§ Mr. Cyril D. Townsendasked 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. Heads of State and Government will meet at the European Council in Milan on 28 and 29 June. At present ten meetings of the Council of Ministers are scheduled for June.
The Industry Council is meeting today (3 June) to discuss progress on the Community action plan for telecommunications; a proposed programme for research and development in advance communications tech-nologies for Europe (RACE); the Community's attitude to competing satellite systems; and a declaration of intention to consider establishing a legal framework for the protection of semi-conductor chip design. Ministers may also discuss preliminary work for compiling a directory of member states' present testing and approval arrangements; proposals to remove the competitive disadvantage which Community sugar and starch regimes impose on the European biotechnology industries; and certain proposals on direct broadcasting by satellite (DBS) transmission standards and reception protection measures.
The Education Council is meeting today (3 June) to discuss a draft Resolution on equality of opportunity for boys and girls in education; conclusions on the European dimension in education; co-operation in higher education as a basis for Community future policy and co-operation between Higher Education and Industry; the recognition of the doctorate of the European University Institute of Florence; and its future work programme.
The Research Council is due to meet on 4 June to discuss a number of research and development topics including the tritium handling laboratory; the European synchrotron radiation laboratory (which supplies an intense source of X-rays for use in a range of scientific research fields); a programme for research and development in advance communications technologies for Europe (RACE); and an idea to encourage the use of information technologies as an aid to improve the social welfare of society (IRIS).
The Internal Market Council is expected to meet on 10 June to discuss the draft directives on the rights of establishment of architects, the mutual recognition of qualifications and rights of establishment of pharmacists, and the co-ordination of laws relating to self-employed commercial. agents. Ministers will also consider the Commission's proposed timetable for the completion of the internal market and may consider the draft regulation to establish an European economic interest grouping.
The Economic and Finance Council is expected to meet on 11 June to discuss implemention of budget discipline in relation to the 1986 budgetary procedures. It will also consider the European monetary system; the draft 20th value added tax directive which deals with compensation payments for German farmers; the progress report of the unit trust directive concerning the harmonisation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions: and discuss employment in preparation for the next European Council. Ministers may also consider the Euratom lending ceiling.
79WThe Agriculture Council is expected to meet on 11 and 12 June to complete its discussions on the Commission's price proposals for cereals and rapeseed.
The Labour and Social Affairs Council is due to meet on 13 June to consider the draft decision on the comparability of vocational training qualifications; draft amendments to the regulation on social security; a draft regulations on social security in Greenland; and the draft resolution on a Community migration policy. Ministers will also discuss the draft directives on industrial noise, parental leave, occupational social security schemes and self-employed women and women in agriculture. The draft "Vredeling" directive, the draft directive on part-time work, the European social fund regional statistical mechanism and the draft recommendation on voluntary workers overseas are also likely to be discussed.
The Foreign Affairs Council is due to meet on 18 and 19 June to consider the Commission's draft regulation on integrated Mediterranean programmes (IMPs), revised in the light of the agreement reached at the 29 and 30 March European Council; and preparations for the 28 and 29 June European Council. Ministers will also prepare the Community positions for the EC/Israel co-operation council and for the EC/Yugoslavia co-operation council, both of which are due to be held in the margins, and for the EC/ACP joint council which is due to meet in Luxembourg on 21 June. It may discuss a draft negotiating mandate for an EC/central America co-operation agreement and may review developments in current difficulties between the Community and the United States in the steel sector.
The Energy Council is expected to meet on 20 June to discuss the Commission's proposals for new programmes of support for energy demonstration projects and projects for technological development in the hydrocarbon sector; the review of energy pricing policy; the Commission paper on oil refining; state aids for the coal industry; possibly new Community energy objectives for 1995.
The Environment Council is likely to meet on 25 June to consider a draft directive to tighten existing limits on vehicle exhaust emissions, in line with the agreement reached at the last meeting of the Council; a draft directive on the control of emissions from large combustion plant; a new Commission proposal on trade in seal products; the draft directive to control the discharge of dangerous waste into water; and a Commission proposal to extend the scope of an existing directive so as to prohibit entirely the marketing and use of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated terphynols (PCTs).