Council of Ministers (Hansard, 2 May 1990)

§ Mr. Maude

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 7 and 8 May. The Council will discuss follow up to the special meeting of the European Council in Dublin on 28 April, and prepare for the meeting which member states will hold later in May with the European Parliament on the IGC. The Commission is expected to present views on the institutional aspects of EMU. The Council will discuss the Commission's communication on audiovisual policy, and their proposal for measures to encourage the development of the audiovisual industries (MEDIA) 1990–95. Ministers will discuss a draft negotiating mandate for a trade and co-operation agreement with Romania, and the Tempus programme for eastern Europe and the European training foundation both called for by the Strasbourg European Council. Ministers will also discuss visas for East and Central Europe, and may receive a Commission Statement on Asia and Latin America. Ministers may also discuss preparations for the negotiations with EFTA on a comprehensive EC/EFTA agreement to complete the European Economic Space. The Council will endorse the Community's position for the thirteenth meeting of the EC/Cyprus Association Council, which will take place in the margins. Also in the margins, Ministers will sign trade and cooperation agreements with Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and the GDR.

At the Internal Market Council on 14–15 May Ministers will discuss a number of measures relevant to completion of the single market, including the motor vehicle insurance directive, computer software, European company statute, pharmaceutical patents and the Third Motor Vehicle Liability Directive which contains further 570W provisions on the level and content of compulsory insurance cover and on procedures for claiming from member states guarantee funds. Barriers to takeovers may also be discussed.

The Health Council will meet on 17 May. Ministers will consider maximum tar yields, the implementation of the Cancer programme and advertising of tobacco products. The Council will also discuss youth and health issues, the fight against AIDS and the use of medicinal products.

At the Culture Council on 18 May Ministers will discuss the circulation of national art treasures, training, the European City of Culture, and co-operation between Libraries on information. The Council is also expected to have a first discussion of cultural aspects of the Commission's communication on audiovisual policy and on the MEDIA programme 1991–95, and may discuss European artists residence.

The Agriculture Council will meet on 21 and 22 May and may discuss non-food uses of agricultural products, organic farming, beef balance sheets, foot and mouth disease, the veterinary fund, trade in live animals, poultry and hatching, and the trade in horses.

The Energy Council will meet on 21 May. Ministers are expected to adopt the resolution on transparency of prices and to reach agreement on gas and electricity transit. The Council will also discuss notification of investments, energy and the environment, Thermie, and the registration of crude oil imports.

At the Industry Council on 28 May the Commission will submit proposals for a replacement for the Council Directive of 28 January 1987 on aid to shipbuilding which expires at the end of this year. Ministers will discuss the impact of developments in eastern Europe on the shipbuilding industry in the EEC. There is general concern about the effect that the state-owned eastern European shipyards could have on the Community market and the work in the OECD to eliminate subsidies. German unification and the absorption of an industry the size of the United Kingdom's into the Community have implications for the new directive. Ministers will be asked to consider a Commission communication on the Community's semi-conductors industry, which is expected to address the economic importance of the industry, as well as the respective roles of producers and users of semi-conductors. The Council is expected to endorse the recommendation for administrative simplification of SME's which has been amended to take into account some of the changes suggested by the European Parliament, in particular a number of issues concerning member states' domestic arrangements for assessing and minimalising the impact of regulations on business, especially SME's. Ministers may also hold a first discussion on industrial aspects of the Commission's communications on audiovisual policy.

The Social Affairs Council will meet on 29 May. In the field of health and safety the Council will discuss draft directives on exposure to biological agents, the manual handling of heavy loads, and visual display units. The Council is expected to consider resolutions on long-term unemployment, racism and xenophobia, and on the protection of the dignity of women and men at work. Action programmes on continuing training and on the elderly are also likely to be discussed.

The Development Council will meet on 29 May when Ministers will adopt conclusions arising from a Commission paper on environment and development and 571W conclusions on the development aspects of the conservation of tropical forests. The Council may consider a Commission paper on cooperation with the developing countries of Asia and Latin America in the 1990's, and will adopt conclusions on the integration of food aid with other forms of development assistance and multiannual programming, and conclusions on a Commission work programme for the integration of women into the development process. Ministers will also approve conclusions arising from a Commission paper on evaluation of development cooperation.

At the Education Council on 31 May Ministers will be invited to adopt a draft resolution on the integration of children and young people with disabilities into mainstream educational institutions. They will also be invited to agree conclusions on equality of educational opportunity in the initial and in-service training of teachers; meetings of senior officials in the education sector; and on the preparation of a new convention for European schools. There will be discussions about distance education and training and education for enterprise.