HL Deb 27 October 1983 vol 444 cc422-3WA
The Lord Irving of Dartford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they can say what is happening to the eight proposals for harmonisation and liberalisation still being discussed by the EEC.

Lord Lyell

The current position on those eight proposals to which the noble Lord refers is as follows:

  1. (i) Freedom of establishment and activity of self-employed architects. The Council discussed the proposal for a directive on the mutual recognition of architects' qualifications in July 1982, but did not reach agreement. Since then discussions have taken place in the Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER), but no substantive progress has been made.
  2. (ii) Common taxation system applicable to mergers, divisions and contributions involving companies of different member states.
  3. (iii) Common taxation system applicable to parent companies and their subsidiaries of different Member States. These proposals for directives have been considered by the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, which has prepared a report for the full Parliament.
  4. (iv) and (v) Draft regulation for a European Economic Interest Grouping (formerly known as European Co-operation Grouping). This draft regulation is at present being considered by a Council working group, which earlier in 1983 completed its first reading of the text. The second reading commenced in February and further meetings will be held this autumn.
  5. (vi) Liability for defective products. The proposal for a directive on product liability has been referred to COREPER, which has still to resolve certain fundamental questions that have arisen. When these have been resolved it is expected that detailed examination of the draft will be resumed by a Council working party.
  6. (vii) Elimination of double taxation in conjunction with the adjustment of transfers of profit between associated enterprises. This proposal for a directive is at present being considered by a Council working group but progress has been slow.
  7. (viii) Public telecommunications markets. In 1981 the European Commission made four proposals for three recommendations covering greater convergence on standards, liberalisation in the supply of data terminals, and opening up of 10 per cent. of PTT procurement to full competition within the Community.

However, agreement could not be reached at Council. In September the Commission brought forward revised proposals aimed at achieving greater planning certainty, co-operation in research, Community standards, a more integrated Community infrastructure and open public procurements. Substantive discussion on these proposals has not yet started.