Social Affairs Council (Hansard, 29 October 1997)

§ Mr. Andrew Smith

The Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry and I represented the UK at the Social Affairs Council on 7 October.

A structured dialogue with Social Affairs and Employment Ministers from the applicant states in central and eastern Europe discussed the accession strategy in relation to health and safety for workers, equal opportunities for men and women, and social dialogue.

The presidency gave further details about the preparatory work for the Extraordinary European Council on Employment (taking place in Luxembourg on 20–21 November), and announced that there would be a supplementary meeting of the Social Affairs Council on 6 November to contribute to preparations.

Informal political agreement was reached on the proposed amendment to the regulation establishing the European Training Foundation. The amendment will extend the foundation's remit to provide vocational education and training assistance to the MEDA partnership countries and territories, and will introduce procedural changes to increase the foundation's efficient management.

Political agreement was reached on the proposal for a recommendation to introduce a Community model parking badge for people with disabilities, which will be recognised across member states.

There was continuing discussion of the proposals for a European company statute, following the report of the Davignon group.

The Council noted the work programme of the Employment and Labour Market Committee.

The Commission gave two presentations: first, on the draft directive to give effect to the social partners' framework agreement on ensuring that part-time workers should be treated no less favourably than full-time workers, and secondly on a White Paper on the sectors excluded from the working time directive—transport, sea fishing, offshore sectors, and doctors in training.

The presidency withdrew from the agenda an item on the programme for research, analysis and co-operation in employment.