HC Deb 27 February 1997 vol 291 cc315-9W
Mr. Hendry

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list(a) the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March and (b) major EU events for the next six months. [17959]

Mr. David Davis

Monthly Forecast of business for March 1997

The following Councils are scheduled:

  • March 1–2: Development Aid Council (Informal)
  • March 2–3: Education Council (Informal)
  • March 3–4: Environment Council
  • March 6: Telecommunications Council
  • March 10: Internal Market Council
  • March 11–12: Transport Council
  • March 14–15: Social Affairs Council (Informal)
  • March 17: Ecofin Council
  • March 17–18 Agriculture Council
  • March 24–25: General Affairs Council.
  • The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
    • March 1–2: Development aid council (informal)
    • There is no formal agenda.
    • March 2–3: Education council (informal)
    • There is no formal agenda.
    • March 3–4: Environment council
    • Adoption of the agenda.
    • Approval of the list of "A" items.
    • Community Strategy on Climate Change: Council Conclusions.
    • Commission Communication: Implementing Community Environmental Law: Policy Debate.
    • Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the signing and conclusion of an International Agreement between the European Community, Canada and the Russian Federation on Humane Trapping Standards: Progress report on negotiations with Third Countries.
    • Amended proposal for a Council decision on a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection-legal basis proposed by the Commission: article 130S(1)): common position.
    • Future strategy for the control of atmospheric emissions from road transport taking into account the results from the auto/oil programme:
    • Proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels and amending Council Directive 93/12/EEC:
    • Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to measures to be taken against air pollution by emissions from motor vehicles and amending Council Directives 70/156/EEC and 70/220/EEC;
    • Second auto/oil programme: policy debate.
    • Proposal for a Council directive on the reduction of emissions of organic compounds due to the use of organic solvents in certain industrial activities: policy debate.
    • Presentation by the Commission: possible items.
    • 316
    • Proposal for a directive on energy taxes;
    • Proposal for a framework directive on water.
    • Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on environmental agreements: policy debate.
    • Other Business:
      • Commission communication on environmental taxes and charges in the single market: presentation by the Commission;
      • Proposal for a directive on landfill: presentation by the Commission (possible item);
      • Report on the workshop for the preparation of the informal ministerial meeting on small and medium-sized undertakings and the environment: Presidency statement;
      • Re-examination of directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms: statement by the Austrian delegation;
      • Taxation of energy and in particular kerasene: Statement by the Austrian delegation;
      • Situation regarding the European agreement on CO2 emissions from cars: French delegation request for information from the Commission;
      • First European Conference on the sustainable development of the islands (Menorca, 23 to 26 April 1997): information from the Spanish delegation.
    • March 6: Telecommunications Council
    • Adoption of the provisional agenda.
    • Adoption of the list of "A" points (possible item).
    • Proposal for a European Parliament and Council directive on the application of open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony and on universal service for telecommunications in a competitive environment (replacing European Parliament and Council Directive 95/62/EC): common position (legal basis proposed by the Commission: article 100A).
    • Ongoing Co-decision procedures with the European Parliament interconnection directive, TENS Telecoms, licensing directive, satellite S-PCS decision.
    • Action plan from the Commission on satellite communications: presentation by the Commission (with reference to action plan on space).
    • UMTS (next generation of mobile communications): report by the Commission.
    • Other business:
    • WTO negotiations: report by the Commission; Implementation of telecoms directives.
    • March 10: Internal Market Council
    • PARNUTS (Foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses).
    • Miscellaneous additives (possible item).
    • March 11–12: Transport Council
    • Proposed amendment to directive 92/14 on phase-out of noisy aircraft: for political agreement on common position.
    • Aviation fuel duty: debate on resolution calling for Commission study on effects of imposition.
    • Proposal for mandate for Commission to negotiate Community membership of European Aviation Safety Authority: for debate.
    • Proposal for mandate for Commission to negotiate Community membership of EUROCONTROL: debate.
    • Proposed amendment to regulation 3821/85 to allow for new digital tachograph: common position.
    • lnteroperability of road pricing technology: adoption of resolution.
    • Proposed regulation on pilot actions for combined transport for political agreement on common position.
    • Proposed directive on heavy goods vehicle charging and taxes: debate.
    • 317
    • Proposed eighth directive on summer time: for common position.
    • Negotiations with Switzerland: debate.
    • Other Business:
      • Report on transport research and development.
      • Report on the work of the high-level group on public private partnerships/TENS.
    • March 14/15: Social Affairs Council (informal)
    • There is no formal agenda.
    • March 17: Ecofin Council
    • Preparation of stage III of EMU.
    • Convergency programme of France.
    • Convergence programme of Germany.
    • Annual report of the Court of Auditors and budget discharge
    • Taxation of energy products.
    • Solvency ratio direct for credit institutions (mortgages) (possible item).
    • March 17–18: Agriculture Council
    • Beef labelling/cattle identification.
    • Olive oil (possible item).
    • Arable penalties (possible item).
    • Agriculture price fixing (possible item).
    • Veterinary and phytosanitary equivalence agreements.
    • Structured dialogue with central and eastern European countries.
    • Fruit grubbing-up scheme (possible item).
    • Honey (possible item).
    • Agrimoney compensation for appreciable revaluation's (possible item).
    • March 24–25: General Affairs Council
    • First draft agenda—likely to change.
    • Former Yugoslavia.
    • Albania.
    • Middle East peace process.
    • Relations with Turkey.
    • Pakistan.
    • Commercial questions: conclusion of an agreement on information technology.
    • Relations with South Africa.
    • Preparation of the 23rd ACP-EC Council of Ministers (24–25 April 1997).
    • Relations with Australia.
    • Mediterranean policy.
    • European observatory on racism and xenophobia.
    • Transatlantic relations.
    • Russia.
    • Baltic states: European agreement.
    • VIIth ministerial meeting between the EU and the Rio group.

This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events and dates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.

European Calendar: March to August 1997
Dates Location Event
1–2 Amsterdam Development Aid Council (informal)
2–3 Amsterdam Education Council (informal)
3–4 Brussels Environment Council
6 Brussels Telecommunications Council
10 Brussels Internal Market Council
10–14 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
11–12 Brussels Transport Council
13 Brussels Political Committee
14–15 Rotterdam Social Affairs Council (informal)
15–16 Apeldoorn Gymnich (informal)
17 Brussels Ecofin Council
17–18 Brussels Agriculture Council
24–25 Brussels General Affairs Council (and IGC Ministerial)
April 1997
4–6 Noordwijk Ecofin Council (Informal)
6–8 Maastricht Informal meeting of Cultural Affairs Ministers
7–10 Strasbourg European Parliament plenary
9–11 The Hague Ministerial conference on social integration
10 Brussels Political Committee
10 Luxembourg Consumer Council
14–15 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
17 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council
18–19 Maastricht Post-Lomé ministerial meeting
18–20 Amsterdam Environment Council (informal)
20–22* Warsaw Meeting of EU and PHARE— Country Education Ministers
21–22 The Netherlands Political Committee
21–22 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
23 Brussels European Parliament plenary
24 Luxembourg Industry Council
24–25 Luxembourg ACP/EU ministerial conference
24–25 The Hague International Conference on Innovative Research, and Appropriate health care for the people of Europe
24–26 The Hague Ministerial conference on trafficking in women
25 Brussels European Parliament plenary
29–30 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (and IGC ministerial)
May 1997
6–7 Strasbourg Council of Europe ministerial
12 Brussels Ecofin Council
12–13 Brussels Agriculture Council
12–13 Paris WEU ministerial
12–16 Strasbourg European Parliament plenary
14–15 Brussels Research Council
15 Brussels Political Committee
20 Brussels Internal Market Council
22 Brussels Political Committee
25–27 Domburg Agriculture Council (informal)
26 Brussels Energy Council
27–28 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council
28–29 Brussels European Parliamentary plenary
29 Brussels Telecommunications Council
June 1997
2–3 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (and IGC ministerial)
5 Luxembourg Health Council
5 Luxembourg Development Council
5–6 The Hague K4 Committee
9 Luxembourg Ecofin Council
9–10 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
9–13 Strasbourg European Parliament plenary
10 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (tbc)
12 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council
f
European Calendar: March to August 1997
Dates Location Event
16–17 Amsterdam European Council
17–18 Luxembourg Transport Council
19 Brussels Political Committee
20–22 Denver G7
23 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
23 Luxembourg Ecofin Council (tbc)
23–24 Luxembourg Environment Council
25–26 Brussels European Parliament plenary
26 Luxembourg Education Council
26 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
30 Luxembourg Culture Council
July 1997
1 Luxembourg Presidency begins
7 Brussels Ecofin Council
10–11 Luxembourg Political Committee
12–13 Luxembourg Labour and Social Affairs Council (informal)
14–18 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
21–22 Brussels Agriculture Council
22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council
24 Brussels Budget Council
August 1997
There are no events scheduled for August.