Council of Ministers (Hansard, 30 October 1984)

§ Mr. Rifkind

The usual written statement was deposited in the House earlier today. At present, 12 meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for November.

The Development Council is due to meet on 6 November when Ministers will consider further Community action in response to the famine in Africa, especially Ethiopia. The Council will also discuss food strategies; the implementation of the 1983 programme of aid to developing countries not associated with the Community or the Lomé Convention ("Non-Associates"); 923W guidelines for the 1985 non-associates programme; and the environmental dimension in Community development policy.

The Research Council is expected to meet on 6 November to discuss fusion, radioactive waste, reactor safety, radiation protection, biotechnology, non-nuclear energy, basic research in industrial technology and the stimulation of the Community's scientific and technical potential.

The Transport Council will meet on 8 November to continue its discussion on the harmonisation of vehicle weights and dimensions, road haulage liberalisation (increased lorry quotas) and transport infrastructure support under the 1983–84 budgets. It will also discuss railway cooperation and consider a proposed resolution on road safety.

The Economic and Finance Council is due to meet on 12 November to continue discussions on budget discipline. Ministers are also expected to consider measures to strengthen the European Monetary System, including convergence and surveillance procedures, progress on financial integration and the development of the public and private ecu; and two directives on unit trusts covering the co-ordination of laws, regulations and administrative provisions and the liberalisation of capital movements. There will also be a preliminary discussion on the annual report on the economic situation in the Community.

The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 12–13 November to consider the reform of the wine regime, agricultural structures and the administration of the milk supplementary levy.

There will be a special Foreign Affairs Council on 12–13 November to discuss Spanish and Portugese accession.

The Energy Council is expected to meet on 13 November to discuss the conclusions of the Commission's reviews into member states' energy policies and energy saving policies; proposals on investment in solid fuels; and 1984 applications for support to projects in the hydrocarbon sector. Ministers may also consider Commission papers on energy pricing, natural gas, emissions from large combustion plant and a review of the Community hydrocarbon scheme.

The Steel-Shipbuilding Council on 22 November will discuss the operation of the steel aids regime in 1985 and will review the Community market for ferrous scrap. On shipbuilding, the Council will consider a Commission proposal to extend the fifth shipbuilding directive with one amendment designed to allow states to increase temporarily the levels of state aid to their shipbuilding industries.

The Foreign Affairs Council on 26–27 November will discuss preparations for the December European Council; prepare its position for the Ministerial negotiating conferences with Spain and Portugal which are to be held in the margins; and consider proposals which the Commission will be making to grant Greenland Generalised Scheme of Preferences status. Ministers may also discuss the outstanding issues on the implementation of the Fontainebleau agreement.

The Health Council will meet on 29 November to review progress on proposals for a European health card, the protection of dialysis patients from exposure to aluminium, and an action programme for toxicology. Ministers are also expected to consider some public health issues of general concern in Member States, for example 924W drug abuse and the control of diseases caused by smoking. They may also discuss the containment of health care costs.

The Budget Council may meet on 29 November to consider any amendments and modifications made by the European Parliament to the 1985 draft budget.

The Fisheries Council is expected to meet in the second half of November to consider 1985 total allowable catches and quotas; relations with Norway and possibly with Mauritania.