Earl De La Warrasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Environment Council on 3rd December.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.
I am delighted to report that the Council finally adopted the directive (known as the "Luxembourg Package") concerning exhaust emission standards for cars. We have already announced our intention to require cars to be able to run on unleaded petrol from the earliest dates permitted by the directive. We are in active discussion with other member states with the intention of harmonising so far as possible the dates of mandatory application of the exhaust emission standards for small and medium cars. We also intend to apply the large car standard as soon as practicable, probably in the early 1990s. The Council also adopted a directive dealing with gaseous emissions from heavy vehicles. We believe that these measures will make a significant contribution to environmental improvement
The Council reached a common position by a qualified majority on a directive setting limits 62WA applicable in 1980–90 for emissions of particulates from diesel cars. The latter directive, which requires the Council to decide in 1989 on a further stage of tighter controls, will now be referred to the European Parliament under the co-operation procedure. Provided the European Parliament agrees, the directive is likely to be adopted next year.
Agreement was reached on a regulation concerning export from and import into the Community of certain dangerous chemicals. The regulation will ensure that when specified chemicals are exported from the Community the authorities in the importing countries are notified. The regulation requires member states to inform the Commission of notifications from third countries concerning the import into the Community of dangerous chemicals. This measure represents a useful and practical step forward in protecting importing countries from the risks of certain dangerous substances.
The Council reached agreement on a proposal for limit values and quality objectives for discharges of Hexachlorobenzene and Hexachlorobutadiene (both by-products of the chemical industry and on the List 1 of most dangerous substances under Directive 76/464/EEC) but has to await the opinion of the European Parliament before formal adoption.
The Council had a general discussion of the Presidency's proposed guidelines for future work on the proposed directive on large combustion plants. The Council took note of several positive elements and looked to the German Presidency to take the ideas further.
A resolution outlining future Community action to combat environmental pollution by cadmium was agreed.
There was a first exchange of views on a proposal to establish a five-year Community-wide programme of projects illustrating how actions in the environment field might also contribute to employment creation. The Council agreed to discuss this again once the community's budgetary situation had been clarified.
The Council also discussed the extension to inland waterways of the Community's marine pollution system as well as a proposed directive for quality objectives for chromium in water.