§ Mr. CashTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in theOfficial Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community's Council of Ministers.
§ Mr. Garel-JonesThe Education Council met on 1 June. The Tourism Council will meet on 4 June. Ministers will discuss the tourism action plan and a report on the effects of Community policies and programmes on tourism.
The Telecommunications Council will meet on 5 June and Ministers will discuss the EC Green Paper on postal services and the action plan for the introduction of advanced TV services.
The ECOFIN Council will meet on 9 June. The Council will discuss the Spanish economic convergence as part of its continuing exercise of multilateral surveillance and the Commission's proposals for the future financing of the Community—Delors II. The abolition of fiscal frontiers will also be discussed. Draft directives for the harmonisation of the rates and structures of excise duty on alcohol, mineral oils and tobacco products are also scheduled for discussion as are the draft VAT rates directive and the draft seventh VAT directive which relates to the sale of second-hand goods, works of art, antiques and collectors items. The proposed capital adequacy directive may also be considered.
The Fisheries Council will meet on 9 June. Ministers will discuss a proposal for the Council regulation laying down common marketing standards for preserved tuna and bouita. It will also discuss the progress report on the establishment of a fisheries regime in the Mediterranean and consider the Commission report on discards.
578WThe Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 15 and 16 June and will discuss the Commission's proposal for the Future Financing of the Community—"Delors II package". Ministers will also discuss the necessary preparation for entry into force of the Maastricht treaty on European union. Ministers will consider preparations for the European Council and possibly progress towards establishing a European drug monitoring centre.
Ministers are likely to discuss a range of issues on EC relations with the former Soviet Union, including follow-up to the recent conference at Lisbon on aid, and progress on new trade and co-operation agreements with the principal Commonwealth of Independent States republics. Ministers will consider communications from the Commission about the Community's relations with Iran, Japan and Maghreb; aids for Poseidom, Poseican and Poseima; developments in the negotiations on the GATT Uruguay round; and the handling of the Swiss application for EC membership. Community trade and co-operation agreements with Brazil, Mongolia and Macao may be signed.
The Agriculture Council will meet on 15 and 16 June. It will discuss wild game meat and milk products. Ministers may also discuss animal health, amendments to directives 90/425 and 89/662 and reform of the common agricultural policy.
The Internal Market Council will meet on 18 and 19 June and will discuss extraction solvents. The Council may also consider contaminants in foodstuffs; colours in foodstuffs; sweeteners; European company statute, the second company law directive; procurement of services by the utilities; public procurement of services; consolidation of works directive; future system for free circulation of medicinal products; homeopathic and veterinary homeopathic medicinal products; medical devices; data protection; rental and lending directives; trademark regulations; second diplomas directive; two and three-wheel vehicles type approval; external projections; hallmarking; trans-European networks, and frontiers.
The Industry Council will meet on 17 June and will discuss the financial arrangements for the European Coal and Steel Community between now and 2002. Commission communications on the automobile, aerospace and textile industries are also likely to be considered. There may also be discussion on industrial co-operation with third countries; German proposals to give aid for the restructuring of the shipbuilding industry in the former East Germany; electronics; small and medium-sized enterprises; progress of work on maritime and on non-energy mining policy and steel carbon tax.
The Transport Council will meet on 22 and 23 June and will discuss road haulage cabotage; passenger transport cabotage; maritime cabotage and the third aviation package. Ministers may also discuss inland waterway external relations.
The Social Affairs Council will meet on 24 June. The proposed directives on working time and the protection of pregnant workers are likely to be discussed and the proposed directive on health and safety in mines and quarries may also be discussed. The Council will discuss the directives on health and safety signs and safety on construction sites. Ministers may also consider the recommendations on financial participation; amendments to regulations 1612/68 and directive 68/360 on the free movement of workers and the convergence of social protection and sufficient resources.
579WThe Consumer Council will meet on 29 June. It will discuss general product safety; unfair contract terms; comparative advertising; EHLASS; liability of the suppliers of services and a resolution on future priorities for consumer protection policy. Ministers may also discuss distance selling, timeshare and a rapid information exchange system.