HL Deb 07 December 1993 vol 550 cc62-3WA
Lord Brougham and Vaux

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the outcome of the Interior and Justice Council held on 29 and 30 November.

The Minister of State, Home Office (Earl Ferrers)

The meeting on 29 and 30 November was the first Interior and Justice Council held under the provisions of the Treaty on European Union. The main points dealt with were as follows:

The council agreed, for submission to the European Council on 10 and 11 December, action plans and work programmes for the areas for which under Title VI of the treaty it is responsible. The council took note of the progress made on implementing the work programme on immigration and asylum adopted at Maastricht, and agreed subject to a Spanish reserve a number of matters related to asylum and the practical application of the Dublin Convention. It agreed not to seek to transfer competence on the right of asylum to the Community but decided to review the matter before the end of 1995.

The council considered a report on racism and xenophobia and agreed a resolution concerning concrete measures to combat this phenomenon.

The Commission gave a presentation on its proposals for Community legislation under Article 100C providing for a list of third countries whose nationals would require a visa to enter member states, and for an amendment of the draft External Frontiers Convention. The council agreed that these proposals should be given further consideration when they were received.

The council agreed broad principles to be observed in drawing up readmission agreements with third countries and will consider at a future meeting the question of the inclusion of a commitment to such agreements in Community co-operation agreements. The council considered means of extending co-operation with certain third countries on Title VI matters. It will examine proposals at its next meeting.

The council noted an interim report on the work being carried out in the field of extradition and instructed officials to produce a final report by the end of 1994. The council considered a report by the presidency on possible Community accession to the European Convention on Human Rights and decided to consult the European Court of Justice about the legal consequences. The UK expressed strong reservations about the need for this at this stage, given the absence of consensus on the desirability of accession.

The council noted preparatory work by the Europol Drugs Unit and progress on the Europol Convention. It received a report commissioned by Ministers at Kolding in May 1993 on international organised crime and approved the action programme contained in it. The council discussed the internal and external terrorist threat to member states and decided to examine ways to improve co-operation between member states on counter-terrorism.

The council adopted recommendations and resolutions on the campaign against money laundering; on the protection of the financial interests of the Community; on the exchange of information on environmental crime; and on the responsibilities of organisers of sports events. It also agreed five recommendations aimed at combating trade in human beings for prostitution.

The press communique issued following the meeting, and other documents approved by the council are being placed in the Library of the House.