HC Deb 04 December 1996 vol 286 c679W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EU Social Affairs Council on 2 December. [7797]

Mr. Paice

The UK was represented by the UK deputy permanent representative to the European Union at the Social Affairs Council on 2 December. No votes were taken.

The Joint Social Affairs Council, ECOFIN and Commission report on employment was approved for submission to the Dublin European Council. The proposal for the establishment of an employment and labour market committee was agreed unanimously and agreement in principle was reached on a number of amendments to directive 1408/71 on social security for migrant workers, although final adoption will await the opinion of the European Parliament. The directive on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women in occupational social security schemes was agreed unanimously.

A recommendation on the balanced participation of women and men in the decision-making process and resolutions on mainstreaming equal opportunities for men and women into the European social funds, equality of opportunity for people with disabilities and on the role of social protection in the fight against unemployment were all agreed unanimously.

There was a political discussion, but no agreement, on a draft directive amending the 1976 equal treatment directive to take into account the judgment of the European Court of Justice in the Kalanke case.

There were a series of presentations: on the proposed chemical agents directive; the conclusions on lifelong learning adopted at the Education Council; a Commission communication on information and consultation of workers; a Commission communication on the social dialogue; a French paper on initiatives to follow up President Chirac's memorandum on a European social model; and on a Commission report on cohesion.

The other member states discussed, but did not reach agreement on, the draft directive on the reversal of the burden of proof in sex discrimination cases, which is being taken forward under their agreement on social policy and which will not apply in the UK.