Council of Ministers (Hansard, 2 May 1989)

§ Mrs. Chalker

The usual forecast was deposited in the House earlier today. At present nine meetings of the Council of Ministers are planned for May.

The Internal Market Council on 3 May will discuss a number of measures relevant to the completion of the internal market.

The Energy Council will meet on 11 May to consider a Commission paper on transparency of consumer energy prices, an initiative designed as a step towards completing the internal energy market. It will have a first look at THERMIE, a successor programme to the Community's research and development programme for the hydrocarbons sector and its demonstrations scheme, concerning the promotion of energy technology in Europe, and discuss the prospects for an internal market in integrated electrical energy systems. Ministers will attempt to agree a set of recommendations on the Community refining industry left over from the November Council, and also give further consideration to a proposal for improving the efficiency of electricity use. The Council will also discuss Directive 75/404 on the restriction of the use of natural gas in power stations, and complete the agenda by looking at a proposal for a Council directive concerning the procedures for the award of public works contracts in the water, energy and transport sectors.

The Health Council on 16 May will discuss: Europe against cancer programme, tobacco labelling, tar content in cigarettes, smoking in public places and advertising of tobacco products. It will also discuss cardio-vascular diseases, the prevention and control of AIDS, and drugs.

The Development Council meets on 16 May. It is expected to discuss the state of progress on the current negotiations of the Lomé convention. It will also adopt conclusions on: evaluation of development co-operation; how the Community might take account of the role of women in development; and the need to avoid marginalising particular sections of the population when designing aid programmes. The Council is expected to agree conclusions between the Commission and member states in respect of their approaches to the support of structural adjustments in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) signatories of the Lomé convention. It will also discuss the Commission's report on the review of financial and technical co-operation with Latin American and Asian developing countries.

The Culture Council on 18 May will include a discussion on specific actions relating to books: Ministerial resolution and Commission communication. Additionally, discussion is likely to be taken forward on audio-visual matters and in particular on a conference on 36W the subject to be hosted by the French Government in Paris in September 1989. This initiative is aimed at strengthening the European internal market in this field.

The Education Council on 22 May will consider the Commission's proposal for a Community programme to promote the learning of foreign languages (the LINGUA programme) and will review the basis for co-operation in education in the medium term. Discussions are expected also to cover a first response to the Commission's proposal for adaptation of the Erasmus decision and possible new activity relating to educational provision for gipsies and other travelling groups among the population.

The Foreign Affairs Council, meeting on 22–23 May, will discuss progress in the current negotiation of the Lomé convention, and the current state of play on the negotiations for a new international coffee agreement. It will also review progress by the high-level task force set up to resolve the EC-US dispute over hormones in meat. The Council may have a preliminary discussion of a draft mandate for negotiations with the USSR on a trade, commercial and economic co-operation agreement. It may also be asked to approve a mandate for negotiations with the USSR on a textiles agreement. An EC-Israel Co-operation Council will be held in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council.

The Industry Council meets on 29 May. It will consider a draft decision establishing a four-year action programme for small and medium enterprises. It will also discuss: a new proposal for resolving the problems of restructuring the Italian public-sector steel industry; a Commission paper on cross-border industrial collaboration in the Community; proposals for a European mining policy; and the Commission's mid-term review on the 6th directive on shipbuilding aid. There will also be a discussion on the automobile sector including EC-wide arrangements for Japanese imports after 1992, emission standards, the state aid framework for automobiles and local content rules.

The Agriculture Council will meet on 29 and 30 May to discuss plant health, marketing of compound feeding-stuffs, pesticide residues, the forestry action programme, and possibly conversion of agricultural production and certain measures in the wine sector.