§ Lord Taylor of Blackburnasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November and also list the major European Union events for the period between 30 November and April 2001. [HL4507]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalTo date we have received the detailed agendas for the following Council meetings in November:
7 November—Brussels—ECOFIN Council
Adoption of the agenda.
Approval of the list of "A" items.
Follow-up to the Lisbon European Council meeting.
Adoption of the joint Council-Commission report assessing European financial instruments for risk capital.
Discussion of the Commission proposal for implementation of the action plan for risk capital and monitoring indicators.
Adoption of the report on structural performance indicators.
153WADiscussion of the progress report on the quality and sustainability of public finances.
Discussion of the EPC progress report on the financial and microeconomie impact of ageing.
Preparation for the Nice European Council meeting (poss.) Exchange-rate strategies of countries applying for membership.
Other business.
7 November-Brussels-Environment
Adoption of the agenda.
Approval of the list of "A" items (*).
Community strategy on climate change.
Strategy debate prior to COP6/preparation for COP6.
Draft Council conclusions.
Commission progress report on the European climate change programme.
Other business (*) including in particular the Council conclusions on the negotiations for a legally binding international instrument to apply international measures to certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
9 November—Brussels—Education Youth
Adoption of agenda.
(poss.) Approval of the list "A" items
Mobility
(a) Proposal for a Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council on mobility—within the Community for students, persons undergoing training, volunteers, teachers and trainers
—Political agreement
5600/00 EDUC 8 SOC 28 JEUN 3 CODEC 59
12020/00 CODEC 736 EDUC 133 SOC 318 JEUN 53
(b) Mobility Action Plan
Adoption of a Resolution
Preliminary draft report on future objectives of education systems
Presentation by the Commission and discussion
Follow-up to the Leiden seminar on open co-ordination and benchmarking as applied to European education systems
In formation from the Presidency and the Commission
Contribution to the Luxembourg process
Adoption of a contribution from the Council (Education) to the Council (Employment and Social Policy)
Social agenda
Adoption of a contribution of the Council (Education) to the Council (Employment and Social Policy)
154WAFollow-up to the meeting of the EU-Latin American Ministers for Higher Education in Paris on 3 November 2000
- Information from the Presidency
- Memorandum on life-long learning
- Presentation by the Commission
- Commission information points
- (a) Progress reached in the implementation of the European Year of Languages 2001
- (b) Renewal of the United States-Canada-EU cooperation agreements in the field of education and training
- (c) Celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Eurydice information network and of the 25th anniversary of the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP)
- (d) Information from the Presidency on the outcome of the Blois seminar entitled "Learn the history of Europe" (13 to 15 October 2000)
Young people and Europe: what follow-up measures should he taken following consultations with young people in Europe? (public debate)
Implementation of the YOUTH programme Information from the Commission and exchange of views
Social inclusion of young people: Resolution of the Council and of the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council
Adoption.
Protection of the young involved in sport—Information from the Commission and exchange of views
Measures to combat racism in the young Contribution by the German delegation.
Other business
16 November—Brussels—Research Council
European Space research
Commision communication on the realisation of the European space research programme
Lisbon follow up. Work in progress on:
Benchmarking (indicators), infrastructures and research, science and society, plan of action e-Europe
- Exchange of views
- Option of council resolution
- Commission paper on European space strategy.
- Presentation by the Commission.
- Exchange of views
- Adoption of council resolution.
- Negotiating mandate relating to legal entity of the ITER
- For Approval (false B points)
WA 155 - Other Business
Information from the Commission on "The innovation of a knowledge based economy".
Presidency information on the academy of sciences— Alpha Galileo report
In addition, there will be the following Council meetings for which agendas are not yet available.
- 3—Brussels—Social Affairs Council
- 10—Brussels—Development Council.
- 15–16—Brussels—Euro-Med Ministerial.
- 17—Brussels—Fisheries Council.
- 20–21—Brussels—General Affairs Council.
- 20–21—Brussels—Agriculture Council.
- 23—Brussels—Culture/Audio-visual Council.
- 23–24—Brussels—Budget Council.
- 27–28—Brussels—ECOFIN Council.
- 27–28—Brussels—Labour and Social Affairs Council.
- 30—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council.
- 30—Brussels—Internal Market/Consumer/Tourism Council.
The following are the principal events in the EU between 30 November and April 2001 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue):
156WA
December 1 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 3 Brussels IGC Ministerial Conclave 4–5 Brussels General Affairs Council 4 Brussels Telecommunications Council 5 Brussels Energy and Industry Council 7–9 Nice European Council 11 Brussels Health Council 11–15 Strasbourg EP Plenary 14–15 Brussels Fisheries Council 18–19 Brussels Environment Council 18 Brussels ECOFIN Council 18 Washington EU/United States Summit 19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council 19 Ottawa EU/Canada Summit 20–21 Brussels Transport Council 22 Brussels Telecommunications Council January 12 Brussels Fisheries Council (Possible) 19 Brussels ECOFIN Council 22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council 29 Brussels Budget Council (Possible) February 8–9 Brussels JHA Informal Council 12 Brussels ECOFIN Council 12 Brussels Education/Youth Council (Possible) 12 Brussels Research Council 15–17 Brussels Informal Employment/Telecommunications Council 19–20 Brussels Agriculture Council 26–27 Brussels General Affairs Council March 6 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council 8 Brussels Environment Council
12 Brussels ECOFIN Council 12 Brussels Internal Market/Consumer Council 15 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 16 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 19 Brussels Agriculture Council 19 Brussels General Affairs Council 20 Brussels General Affairs Council 20–21 Brussels Fisheries Council (possible) 23–24 Stockholm European Council 31–1 Brussels Meeting of Environment Ministers April 5–6 Brussels Transport/Telecommunications Council 8–10 Brussels General Affairs Council 8–10 Brussels Agriculture Council (Informal) 24–25 Brussels Agriculture Council