CAB128-94_A1b — Page 30

The Cabinet

Took note.

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COMMUNITY AFFAIRS

Foreign Affairs Council

12 June

THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH SECRETARY said that the

n item for the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on une had been preparation for the European Council. He ad plained the United Kingdom views about the Delors

tand the objections the United Kingdom saw to a

Charter. He had also noted that the United Kingdom might wish to raise the question of fraud. There was however no substantial discussion of these questions. The Presidency indicated that they did not expect discussion of further item on the Madrid agenda, such as the frontiers exercise and fiscal questions, to be contentious. On other had agreed a mandate for negotiations of operation Agreement with the USSR. It would be necessary beed cautiously in that negotiation and ion that the Russians were demandeur.

ration discussions the main topic had

C

issues the

a Trade and

to maintain the

In the political

been the situation icina.

Social Affairs Council 12 June

IDEN

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FO

item discussed at the meeting

PLOYMENT said that the main

the Social Affairs Council

on 12 June had been the proposals for a Social Charter put forward by the Commission. This document covered a wide spectrum of policy areas include wage rates, minimum holidays, the position of younge and provision for retirement and disability. The pool for such a Charter would be put to the European Counc Although expressed in general terms such a document could undoubtedly be expected to provide the basis for a series of specific directives. He had made clear that the United Kingdom's view of the social dimension was an approach that involved the creation of jobs, and fostering enterprise however apparent that ten Member States welcomed of Charter. Denmark had not given the proposal support but this reflected procedural requirement national consultations.

It was

me form

al

In discussion it was suggested that it would be valuab for material to be prepared setting out the social be available in the United Kingdom which could be drawn upon in discussion at the European Council. The proposals in

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