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Statement
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Adonis): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport (Geoff Hoon) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
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I have today published my department’s autumn performance report for 2008 (Cm 7510). Copies have been laid before Parliament and placed in the House Libraries.
The autumn performance report provides Parliament with a progress report on performance against the departmental strategic objectives, public service agreements (PSAs) and our efficiency programme using data available up to November 2008.
Department of Health: Autumn Performance Report
Statement
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health (Alan Johnson) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
I have today laid before Parliament my department’s autumn performance report for 2008 (Cm 7519). Copies for honourable Members are available from the Vote Office.
The autumn performance report provides the first public reporting of progress on our public service agreements, departmental strategic objectives and value-for-money targets set for this comprehensive spending review period.
Energy: Biofuels
Statement
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Adonis): My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport (Geoff Hoon) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
I would like to update the House on the Government’s progress against commitments set out by my predecessor, the right honourable member for Bolton West, in her Statement on biofuels on 7 July responding to the Gallagher review of the indirect effects of biofuels production.
As part of that response to the Gallagher review, the Government made a commitment that the EU target of 10 per cent renewable transport fuels by 2020 could remain an overall objective but that it should be subject to certain conditions, namely that the sustainability criteria applicable to the target should address the indirect as well as direct effects on land use; and that the 10 per cent target be subject to rigorous review to take account of the emerging evidence.
The 10 per cent target is part of the renewable energy directive due to be approved by the European Parliament this week and adopted by the council in the new year, following negotiations between the council, the Commission and the European Parliament.
The principle of a rigorous review of the 10 per cent target received strong support from the council and the European Parliament and the directive put forward for approval requires the Commission, by 2014, to review the cost-efficiency and sustainability
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The UK Government have led the debate in Europe on the need to address the indirect effects of biofuels on land use and so ensure that the renewable energy directive will include sustainability criteria that address these indirect effects. The directive put forward for approval requires the Commission, by 31 December 2010, to submit a report to the council and the European Parliament on the impact of indirect land use change on greenhouse gas emissions. This report shall where appropriate be accompanied by a proposal for a methodology through which the greenhouse gas emissions caused by indirect land use change will be taken into account, with a view to the council and the European Parliament endeavouring to agree this methodology by 2012.
This recognises the fact that the scientific evidence around the indirect effects of biofuels is not yet certain enough to develop such a methodology now. However, the pace of research into indirect land use change has been accelerating rapidly. The UK Government are working with international partners and scientific experts to develop a biofuels research programme, which will aim to address gaps in the evidence around the indirect effects of biofuels, and through this group we will help to ensure that development of any methodology to take into account indirect land use change is based on the best available science.
EU: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council
Statement
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Jonathan Shaw) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will be held on 17 December in Brussels. I will represent the UK, except for the agenda items on the working time directive and European work councils, where the UK will be represented by my right honourable friend Pat McFadden, Minister of State for Employment Relations and Postal Affairs. Health and consumer affairs issues are being taken on 16 December.
The first and main agenda item will be an exchange of views and public debate on the social impact of the economic crisis and implementation of the renewed social agenda. The presidency has tabled a range of documents as background to the discussion, including the Commission’s communication on a European economic recovery plan and a paper asking three questions to focus the discussion. The Government broadly welcome the recovery plan and I will outline some of the measures that we have taken in the UK.
The presidency will report on the current state of play with the working time directive. The Government believe that the common position achieved at the June Employment Council is a good outcome for Europe and remain in full support of it.
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Following a review, the Commission published a proposal on 2 July to recast the European works council directive. The European social parties have produced joint advice on the proposal and have suggested amendments to it. These have been incorporated into the text. The presidency hopes to reach political agreement at the council meeting.
The council will also seek political agreement on a proposal for a council directive implementing the agreement concluded by the European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) on the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and amending directive 1999/63/EC. The draft directive would implement the agreement of 19 May 2008 on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006, between the representatives of employers and employees in the maritime transport sector in respect of the application of seafarers’ living and working conditions. The Government strongly support the Maritime Labour Convention and the social partners agreement but have asked for a minute statement recording that, while we agree that the directive should cover the self-employed, we do not accept that Article 139 of the treaty of Rome can provide a legal base for measures intended to apply to the self-employed.
The presidency will present a progress report on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. This directive is intended to fill in the gaps and remove the existing hierarchy of equality rights in EU protection against discrimination and harassment. The Government welcome the opportunity to consider the Commission's proposal for a new directive and will work to ensure that any directive adopted is effective in eliminating discrimination, while ensuring that it is in harmony with the delicate balances in our own national legislation.
The council will seek to adopt the common position on the amended proposal for a regulation for implementing regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 on the co-ordination of social security systems and for determining the content of the annexes. The council will agree the text of the whole regulation, which implements the co-ordination rules and which has been dealt with on a chapter-by-chapter basis by several presidencies. The Government are content with the final proposal and fully support the council text.
The council will seek the adoption of conclusions on the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market. Following two consultations, the European Commission published a proposal on 3 October 2008 outlining action at EU level to deepen the open method of co-ordination through the adoption of common principles and subsequent monitoring and evaluation in the areas which contribute to active inclusion. Active inclusion covers minimum income, active labour market policy and access to services. The text is acceptable to the Government.
The council will also seek adoption of two sets of conclusions on the review of the implementation by the member states and the EU institutions of the Beijing platform for action. The presidency has looked
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Under any other business, there will be progress reports from the presidency on proposals for two directives, the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity in a self-employed capacity. There will be information from the presidency and Commission on the recent follow-up to the forum on workers’ rights and the recent Euroskills events. There will also be reports from the presidency of recent conferences. The Commission will also provide information on the economic and social impact of directive 2005/47/EC on the working time of cross-border workers, which applies generally to the train crew of international rail services.
EU: Energy Council
Statement
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): I attended the Energy Council meeting on 8 December.
The council agreed a general approach on the proposed recast of the eco-design directive, which establishes a framework for the setting of eco-design requirements for energy-related products.
Following presentations by the Commission of its communication on the second strategic European energy review, and by the European Investment Bank on finance for energy investment, there was a debate on energy security structured around questions prepared by the French presidency. The debate focused on infrastructure, external relations and energy efficiency and interventions by Ministers will help to prepare the conclusions of the Energy Council and the European Council in spring 2009.
The Commission and presidency also presented information on a number of international relations events which have taken place or are due to take place under the French presidency, including the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council and the ministerial conference of the energy community treaty.
In the final part of the meeting, the Commission outlined developments on the SET plan to promote increased co-operation of research institutes in pan-EU programmes. A communication on financing low-carbon technologies is due to follow in 2009.
Over lunch, the presidency updated the council on progress on the climate and energy legislative package, focusing particularly on the renewables directive. The presidency aims to reach agreement on the package with the European Parliament by the end of the year.
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EU: General Affairs and External Relations Council
Statement
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): My right honourable friend the Minister for Europe (Caroline Flint) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary (David Miliband) represented the UK at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels.
The agenda items covered were as follows:
Preparation of the European Council on 11 and 12 December 2008
The presidency said that the December European Council would concentrate on the economic and financial crisis, the 2020 climate change package and the Lisbon treaty.
On the economic and financial crisis, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary noted the importance of the discussion at the December European Council, in particular on the need for fiscal stimulus.
My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary also noted that agreement of the 2020 package was important in order for the EU to continue to lead global efforts against climate change.
The Government broadly welcome the presidency’s agenda and strongly support their intention for Foreign Ministers to discuss the Middle East in the margins of the European Council.
Ministers agreed GAERC conclusions on EU enlargement that: reconfirmed the council's consensus in support of enlargement on the basis that the EU should stick to its commitments, apply conditionality fairly and rigorously, and improve communication; welcomed the European Commission communication of 5 November on enlargement strategy and progress reports for candidates and potential candidates; and took stock of the progress of accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, urging both countries to redouble their efforts to implement the necessary reforms.
World Trade Organisation (WTO)/Doha Development Agenda (DDA)
The presidency recalled the November statement by the G20 on the need to make progress by the end of the year. The UK spoke in support of the Commission’s efforts in negotiating on behalf of the EU and noted that the financial crisis made a deal now more valuable than in July; it was important as a demonstration that member states could act on the G20 statement and provide a global response to a global problem. The presidency noted that if, as expected, a WTO ministerial were called later in December, the GAERC would meet in a parallel special session, as it did during the last ministerial in July.
Ministers welcomed the deployment of the EU’s rule of law mission, EULEX, which began operating throughout Kosovo on 9 December 2008. They also
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The council welcomed the Commission’s intention to present a study in autumn 2009 that will examine ways of taking forward Kosovo’s European perspective in line with the European Council conclusions of December 2007 and June 2008.
Ministers also recognised Serbia’s progress in improving co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), while reiterating the requirement for full co-operation. Ministers also underlined the importance of Serbia taking a constructive approach to regional co-operation. They highlighted again that Serbia had the capacity to accelerate its progress towards the EU, including attaining candidate status, once the necessary conditions had been met.
Ministers once again expressed concern at the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They urged Bosnian leaders to address themselves to the reforms necessary for the country to move towards the EU and to meeting the objectives and conditions needed for closure of the Office of the High Representative. The EU would need to strengthen its role in Bosnia.
Ministers adopted conclusions that reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting the Middle East peace process into 2009 through a comprehensive regional approach. In particular the EU condemned all violence especially in Gaza and rocket attacks against civilians. The conclusions urge a halt to settlement activity and call for the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Gaza with the reopening of crossing points. The European Union also expressed support for the Egyptian mediation efforts for Palestinian reconciliation and welcomed efforts by the Arab League to put the Arab peace initiative back on the table.
The council also approved in principle the building up of relations between the EU and Israel, while insisting that this deepening of relations encourage the Israeli authorities to do more to improve living conditions on the ground in the Palestinian Authority and contribute to advancing the peace process. At the same time, Ministers welcomed the deepening of the EU’s relations with the Palestinian Authority and looked forward to further progress, including the possibility of a summit.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The council agreed conclusions that reiterated its support for efforts by the UN mission in DRC (MONUC) on the ground and encouraged it to continue to strengthen its deployment in North Kivu; welcomed the adoption on 20 November of UN Security Council Resolution 1843 authorizing the expansion of MONUC; took note of the UN Secretary-General’s request to High Representative Solana for an interim European military force to support MONUC; and asked Solana and the Commission to prepare rapidly elements for a technical, humanitarian and political response, taking into account comments submitted.
My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary expressed a desire to see continued EU engagement in the DRC; any specific options required further study.
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The council conclusions, which the Government strongly support, reiterated the EU’s deep concern at the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Zimbabwe, particularly as a result of the cholera epidemic and the continuing violence against supporters of the MDC; recalled the importance of reaching a fair and viable power-sharing agreement without delay; and demanded respect for the principles of humanitarian aid and, in particular, respect for the principle of impartiality and equal access to humanitarian aid for the entire Zimbabwean population.
The council extended EU measures against the ZANU-PF regime, adding a further 11 names to the asset freeze and visa ban list.
The Government support the council conclusions, which welcomed Pakistan's return to democracy and commitment to step up measures to counter terrorism and extremism, while underlining the importance of improving relations between Pakistan and its neighbours, particularly India and Afghanistan.
Ministers also committed to further developing EU political dialogue in a number of areas including: trade and development; intercultural exchange; non-proliferation; human rights; counterterrorism; and radicalisation and education. They also agreed to intensify political dialogue in line with EU commitments to enhance engagement with Pakistan including, if possible, at an ad hoc summit under the Czech presidency in the first half of 2009. The conclusions acknowledged Pakistan's request to initiate the process for an EU-Pakistan free trade agreement and committed to examining all the options aimed at enhancing trade relations.
The council adopted separate conclusions condemning the terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, strongly encouraging the strengthening of regional co-operation in the fight against terrorism, expressing the EU’s hope that Pakistan will co-operate fully with India on the investigation into the attacks and supporting continued dialogue between India and Pakistan to enable greater bilateral co-operation and overall regional stability.
European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)
Ministers agreed declarations on improving the military capabilities of EU member states and on international security; and formally approved the operation to improve maritime security off the coast of Somalia.
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