HC Deb 19 December 1990 vol 183 cc185-6W
Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the outcome of the Internal Market Council on 13 December.

Mr. Leigh

[holding answer 17 December 1990]: I attended the Internal Market Council on 13 December, the last of the Italian presidency. A number of important measures were agreed.

In particular, a common position was reached on the computer software directive, which will require member states to give copyright protection to computer programs. The compromise reached on reverse engineering (the term used to describe the process of finding out how a program works) provides that such processes will be allowed subject to certain conditions. This should make it possible to connect all components of a computer system, including those of different manufacturers, so that they can work together.

In addition, there was political agreement on the weapons directive, which deals with the acquisition and possession of weapons (a formal adoption of a common position is likely before the end of the year); and agreement to a regulation to discourage the diversion of precursor chemicals to illicit manufacture of drugs.

Common positions were also reached on two amendments to the directive on certain dangerous substances, restricting the marketing and use of cadmium (10th amendment) and ugilec 121 and 141 and DBBT (11th amendment). Subject only to a technical German reserve, a common position was also reached on an amendment to the machinery directive in order to include mobile lifting machinery.

A total of six single market measures were agreed without further discussion, including a common position on the directive relating to spray suppression devices, and on the regulation allowing the use of TIR and ATA carnets as transit documents. The decision setting out mandatory testing and certification provisions within further Community technical harmonisation directives was also finally adopted.

There was further discussion without agreement on a number of issues, notably the directive on the irradiation of food. No real progress was made, but the subject will be discussed again at future Councils.

Internal Market Ministers discussed the Commission's report, required under article 8b of the treaty of Rome, on the progress made towards the completion of the internal market.

The Commission also made a report on the importance for the single market of trans-European networks in telecommunications, transport, energy and training. A full debate is expected at February's Internal Market Council.