§ Mr. MilliganTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the outcome of the meeting of the Internal Market Council on 14 June in Luxembourg.
§ Mr. NeedhamI attended the final Internal Market Council of the Danish presidency in Luxembourg on 14 June.
I succeeded in securing a five-year derogation from the 74 kW power limit for motor cycles sold within the European Community. The derogation will allow the continued sale and registration in the United Kingdom of machines up to 92 kW until the beginning of the next century. Owners of these motor cycles will be able to ride them beyond the year 2000 for the lifetime of the machines, and will be able to do so when visiting other member states. Separately, three and a half years after the directive's adoption, the Commission will report to the Council on the latest accident data, and, if appropriate, propose amendments to the directive to reflect motor cycle safety records.
The United Kingdom secured its objectives in a common position which was reached on copyright duration. This will remove market distortions arising from disparities between the periods for which copyright and related rights are protected in member states. A common position was also reached on the second amendment to the machinery directive. Construction site hoists will be excluded from its scope, but should be included in proposals for the separate lifts directive.
Measures on setting up future systems for the free movement of medicinal products were finally adopted, subject only to a temporary German scrutiny reserve.
657WOther measures agreed included adoption of a programme for small and medium sized enterprises; adoption of an amendment to measures covering medical devices and cosmetic products; and a common position on CE marking. Political agreement was obtained on the regulation for Community co-ordination in drawing up business registers for statistical purposes.
The presidency reported progress on a regulation on mutual assistance for customs and agriculture which aims to prevent fraud in the operation of legislation covering these two areas. There was also discussion on a Commission communication on the operation of the internal market; trans-European networks; a proposed pension fund directive; amendments to directive 83/189 on notification on new technical regulations by member states; footwear labelling; dual use goods; and EC accession to the European Pharmacopoeia. The Commission also noted that it intended to produce a proposal on hallmarking in the Community before August.
The next formal meeting of the Internal Market Council is scheduled for Monday 27 September, and will be the first under the Belgian presidency.