Mr. Robert G. HughesTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the Internal Market Council held on 21 December.
§ Mr. MaudeThe Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, reached agreement on 32 individual measures which contribute towards completion of the single market. This has brought the total number of single market measures agreed under the Greek Presidency to more than 50.
Important decisions reached by the Council included the final adoption of directives on the mutual recognition of higher education diplomas; trade marks; construction products; and a package of three directives relating to food law harmonisation (on quick-frozen foodstuffs, food additives and materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs). It also reached agreement on common positions on directives on the official inspection of foodstuffs; two directives to cut barriers to trade in pharmaceutical products (blood products and radiopharmaceuticals); and on the safety of machines under the Commission's "new approach" to technical harmonisation.
On the initiative of the United Kingdom the Council invited the Commission to bring forward a paper on the subject of barriers to takeovers in member states. It also discussed the proposal for an EC merger regulation.
At the Council Germany withdrew its reserve on the Italian plan for state aid to its steel industry.