HC Deb 19 March 2001 vol 365 cc2-3W
Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the outcome was of the Internal Market Council held in Brussels on 12 March; what the Government's voting record at the Council was; and if he will make a statement.[153814]

Mr. Caborn

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State responsible for consumers and corporate affairs represented the UK at the Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council in Brussels on 12 March.

The Council discussed the Cardiff economic reform process and reached agreement on conclusions for input to the Stockholm European Council which support the reform agenda agreed at the Lisbon Summit in March

2000. The Council also discussed the Commission's Communications on the removal of barriers to trade in services, simplification of the regulatory environment and the Commission's Communication on New European Labour Markets.

Efforts to achieve a single EU-wide Community Patent were discussed, but there was no agreement on procedural conclusions allowing an early approach to the European Patent Office. The issue will be discussed again at the June Internal Market Council.

The Council discussed the Presidency's draft compromise on the Directive on Distance Marketing of Financial Services but was unable to reach political agreement. This will also revert to the June Council.

There were Commission presentations on the Strategy for the Customs Union; proposals relating to the traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms; the Green Paper on integrated product policy; and the forthcoming Communication on the eEurope Action Plan. The Presidency introduced its strategy on integration of environmental protection and sustainable development into Internal Market policy, which will be discussed at the Council in June and adopted at the Gothenburg Summit. The Council generally endorsed the Commission's approach to a strategy for a chemicals policy, with a number of member states emphasising that the competitiveness of the EU industry needed to be taken into account. It took note of the progress made on the negotiations on the Commission's proposals relating to a European Food Authority.

There were no votes at the Council.