, (Wexford): The Environment Council of 8/9 June 1994 considered a favourable resolution of the European Parliament on the proposal for a Council Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste; this included 19 amendments to the Common Position adopted by Council in December, 1993. The Common Position, as amended by Parliament, was generally acceptable to the Council and the European Commission, with the exception of one amendment proposed in respect of economic instruments. A proposal in relation to this amendment was put forward by the Commission as a necessary legal/drafting amendment and provided a satisfactory basis for resolving the concerns of most member states, including Ireland.
Council consideration of this issue did not however arrive at a conclusion in support of the Common Position as amended by the Parliament and it was agreed to continue efforts within COREPER to bring about a conclusion.
The proposed Directive in its present form results from lengthy consideration of the complex issues involved by the Environment Council and the European Parliament, and reflects the present balance of political views within the Union on the regulation of packaging waste. It has been designed to deal with the different situations in member states and the need to avoid creating barriers to trade or distortions to competition.