European Community (Council of Ministers) (Hansard, 22 May 1980)

§ Sir Ian Gilmour

The usual written forecast of Community business was deposited on Thursday 22 May. Heads of State and Government will meet in the European Council in Venice on 12–13 June. At present eight meetings of the Council of Ministers are scheduled for June.

The Foreign Affairs Council is planned for 2–3 June but may be brought forward to the week 26–30 May. The Council is expected to discuss the United Kingdom budget problem. Ministers may also discuss preparations for the European Council; an interim pay review for Community staff; proposals for member States' passports to be issued in a common format; possible restrictions on exports of ferrous [...]; progress in the 348W negotiations with Turkey on relaunching the EC/Turkey Association Agreement; safeguard action on United States synthetic fibres; relations with the Gulf States; the Community mandate for negotiations on a textiles agreement with Bolivia; and the results of the regular EC/ACP Joint Council of Ministers held in Nairobi from 8 to 9 May, to consider the working of the Lomé convention.

The Finance Council will meet on 9 June to discuss preparations for the European Council. Ministers are also likely to consider the economic situation in the Community based on the Commission's latest quarterly economic policy review and a proposal for a second tranche of the Ortoli loan facility.

The Labour and Social Affairs Council will meet on 9 June and is expected to discuss the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employers, the framework directive on the protection of workers from the harmful effect of chemical, physical and biological agents at work and the Commission's proposed guidelines for a Community labour market policy. Ministers are also expected to continue discussion on proposals to extend the regulations on social security for migrant workers to the self-employed and non-employed; to discuss the Commission reports on the rehabilitation of handicapped persons and the action programme on safety and health at work; and consider proposals for continuing the programme to combat poverty and for improving relations with representatives of employers and workers in the context of tripartite conferences.

The Fisheries Council is expected to meet on 16 June to discuss aspects of the revised common fisheries policy including national quota allocations and the related issues of access preferences; fisheries relations with non-member States; technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources and interim structural measures.

The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 16–17 June to continue discussion on CAP prices for 1980–81; the mutton and lamb market and proposals on policy concerning agricultural structures.

The Fiscal Questions Council may meet on 19 June to resume discussion about the basis for harmonising the structure of excise duties on alcoholic beverages. 349W Ministers will also consider 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 and the proposed directive on the tax treatment of mergers and divisions between companies of different member States.

The Transport Council will meet on 24 June and is expected to discuss the harmonisation of laws relating to Community driving licences and lorry weights, Community aid for transport infrastructure projects and proposals on the fixing of rates for the international carriage of goods by rail. Ministers are also likely to consider the Commission's latest report on the application of the drivers' hours regulation; the harmonisation of the starting date of summer time throughout the Community in 1981 and 1982 and the contribution of the European Community to the development of air transport services.

The Environment Council will meet on 30 June to consider proposals on the discharge of aldrin, dieldrin and endrin into the aquatic environment and major accident hazards in industry. Ministers are also expected to discuss future Community environment policy as a whole; soil management; lead in the environment; the reduction of noise and pollutants from motor vehicles and the control and reduction of oil pollution at sea.