HC Deb 30 January 2002 vol 379 cc374-7W
Dr. Stoate

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 February and (b) the major European Union events for the period between 31 February and July. [32266]

Peter Hain

The following is the information:12 February—ECOFIN meeting—Brussels

1.Adoption of Agenda

2.Approval of list of "A" items

3.Preparation for the European Council in Barcelona Commission report on the functioning of product and capital markets (cardiff report)

(poss.) Report on increasing employment levels and prolonging working life

Broad economic policy guidelines

=policy debate (on basis of, among other things, the Commission's summary report and contributions from other Councils)

4.Stability and growth pact Examination of updated stability and convergence programmes

5.(poss.) Update on the euro changeover

6.Commission report on globalisation: challenges and responses

7.Indirect taxation

VAT: Electronic commerce

8.Progress report on the procedures for the ratification of the Council Decision of 29 September 2000 on the system of own resources (OJ L 253,7.10.2000, p42)

9.Other business

6/7—Valladolid—Ministerial Seminar on Democracy and Development

9/10—Brussels—Gymnich (Ministerial Informal)

11—Brussels—Eurogroup (Evening)

14—Brussels—Education and Youth Council

March Venue Event
1 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council (Evening)
1 Brussels Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council
4 Brussels Eurogroup (Evening)
4 Brussels Environment Council
5 Brussels ECOFIN
7 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council
11 Brussels Research Council
11–12 Brussels General Affairs Council
15–16 Barcelona European Council
18 Toledo Trade Ministers Meeting (Ministerial Informal)
18 Toledo EUROMED Trade Ministers Meeting
18–19 Brussels Agriculture Council
23–24 Brussels Defence Ministers Meeting (Ministerial Informal)
25–26 Brussels Transport and Telecom Council
27–28 Monterrey, Mexico Financing and Development Conference
April
5–6 Luxembourg Migrations Council (ASEM Ministerial Informal)
8 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
13–14 Luxembourg ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal)
15–16 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
22–23 Valencia Euromed Conference
22–23 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
May
25–26 Luxembourg Justice and Home Affairs Council
27–30 Luxembourg Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal)
3–4 Brussels Tourism Council (Ministerial Informal)
6 Brussels Eurogroup (Evening)
7 Brussels ECOFIN
9 Europe Day
13 Brussels General Affairs Council and Defence Ministers meeting
17–18 Madrid EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit
21 Brussels Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council
23 Brussels Culture and Audio-visual Council
24–26 Brussels Environment Council (Ministerial Informal)
27–28 Brussels Agriculture Council
30 Brussels Development Council
30 Brussels Education and Youth Council
31–1 June Brussels Transport Council (Ministerial Informal)
June
3 Brussels Employment and Social Affairs Council
3 Brussels Eurogroup (Evening)
4 Luxembourg ECOFIN
6–8 Brussels Foreign Affairs Council (ASEM Ministers)
6–7 Brussels Industry and Energy Council
10–11 Brussels General Affairs Council
10–11 Brussels Agriculture Council
11 Brussels Fisheries Council
June
13–14 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council
17–18 Brussels Transport and Telecoms Council
17–18 Brussels General Affairs Council
21–22 Seville European Council
24 Brussels General Affairs Council (possible)
24–25 Brussels Environment Council

14/15—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal)

18/19—Brussels—General Affairs Council

18/19—Brussels—Agriculture Council

22/23—Brussels—Telecoms and Information Society Council (Ministerial Informal)

28—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council

28—Brussels—Inaugural meeting of the Convention on the Future of Europe.

The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 March and July 2002 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue).

March Venue Event
25 Luxembourg ECOFIN
26 Brussels Health Council
July
6 Copenhagen ASEM Ministers for Finance
12 Brussels ECOFIN
12–13 Kolding Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Informal)
15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council
19 Brussels Budget Meeting
19–21 Arhus Environment Ministers meeting (Informal)
22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council