§ Lord Inglewoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they consider that the effect of the Council of Ministers' working document MAR/93/85 SN 5117/93, dated 11th November 1993 is to alter the Community's competition rules as they apply to maritime transport by removing the Commission's decision-making powers; and if so, what action they propose to take; and
Whether they accept that the Council of Ministers is endeavouring, in working document MAR/93/85 SN 5117/93, originally dated 11th November, to usurp the discretion of the European Commission in respect of the application of the competition rules to maritime transport; and if so what action they propose to take.
The Earl of CaithnessThe Commission's powers with regard to the Community's competition rules are governed by the Treaty of Rome. Following a statement by Commissioner van Miert, the recent Council of Transport Ministers did not pursue the draft resolution contained in the paper to which my noble friend refers.