§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effects of the proposed European Constitution upon the UK's environmental policy; and if she will make a statement. [126763]
§ Mr. MorleyThe Convention's proposals would have no direct effect on the UK's environment policy, and would leave environmental policy at EU level largely unchanged. Environmental matters handled at EU level would generally continue to be subject to co-decision 833W with the European Parliament and to Qualified Majority Voting within the Council of Ministers. The draft of the new treaty prepared by the Convention on Future of Europe for discussion at the Inter Governmental Conference this Autumn retains the key provisions of the current treaties that refer to the environment and to the need for environmental protection requirements to be taken into account in other Community policies with a view to promoting sustainable development.
The UK is also opposed to the proposal to establish a Single Legislative Council. This would weaken the direct involvement of the Environment Ministers in policy formation as well as in negotiating environmental legislation.
Directive number Directive name Policy area Date agreed Actual UK 1991/338/EEC Amending for the 10th time Directive 76/769/EEC on then approximation of laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations Env 18 June 1991 28 April 2003 1996/061/EC Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Env 24 September 1996 6 March 2003 1996/062/EC Ambient air quality assessment and management Env 27 September 1996 19 July 2002 1997/049/EC Conversation of wild birds Env 28 July 1997 20 December 2001 1997/078/EC Laying down the principles governing the organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries Agri 18 September 1997 6 December 2002 1997/079/EC Organisation of veterinary checks on products entering the Community from third countries Agri 18 December 1997 6 December 2002 1998/058/EC Protection of farmed animals Agri 6 April 1998 27 November 2001 1998/083/EC Drinking Water Directive Env 3 November 1998 20 December 2002 1998/095/EC Genetically modified plant varieties Agri 14 December 1998 25 February 2002 1998/096/EC Unofficial field inspections Agri 14 December 1998 25 February 2002 1999/008/EC Marketing of cereal seed Agri 18 February 1999 15 November 2001 1999/022/EC Keeping of wild animals in zoos Env 29 March 1999 22 April 2003 1999/030/EC Limit Values for sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen and lead in ambient air Env 22 April 1999 1 August 2002 1999/032/EC Sulphur content of certain liquid fuels Env 26 April 1999 1 March 2002 1999/051/EC Restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (tin, PCP and cadmium) Env 26 May 1999 10 April 2003 1999/054/EC Marketing of cereal seed Env 26 May 1999 1 November 2001 1999/071/EC Fixing of maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 14 July 1999 25 February 2002 1999/072/EC Protection against zoonoses Agri 29 July 1999 11 June 2001 1999/074/EC Protection of laying hens Agri 19 July 1999 3 September 2002 2000/015/EC Amending Council Directive 64/432/EC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine Agri 8 May 2000 6 September 2002 2000/020/EC Animal health products affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals Agri 16 May 2000 25 February 2002 2000/024/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 28 April 2000 28 February 2002 2000/027/EC Control of fish diseases Agri 2 May 2000 28 February 2002 2000/029/EC Protective measures against the introduction into the Community of organisms harmful to plants products and against their spread within the community Agri 8 May 2000 6 September 2002 2000/037/EC Veterinary medicinal products Agri 5 June 2000 28 February 2002 2000/042/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 22 June 2000 28 February 2002 2000/048/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 5 July 2000 28 February 2002 2000/049/EC Placing plant protection products on the market Agri 26 July 2000 17 August 2001 2000/050/EC Placing plant protection products on the market Agri 26 July 2000 17 August 2001 2000/057/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 22 September 2000 28 February 2002 2000/058/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 22 September 2000 28 February 2002 2000/080/EC Placing plant protection products on the market Agri 4 December 2000 25 February 2002 2000/081/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 18 December 2000 25 February 2002 2000/082/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 20 December 2000 25 February 2002 2001/010/EC Scrapie Agri 22 May 2001 17 August 2001 2001/018/EC Deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms Env 12 March 2001 14 March 2003 2001/021/EC Placing plant protection products on the market Agri 5 March 2001 25 February 2002 2001/028/EC Placing plant protection products on the market Agri 20 April 2001 25 February 2002 2001/032/EC Recognising protected zones exposed to a particular plant health risks in the Community and repealing Directive Agri 8 May 2001 28 February 2002 2001/033/EC Organisms harmful to plants Agri 8 February 2001 28 February 2002 2001/035/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 11 May 2001 25 February 2002 2001/036/EC Placing plant protection products on the market Agri 16 May 2001 25 February 2002 2001/039/EC Fixing maximum levels of pesticide residues Agri 23 May 2001 25 February 2002