§ Lord Williams of Elvelasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will announce forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for January and list major European Union events for the next six months. [HL190]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean)Monthly forecast of business for January 1998
The following Councils are scheduled:
Date Location Event January 19 Brussels Ecofin Council January 19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council January 26–27 Brussels General Affairs Council January 29–30 Birmingham Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
January 19: Ecofin Council
Presidency work programme—Commission work programme:
Presentation and debate.
Preparation of Stage III of EMU.
Reduced VAT on labour-intensive services.
Council Regulation on allocation of Financial Intermediate Services indirectly measured.
January 19–20: Agriculture Council
Statement of Presidency aims.
Agri-environment Regulation (2078/92) and Forestry Regulation (2080/92): Commission reports.
Amendments to Regulation 404/93 (possible item).
Reform of tobacco regime (possible item).
Promotion of quality beef and veal.
Potato starch quotas.
World Trade Organisation dispute on hormones.
Veterinary equivalence agreements.
Vehicle standards for carriage of livestock.
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (possible item).
January 26-27: General Affairs Council
Presidency Programme: Public debate.
Enlargement: EU negotiating position for the Central and Eastern European Countries and 226WA Cyprus: Outline of Europe Conference: Pre-Accession Strategy—Presidency Progress report.
Switzerland.
Transatlantic Relations: Report in EU-US Ministerial.
EU-Japan Summit: Presidency Report.
Trade issues: China—Silk Agreement: Mongolia—Textile Agreement (possible A point): Russia—Textiles: Vietnam Textiles Agreement (possible A point): Financial Services.
CFSP: Former Yugoslavia—Albania—Great Lakes—Turkey-Cyprus (developments postLuxembourg)—Middle East Peace Process—Overseas Countries and Territories.
Third Country meetings in margins: Albania: Russia Co-operation Council.
January 29-30: Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal)
No formal Agenda.
European Calendar: January–June 1998
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.
227WA
Date Location Event January 1998 1 UK Presidency commences 8 London Visit of College of Commissioners 12–16 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 15 Brussels Political Committee 19 Brussels Ecofin Council 19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council 26–27 Brussels General Affairs Council 28–29 Brussels European Parliament Plenary 29–30 Birmingham Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) February 1998 3 Brussels Political Committee 9–11 Costa Rica EU/San José Group 11–12 Brussels Select Committee on Trade & Industry visit 12 Brussels Research Council 12–13 Panama EU/Rio Group 12–13 London Political Committee 13–15 Cambridge Internal Market (Informal) 16 Brussels Ecofin Council 16–17 Brussels Agriculture Council 16–20 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 23–24 Brussels General Affairs Council 26 Brussels Telecom Council March 1998 3 Brussels Political Committee 9 Brussels Ecofin Council (t.b.c.) 9–10 Manchester UK Presidency Conference 9–13 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 12–13 London Joint Social & Education (Informal) 14–15 Edinburgh Foreign Minister's Informal 15–17 Manchester Seminar for Cultural Ministers
Date Location Event 16–17 Brussels Agriculture Council 17 Brussels Transport Council 19 Brussels Political Committee 19 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council 20–22 York Ecofin Informal 23 Brussels Environment Council 24 Brussels Fisheries Council 30 Brussels Internal Market Council 30–31 Brussels General Affairs Council 30–31 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 3–11 April Moscow G8 Energy Ministerial April 1998 1–3 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 2–4 London ASEM II 6 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council 7 Brussels Political Committee 16 Brussels Political Committee 20–21 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 21 Luxembourg Ecofin Council 23 Luxembourg Consumer Affairs Council 24–26 Chester Environment & Transport (Informal) 27–28 Luxembourg General Affairs Council 29–30 Brussels European Parliament 30 Luxembourg Health Council May 1998 1–3 Brussels Ecofin & Special EMU Council 5 Brussels Political Committee(t.b.c) 7 Brussels Industry Council 10–12 Newcastle Agriculture (Informal) 11 Brussels Energy Council 11 Brussels Euro-Med Energy Ministerial 12 Brussels Political Committee 11–15 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 18 Brussels Development Council 18 Brussels Internal Market 19 Brussels Telecommunications Council 25–26 Brussels General Affairs Council 25–26 Brussels Agriculture Council 27–28 Brussels European Parliament Plenary 28–29 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council June 1998 2 Luxembourg Political Committee 4 Luxembourg Education & Social Affairs Council 8 Luxembourg Fisheries Council 8–9 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (t.b.c.) 15–16 Cardiff European Council 15–19 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 16–17 Luxembourg Environment Council 17 Luxembourg Joint Environment & Transport Council 18 Luxembourg Transport Council 22 Luxembourg Research Council 22–23 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 29–30 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)