Council of Ministers (Hansard, 28 February 1992)

§ Mr. Garel-Jones

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 2 March. The Council may review the European economic area agreement in the light of the Commission's request to the European Court of Justice for a second opinion on the compatibility of the revised draft agreement with the the treaty of Rome. The Council will consider relations with the former Soviet Union and will discuss the progress of negotiations in the GATT—general agreement on tariffs and trade—Uruguay round. The new Mediterranean policy will also be discussed by the Council which will prepare the Community position for the fifth meeting of the EC-Tunisia Co-operation Council to be held later that day. The Council will consider the Commission's future financing proposals for 1993 to 1997. Ministers will discuss a number of European political co-operation topics during lunch, including probably Yugoslavia, the Commonwealth of Independent States, Zaire and aspects of the arrangements for a Common foreign and security policy.

The Agriculture Council will also meet on 2 and 3 and, possibly, 4 March. Ministers will discuss reform of the common agricultural policy and agricultural aspects of the GATT Uruguay round. They may also discuss inward processing of milk products and olive oil control agencies.

The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 16 March. Following the agreement reached on European Investment Bank lending at the July ECOFIN the Council will now consider the detailed terms and conditions under which lending will take place. The Council may also consider the Court of Auditors' report on the implementation of the 1990 Community budget, and communicate an opinion to the European Parliament. The Commission's proposals for the future financing of the Community may also be considered. The Council may also discuss the investment services directive, the large exposure directive and the capital adequacy directive. The Council will also discuss the draft seventh VAT directive on the sale of second-hand goods, works of art, antiques and collectors' items, and the draft directives for the harmonisation of excise duty structures on tobacco and mineral oil products.

The Environment Council will meet on 23 March. It may agree to the proposed Council regulation on the supervision and control of waste shipments, and a directive on the sulphur content of gasoil. Ministers are also likely to discuss directives on air pollution caused by ground level ozone, minimum standards for keeping animals in zoos, the reduction and elimination of pollution caused by waste from the titanium oxide industry, and the United Nations conference on environmental development. If it is published in time, Ministers may also discuss the fifth environmental action programme.

The Transport Council will meet on 26 and 27 March. Ministers' discussion will concentrate on liberalization 668W issues including: road haulage cabotage, passenger transport cabotage, maritime cabotage and the third aviation package. They may also discuss the general framework for external relations and inland transport market observation.

The Agriculture Council will meet on 30 and 31 March. Ministers will discuss agricultural price fixing, wild game meat, fruit plants and vegetable plants. They may also discuss common agricultural policy reform, agricultural aspects of the GATT Uruguay round, and milk products.

The Internal Market Council will meet on 31 March. It is likely to discuss rational use of medicines, pharmaceutical advertising and vehicle type approval. It may also consider frontier controls, trans-European networks, drug precursors and scientific co-operation on foodstuffs.