HC Deb 18 May 1992 vol 208 c42W
Mr. Llew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any agreement has been reached between the European Communities and the European Free Trade Association to apply EC environmental law in EFTA states.

Mr. Maclean

Under the agreement on the European economic area, signed on 2 May and due to enter into force on 1 January 1993, the EFTA countries will be bound by most EC environmental legislation forming part of the single market provisions. Annex XX to the agreement lists the 32 items of environmental legislation which fall into this category. The agreement also provides for closer co-operation between EC and EFTA countries in the field of the environment and specifies thatenvironmental protection requirements shall be a component of the Contracting Parties' other policies".

The official text of the signed version of the agreement will be deposited in Parliament as soon as it is received.