§ Lord Newallasked Her Majesty's Government:
What matters were discussed; what decisions were taken; and what was the voting record of each member state at the Environment Council in Brussels on 2 December.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Denton of Wakefield). My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my honourable friend the Minister for Countryside and the Environment attended the Environment Council on 2 and 3 December.
A common position was reached unanimously on a directive to set further reductions in passenger car emissions. It will apply to all cars sold in the European Union as from 1 January 1997. The directive also commits the Commission to come forward, by the end of 1994, with proposals for further substantial reductions in emissions from 2000.
The Council agreed that the Community will ratify the Copenhagen amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Member states will ratify as far as possible simultaneously and not later than 30 June 1994. Political agreement was reached on the proposed regulation on substances that deplete the ozone layer. The production and use of methyl bromide is to be frozen in 1995 at 1991 levels, with a 25 per cent. cut by 1998; the consumption of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) is to be capped in 1995, with a cut of 35 per cent in 2004. The level of the cap will be 2.6 per cent. of the chlorofluorocarbon consumption plus all HCFC consumption in 1989. The production and import of HCFC's s will be controlled by quotas once 80 per cent of the cap, or the year 2000, has been reached. Use controls 82WA on HCFC's will be introduced. There will be a duty to recover and to prevent leakages of controlled substances in certain circumstances.
A common position was reached on an amendment to the Hazardous Waste Directive deferring implementation to spring 1995. The United Kingdom abstained because of concern over the definition of hazardous waste, which would have had the effect of making all wastes contained on the list deemed hazardous in all circumstances.
The Council discussed progress reports on the amended proposals for directives on waste landfill and the disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated terphenyls. There was an open debate about the Commission green paper on remedying environmental damage. My right honourable friend made clear the Government's concerns about over-restrictive liability regimes. Progress on the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was briefly discussed.
In discussion of implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation, the Council agreed to work for the consistent and effective application of legislation in all member states. The council will review the position in specific sectors at future meetings.
The amended proposals for a directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste and the community strategy for climate change were discussed at length; the Council will resume discussions on these on 13 December.