§ Mr. Maloneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. RifkindThe usual written forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present, 11 meetings of the Council are scheduled for December.
The Labour and Social Affairs Council will meet on 5 December and will discuss the draft directive on the protection of workers from noise at work and the draft decision on an action programme in education and training for technology—the COMETT proposals. There is a possibility that these two items may be agreed. Other items on the agenda include the draft directive on parental leave and leave for family reasons, and the Commission memorandum on political guidelines in the employment, education and training of young people. The Council will also consider two proposals to amend European social 249W fund rules: (i) in order that fund support may be given to schemes where the jobs created are for self-employed people, and (ii) in view of the accession of Spain and Portugal.
The Economic and Finance Council is expected to meet on 9 December to discuss the annual report on the economic situation in the Community and an Economic Policy Committee report on labour markets and employment. The Council is also likely to consider the calculation of commercial interest reference rates which apply to export finance; abolition of tax borders; tax measures to encourage cooperation between firms in different member states; and a statement by the Belgian delegation concerning application of the treaty rules on competition to insurance.
The Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 9 and 10 December to consider cereal and rapeseed prices; the review of the sugar regime; sugar for the chemical industry; reform of the starch regime; GATT beef quotas and the beef balance sheet; disposal of intervention alcohol; the rationalisation of abattoirs; forestry protection; hormones; battery hens and possibly the annual premia for goats and mountain ewes and certain harmonisation issues in the veterinary/phytosanitary/ foodstuff sectors. A further meeting is expected to take place on 19 December to discuss perspectives for the common agricultural policy.
The Research Council will meet on 10 December and will discuss R&D programmes in the fields of materials and the environment together with a proposal for a programme of assistance for the development of endogenous scientific and research capacities in the developing countries. The Council will also consider a report from a seminar to be held on 3 and 4 December on an initiative for research in informatics applied to society and a progress report on the European Community's joint research centre multiannual programme 1984–87. There may also be a follow-up discussion to the European Council of 2 and 3 December on the European technological Community.
The Council will discuss, amongst other things, cooperation between member states and EC in developing links between customs computer systems to facilitate inter-Community trade.
The Internal Market/Consumer Council will look at questions related to the entry into force of the community patent convention (CPC) and the status of the proposed common patent appeal convention and any other problem that may arise at the conference on the CPC.
The Foreign Affairs Council will discuss proposals for further finance to support social measures taken by member states to ease the problem of restructuring the coal and steel industries.
The Council may review progress on EC-EFTA consultations to take account of enlargement. The Council will review progress in the negotiations on the future of the multi-fibre arrangement.
The Council will be asked to adopt the final series of non-quota measures proposed under the old ERDF regulation. The Council will discuss trade relations between the Community and Japan.
The Fisheries Council is expected to meet on 16 and 17 December to discuss 1986 total allowable catch quotas; 1986 quotas in certain third country waters; Norway pout; amendment of the fishing control regulation; various enlargement measures and possibly 1986 guide prices.
250WThe Culture Ministers' meeting will receive a report from the Commission on the operation of resale price maintenance on books in the Community.