§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the internal market council held on 18 November.
§ Mr. MaudeThe Council, at which I represented the United Kingdom, agreed six single market measures including three food law harmonisation directives relating to labelling, batch-marking and foods for particular nutritional uses; two directives to cut barriers to trade in pharmaceutical products; and a directive setting standards for the design and construction of side guards to be fitted 253W to heavy goods vehicles. It also approved the EC/Switzerland agreement giving Community and Swiss non-life insurers reciprocal rights of establishment for branches and agencies within Switzerland and the Community. There was discussion of the proposal for an EC merger regulation during which I stressed the need for additional action to remove unfair barriers to takeovers which exist in some member states.
The Council also discussed proposed measures relating to the safety of machines, the official inspection of foodstuffs, patents and trademarks, broadcasting and the Commission's memorandum about proposals for a European company statute; and the Commission made a statement about progress in completing the single market.