§ Baroness Seccombeasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the outcome of the Environment Council on 15th October 1996.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Earl Ferrers)Together with my noble friend the Earl of Lindsay, my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council in Luxembourg on 15th October.
Policy debates were held on the review of the Fifth Environment Action Programme and on the proposals to revise Directive 90/219 on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms. In each case the Council is expected to reach agreement in December. There were also useful discussions on the "auto-oil" proposals, the proposals for a revision of the Drinking Water Directive and on the review of the community waste management strategy.
The Council agreed conclusions on the EU position for the Third Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Council noted a report from the Presidency on the progress which is being made on the negotiation of a Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and on a framework agreement on humane trapping standards.