§ Mr. Tim Smithasked 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.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe usual forecast was deposited in the House today. At present eight formal and one informal meeting of the Council are scheduled for April 1986.
At the informal meeting of Finance Ministers on 5–6 April Ministers will be invited to take a decision on a Community mandate for discussion in the OECD consensus group of further improvements in discipline in the use of tied aid credits for developing countries.
The Research Council will meet on 8 April. Initial consideration will be given to the 1987 to 1991 framework programme for research and development in the field of science and technology. The Council will also consider the financial aspects of and future guidelines for the European Community's joint research centre. The Council will also prepare for a conciliation procedure with the European Parliament on research and development programmes in the fields of environment and materials.
The Council will consider a report by industrialists on ESPRIT (European Strategic Programme for Research and Development in Information Technology). This follows the requirement of a Council decision of February 1984 that a report of ESPRIT should be submitted to the Council at the halfway stage.
The Internal Market Council, also meeting on 8 April, will continue its work on the action programme for completion of the common market. The Consumer Affairs Council will meet on the same day. It will consider a resolution on the future orientation of EC policy for the protection and promotion of the interests of consumers and take note of progress in discussions on the consumer credit directive which seeks to achieve minimum standards of protection for consumers in credit transactions.
The Council will be invited to take note of progress made to date on the Commission's 1984 proposal to extend price indications and to discuss the future direction of work. The Council is expected to adopt a Community system of information on accidents involving consumer products.
The Development Council on 17 April will consider the structural aspects of development in Africa (including the Community's rehabilitation plan and the fight against desertification), food aid and food security in developing countries, the role of women in development and the promotion of developing countries' trade.
The Foreign Affairs Council meeting on 21 and 22 April will discuss preparations for the proposed new round of trade negotiations in the GATT and may also review the Community's trade relations with the United States of America. It will review progress in negotiations with Mediterranean partners on the adaptation of their co-operation-association agreements and may also consider a number of outstanding issues in preparation for an EC-Turkey Association Council in the autumn. The Council may review progress in negotiations with the ACP states on the guaranteed price for ACP sugar in 1985–86.
524WOn 21 and 22 April the Agricultural Council is expected to consider the 1986 agriculture price proposals. The Council may also discuss pesticide residues and a prohibition directive on ethylene oxide.
The ACP-EEC Council will meet in Barbados on 24 and 25 April to consider ACP-EEC trade and aid issues arising in the context of the Lomé convention.
The Economic and Finance Council is expected to meet on 28 April to establish the budget reference framework for 1987 and to consider a report from the high level working party on tax approximation.