§ 26. Mr. Wallaceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the November meeting of the European Economic Community Council of Environment Ministers.
§ Mr. WaldegraveI led the United Kingdom delegation at this meeting, which was held on 28 November.
On the draft directive on polluting emissions from vehicles the Council reached substantial agreement on a range of points left outstanding from its meeting in June 1985; this is, however, subject to general reserves by the two other member states and to a parliamentary reserve by the United Kingdom.
The Council held an exchange of views on the draft directive on the control of emissions to the air from large combustion plants, but without reaching decisions.
The Council discussed the chapter on the environment in the Commission's Green Paper on "Perspectives for the Common Agricultural Policy", giving a general welcome to the Commission's proposals; and held a preliminary exchange of views on the designation as European Year of the Environment the 12 months beginning on 21 March 1987.
Other items discussed included draft directives on the discharge of dangerous substances to water; the sulphur content of gas oil; a Community information system for the control and reduction of pollution caused by hydrocarbons discharged at sea; the use of sewage sludge in agriculture; pollution by waste from the titanium dioxide industry; and a proposed regulation establishing a scheme to provide forests in the Community with increased protection against fire and atmospheric pollution.