§ Sir Michael GryllsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Industry Council meeting held on 28 March. [25119]
407W
§ Mr. EggarThe Council adopted resolutions on the co-ordination of activities in favour of small and medium-sized enterprises—SMEs—and on an industrial policy for the EU pharmaceutical industry. The Council also agreed conclusions on a Commission communication on the impact of international developments on the textile and clothing sector.
The Commission made oral presentations on its proposal for a new SME multi-annual programme for the period 1997 to 2000, on its green paper on innovation and the work of the research/industry task forces on its communication on the challenges facing the EU defence-related industry and on its communication on the competitiveness of EU maritime industries.
The Council debated the issue of how many separate directives should be adopted on food for particular nutritional uses—"dietary foodstuffs". It did not prove possible to reach a common position on the basis of the presidency's compromise proposal, which is expected to be discussed further at the Internal Market Council on 28 May.
Shipbuilding was raised under other business. The Commission indicated that it would produce a proposal for extending the existing directive on aid to shipbuilding, in the event of further delays in the ratification of the OECD agreement. Denmark circulated a short paper on the need to strengthen EU monitoring of shipbuilding aid rules. Finally, the Commission provided information on the Bremer Vulcan aid case and made clear that it would take firm action. Germany acknowledged that the case represented a misuse of public funds.
The presidency outlined its plans for an EU-Mediterranean conference of Industry Ministers on 21 May.
No votes were taken at the Council.