HC Deb 01 December 1988 vol 142 cc331-3W
Mr. Greg Knight

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Council of Ministers.

Mrs. Chalker

The usual forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present 14 meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for December. There may also be a Telecomunications Council on 12 December, but this is yet to be confirmed by the Presidency.

The European Council, to be held on 2–3 December at Rhodes, will discuss the further development of the Community with particular reference to the Commission's report on progress towards completion of the single market, submitted under article 8b of the treaty of Rome as amended by the Single European Act. It will also discuss the Community's role in the world and the Environment. Political co-operation subjects will also be covered.

The Transport Council is to meet on 8–9 December. Subjects for discussion include transport infrastructure; vehicle weights and dimensions; access to the road haulage profession; international bus and coach transport; barge shipping on inland waterways; shipping; air congestion; aids for combined transport; road haulage cabotage; vehicle taxation; possibly inter-regional air services; and third country transit, where it is hoped agreement to the second stage negotiating mandate can be reached.

The Fisheries Council will meet on 9–11 December to discuss the 1989 total allowable catches and quotas; relations with third countries; and possibly fish guide prices.

The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 12 December to consider the draft directive on the own funds of credit institutions; the Commission's annual report on the economic situation in the Community; and the Commission proposal for a regulation implementing the decision of 24 June 1988 on the system of the Communities' own resources. It will also discuss a statement by Lord Cockfield on the Commission's tax approximation proposals; proposed new regulations on uniform arrangements for the collection of own resources; possible Danish derogation from article 4(i) of Council directive 69/169; and the directive on the prospectus on transferable securities.

The Agriculture Council meets on 12 December and following days to discuss the reform of the beef and sheepmeat regimes; access to the Community for New Zealand butter; milk quotas; labelling of spirit drinks; income aids; beef import quotas; trade in minced meat and meat products; and zootechnical breeding standards in pigs. It may also consider tariff concessions on horticultural produce from the Canary Islands.

The Industry Council meets on 13 December. Ministers will consider an Italian proposal to grant 7,670 billion lire of aid to the Italian public sector steel industry to finance its restructuring. Proposals are also likely to be discussed on the renewal of the ECSC steel state aid code and on the funding of social measures for the steel industry.

The Tourism Council, meeting on 14 December, is expected to discuss a proposal that 1990 should be designated European Year of Tourism; a Commission working paper on priorities for future action in the tourism field; the draft package travel directive and EC co-ordination on the chairmanship of the OECD Tourism Committee.

The Health Council is to meet on 15 December. It will consider a report on Europe against cancer; tobacco; AIDS; drugs; and health aspects up to 1992.

The Research Council will meet on 15 December. The agenda is likely to include discussion of two research and development programme proposals: JOULE (non-nuclear energy and efficient use of energy) and BRITE/EURAM (research in manufacturing technologies and advanced materials). Aeronautical research and a Commission paper on the state of EC science will also be discussed.

The Social Affairs Council meets on 16 December to discuss the social dimension of the internal market. Other subjects for discussion will be for health and safety proposals (the framework directive on safety in the workplace and the worker protection directives on carcinogens, benzene and limits on exposure to hazards), a directive to change the burden of proof in equal treatment legislation, and a decision on a second COMETT programme for co-operation between universities and industry in new technology training. Other items on the agenda include resolutions on the integration of women, racism, xenophobia and decisions on social measures for Greece and for shipbuilding areas.

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 19–20 December. Subjects for discussion will be: follow-up to the European Council; structural funds; the progress of EC/US discussions on hormones; and financial protocols with Cyprus and Malta. In the margins, there will be a conference of representatives of member states on the Rome convention on contractual obligations and signature of the trade agreement with Czechoslovakia. Ministers will possibly also convene a conference of member states, formally to appoint the new Commission and its vice presidents.

The Internal Market Council on 21 December will discuss a number of measures relevant to the completion of the single market.