HC Deb 03 March 2000 vol 345 cc435-9W
Mr. Watts

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) the major European Union events for the next six months. [113412]

Mr. Vaz

The following is the information:

Monthly forecast of EU Business: March 2000 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.

March

28 February-1 March—Lisbon—EuroMed Investment Conference

  • Opening Statement
  • Panel Discussion
  • Investing in an Euro-Mediterranean Free Trade Area
  • Working Groups
  • Doing Business in the Free Trade Area
  • Promoting Investment in a Free Trade Area
  • Investment Financing in the Mediterranean Region
  • Presentation and Discussion of the Conclusions and recommendations of the Working Groups
  • Conclusions and Recommendations
  • Closing Statements
  • Press Conference

1–2 March—Brussels—European Parliament Plenary Consultation Procedure (possible) Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a Community framework for the collection and management of the fisheries data needed to conduct the common fisheries policy (possible) Proposal for a Council decision on financial contribution from the Community towards the expenditure incurred by the member states in collecting data, and for financing studies and pilot projects for carrying out the common fisheries policy (possible) Proposal for a Council directive amending Directive 93/53/EEC introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases Proposal for a Council regulation amending for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No 1626/94 laying down certain technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources in the Mediterranean and for the fourth time Regulation (EC) No 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (possible) Initiative of the Republic of Austria with a view to adopting a Council decision to combat child pornography on the Internet

Lisbon—EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting

  • EU-Russia relations
  • Developments in Russia, including the Northern Caucasus
  • Developments in the EU
  • Western Balkans Mediterranean region and the Middle East Peace Process
  • Preparation for the EU-Russia Summit

3–4 March—Lisbon—Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)

  • No formal agenda

10 March—Tokyo—EU/Japan Ministerial Meeting

  • No agenda yet available

13 March—Brussels—Social Affairs Council

  • Preparation of the special European Council in Lisbon
  • Presidency paper on a Europe of innovation and knowledge
  • Commission Communication on Community policies to promote employment (Article 127)
  • Commission Communication on social inclusion
  • Commission Communication on job strategies in the information society
  • First Commission report on the social situation in Europe
  • Commission proposals on Article 13
  • Oral report from the Presidency on progress in negotiations

13 March—Brussels—ECOFIN Council

  • Adoption of the provisional agenda
  • Approval of the list of "A" items
  • Implementation of the Stability and Growth Pact
  • Preparation of the Lisbon European Council on Employment, Economic Reforms and Social Cohesion
  • Towards a Europe based on Innovation and Knowledge, Lisbon, 23–24 March 2000

Taxation

  1. (a) (possible) VAT: Postal Services Presentation of Commission proposal
  2. (b) Taxation of aircraft fuel
  3. Presentation of Commission communication

Discharge of 1998 budget

  • Presentation of Commission action plan to improve management and financial procedures
  • AOB

13–17 March—Strasbourg—European Parliament Plenary

  • No agenda yet available

16 March—Brussels—Internal Market Council

  • No agenda yet available

17 March—Lisbon—Informal Education Ministers Meeting

  • No formal agenda

17–18 March—Porto—Trade Ministers' Meeting (Informal)

  • No formal agenda

20–21 March—Brussels—General Affairs Council

  • No agenda yet available

20–21 March—Brussels—Agriculture Council

  • No agenda yet available

23–24 March—Lisbon—Special European Council

  • No formal agenda

27 March—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council

  • No agenda yet available

28 March—Brussels—Transport Council

  • No agenda yet available

Dates Venue Events
March
28 February-1 March Lisbon EuroMed Investment Conference
1–2 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
2 Lisbon EU/Russia Ministerial Meeting
3–4 Lisbon Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
10 Tokyo EU/Japan Ministerial Meeting
13 Brussels Social Affairs Council
13 Brussels ECOFIN Council
13–17 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
16 Brussels Internal Market Council
17 Lisbon Informal Education Ministers Meeting
17–18 Porto Trade Ministers' Meeting (Informal)
20–21 Brussels General Affairs Council
20–21 Brussels Agriculture Council
23–24 Lisbon Special European Council
27 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council
28 Brussels Transport Council
29–30 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
30 Brussels Environment Council
April
3 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
3–4 Cairo EU-Africa Summit
4 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council
7–8 Lisbon ECOFIN Council (Informal)
10–11 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
10–14 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
13 Luxembourg Consumer Affairs Council
15–16 Oporto Environment Council (Informal)
17–18 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
May
2 Brussels Telecommunications Council
3–4 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
5–7 San Miguel, Azores Information Meeting of Foreign Ministers
8 Brussels ECOFIN Council
8 Lisbon EU/New Zealand Ministerial Meeting
11 Brussels Health Council
15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council
15–16 Oporto WEU Council
15–19 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
16 Brussels Culture Council
18 Brussels Industry Council
18 Brussels Development Council
22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council
25 Brussels Internal Market Council
25–26 Lisbon EuroMed Foreign Ministers Meeting (Informal)
28–30 Evora Agriculture Council (Informal)
29–30 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council
30 Brussels Energy Council
June
5 Luxembourg ECOFIN Council
6 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council
8 Luxembourg Education Council
13–14 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
13–16 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
15 Luxembourg Research Council
16 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
19–20 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
19–20 Sta. Maria da Feira European Council
21–23 Cyprus 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Conference of the Ministers of Industry

29–30 March—Brussels—European Parliament Plenary

  • No agenda yet available

30 March—Brussels—Environment Council

  • No agenda yet available

European Calendar—March—August 2000 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.

Dates Venue Events
22–23 Luxembourg Environment Council
26–27 Luxembourg Transport Council
28 Lisbon EU/India Summit
July
3–7 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
6–7 Lille Culture Council
7–8 (to be confirmed) Social Affairs Council (Informal)
10–11 Brussels General Affairs Council
15–16 (to be confirmed) Environment Council (Informal)
17 Brussels ECONFIN Council
17–18 Brussels Agriculture Council
24 Brussels Budget Council
25 Bangkok ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting
28–29 Bangkok ASEAN Post Ministerial Meeting
28–29 Arles Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
August1 — —
1 There are no Councils scheduled for this month

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