§ 32. Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the role of his Department during the British presidency of the EC later in the current year.
§ Mr. LilleyWithout doubt the Government will face a very busy presidency. To us will fall a number of important tasks:
- the completion of the single market;
- preparing the Community for enlargement;
- developing the Community's links with eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union;
- dealing with the outcome of the GATT talks, be it success or failure;
- reform of the CAP, and;
- depending on the progress under the Portuguese presidency, perhaps taking forward the review of the Community's finances.
While undertaking these tasks we shall encourage our partners to place greater emphasis on several key themes:
- first, deregulation: the rigorous scrutiny of all directives to ensure they do not impose unnecessary burdens;
- secondly, the implementation and enforcement nationally of Community directives;
- thirdly, the phasing out of beggar-my-neighbour credit and trade support policies;
- fourthly, the maintenance of competitive rather than interventionist policies.
My Department will have a key role to play in our presidency. My colleagues and I will chair five Councils: Internal Market, Telecommunications, Industry, Research and Consumer Affairs. We will also field trade policy issues in the Foreign Affairs Council.
I gave further information about my Department's priorities to an audience at the Institute of Directors on 21 February. A copy of my speech has been placed in the Library.