§ 45. Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made in the talks with European Governments on frontier formalities.
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§ Mr. ChannonAt the Copenhagen European Council last December the Council of Ministers was mandated to take decisions on three priority areas, one of which was the reduction of frontier formalities. Some small but practical improvements have already been inaugurated by the Council: the amount of fuel in lorry tanks which can be admitted duty-free when a border is crossed has been increased; personal property and wedding presents can be moved from one country to another without payment of tax; business men working temporarily abroad can take their cars with them without paying tax in the host country.
At the discussions of the Council of Ministers on the internal market on 26 October agreement was reached on all the main elements in the proposed frontier facilitation directive. When adopted this will ensure better co-ordination between customs posts at adjacent frontiers and reduce waiting times at frontiers through streamlined checking procedures for goods vehicles and fast lanes for transit traffic and improved procedures for co-operation between administrations. Good progress has also been made on a proposal for a temporary use regulation designed to reduce the paper work that craftsmen, exhibitors, journalists and so on have to fill in when crossing frontiers with the tools and equipment they need to do their job.
Good progress has also been made on the proposal for a single administrative document to replace existing customs documentation for import, export and transit of goods in free circulation within the Community. The Government hope that within the next 12 months all the outstanding issues on this proposal can be resolved and the proposal made ready for adoption.