§ Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
§ Sir Ian GilmourA revised version of the usual written forecast of Community business was deposited on Friday 2 May. At present five meetings of the Council of Ministers are proposed for May.
The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 5–6 May and will discuss any necessary follow-up action to the Luxembourg European Council. Ministers are also expected to discuss the shortlist of developers and projects to construct a new Council building; resolutions adopted by the European Parliament at its session 14–18 April; the outcome of the ministerial meeting on 5 May with the Andean Pact countries; preparations for the annual Community-ACP Council of Ministers to be held in Nairobi on 8–9 May; progress in negotiating the relaunched association agreement with Turkey; revised procedures for the suspension of free circulation under article 115 of the Treaty of Rome. We intend to raise the question of sales of butter to the USSR.
The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 6–8 May, to continue discussion of the Commission's proposals on CAP prices for 1980–81 and economies in the CAP to help balance the markets and streamline expenditure, together with related measures. Discussion is also expected to resume on the common organisation of the market in mutton and lamb and on monetary matters in the agricultural sector.
The Energy Council is expected to meet on 13 May and will discuss the world energy situation in the light of discussion at the European Council. Ministers will also resume discussion of the energy objectives of the Community for 1990; short-term oil supply problems and the future direction of Community energy policy. There may also be discussion of the draft resolution on the new lines of action by the Community in the field of 706W energy savings, on means of improving oil market information, and on recent oil market developments.
The Fiscal Questions Council may meet on 19 May to discuss the basis for harmonising the structure of excise duties on alcoholic beverages and to consider draft directives on the harmonisation of tax reliefs for certain means of transport temporarily imported and for permanent imports of personal property from one member State to another. Ministers may discuss proposals for a seventh VAT directive covering used goods, works of art, antiques and collectors items and the proposed directive on the tax treatment of mergers and divisions between companies of different member States.
The Fisheries Council may also meet in May, on a date to be arranged, to discuss national quota allocations and the related issue of access preferences; fisheries relations with non-member States; technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources and interim structural measures.