a community action programme in the field of civil protection, designed to support and supplement member states' own work in the area of civil protection. The Presidency expressed the hope that this question would be further dealt with in the months ahead with a view to reaching agreement.

The Council considered a draft Resolution on strengthening Community co-operation in the field of civil protection research. The Presidency took note of the Commission's intention to consider the need for research in this area.

The Council also discussed a draft Resolution on co-operation with the associated Central and Eastern European Countries and Cyprus and Malta on civil protection, in preparation for their accession.

The Government do not accept that civil protection is an appropriate field for Community action. The Government take the view that in this particular field member states have, and must continue to have, primary responsibility for taking action. The Government will therefore be arguing at the IGC that Article 3(t) should be removed from the Treaty, at least where civil protection is concerned, and any future EU level co-operation should be pursued on an intergovernmental basis. At the Civil Protection Council on 23rd May, the Government reiterated that position while explaining why we could not agree to the proposed Council Resolutions and Council Decision on civil protection.

It follows that the Government do not consider that it would be useful for the Commission to bring forward proposals for research in this field. The Government do accept that, in preparation for the eventual accession of the associated CEECs, efforts should be made to forge appropriate links in the field of civil protection. However, they see no reason why the Community should be invited to take the lead.