18 May Internal Market Council

Date: 21/05/1998

SINGLE market ministers agreed unanimously on a set of rules designed to guarantee the free movement of goods within the EU. These regulations will oblige national authorities to remove obstacles to the free movement of goods within five days of receiving a formal notification from the European Commission that such obstacles exist. However, they will not compromise EU workers' fundamental right to strike. Ministers will formally adopt the new rules as soon as the Parliament has given its opinion on them.

A MOVE to break the ministerial deadlock on the labelling of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) foundered when a compromise proposal from the UK presidency did not receive the support of a sufficient number of ministers. The compromise document amended a controversial clause in the original Commission proposal calling for labels to indicate that a product 'may contain GMOs'. Most ministers had previously rejected this as too imprecise. Discussions will now continue between Commission and national officials.

THE ministers held a further round of talks on establishing a European Company Statute. Lord Simon of Highbury, chairing the debate, concluded that the only major outstanding issue was the question of employee involvement which will be discussed by social affairs ministers at a meeting next month. Lord Simon called on Commission and national officials to settle all remaining questions before the end of June.

A MAJORITY of ministers voted in favour of a Commission proposal for the mutual recognition within the EU of professional qualifications in the industrial, commercial and crafts sectors. Ireland abstained and Sweden and Portugal voted against. The proposal will now be referred to the Parliament, which shares decision-making responsibility with ministers on this issue.

A COMMISSION proposal to outlaw the manufacture, distribution and sale of illicit devices which give access to protected services such as cable television received unanimous support. It will now be considered by MEPs.

THERE was also unanimous approval for a proposal designed to reinforce regulations on the packaging and labelling of dangerous chemical preparations. The plan aims to increase the amount of user information printed on labels, and to make the packaging of such substances more secure. The Parliament will now debate the proposal.

MINISTERS held brief talks on the development of the single market for pharmaceuticals, European technical standards, the management of preferential tariff arrangements with non-EU countries, and public procurement in the Union.