Council of Ministers (Hansard, 5 May 1993)

§ Mr. Garel-Jones

The following meetings are planned:

4 May: Industrial Affairs Council
10 May: Telecommunications Council
10–11 May: Foreign Affairs Council
11 May: Foreign Affairs/Gulf Cooperation Council
17 May: Cultural Affairs Council
24–25 May: Agricultural Council
25 May: Development Council
27 May: Health Council

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

(a) Industrial Affairs Council—4 May

Restructuring of the steel industry of the Community
ECSC Treaty
Industrial competitiveness and environmental protection
State Aid for ship building
Maritime industries
Small and medium sized enterprises. Community measures to intensify and ensure the continuity of a policy for enterprise.

(b) Telecommunications Council—10 May

European Telecommunications Equipment Industry (8304/ 92; 5704/92)
Telecommunications Services Review
Open network provision voice telephoning directive (8840/92)
Postal services Green paper
Introduction of Advanced Television Services (6242/92)
Development of Technology and Standards in the Advanced
Television Sector

Trade Policy Questions
Relations with the EP
Commission report on access to information
Russia
Central and Eastern Europe
Ex-Yugoslavia
Preparation of EC/ACP Ministerial—17–18 May
Preparation of EC/GCC Ministerial
Preparation of OECD Ministerial: trade and environment

(d) EC/Gulf Co-operation Council—11 May

Implementation of the Co-operation Agreement
Exchange of views on the development of economic relations between the countries of the GCC and the Community
Report of Joint Co-operation Committee to the Joint
Co-operation Council on the implementation of the Co-operation Agreement
Exchange of views on developments in the two regions:
Gulf Co-operation Council
European Community
Exchange of views on questions of political interest

(e) Cultural Affairs Council—17 May

European Cultural Month 1995
The Media Programme
The Artemis Programme
Draft resolution to create a scheme for the translation of dramatic works
Future work on books and reading

(f) Agriculture Council—24–25 May

Price fixing
Milk
Sugar
Cereal Quality
GATT
Potatoes
CAT reform
Portuguese wine distillation

(g) Development Council—25 May

Development Co-operation in the run-up to 2000
Human rights, Democracy and Development
Population Policy Family planning
Emergency Aid
Untying of Aid
Women in development
UNCED follow-up
The Special EC initiative for Africa

(h) Health Council—27 May

Resolution of future actions in the field of public health
Conclusions on reduction of consumption of tobacco
Policy debate on tobacco advertising
Conclusions on "Europe against AIDS" programme
Conclusions on "Europe against Cancer" programme (poss)
Conclusions on "Smoking in Public Places"—(5867/93)

The Industrial Affairs Council will meet on 4 May and will discuss restructuring of the steel industry of the Community; ECSC Treaty; Industrial competitiveness and environmental protection. Ministers will also discuss state aid for shipbuilding and maritime industries. There will be a policy discussion on small and medium sized enterprises.

The Telecommunications Council will meet on 10 May to attempt to reach a common position on ONP voice telephony. Adoption of Council conclusions on the Commission Communication on the European Telecommunication Equipment Industry will be sought. Ministers will seek to adopt the proposed decision on the introduction of advanced television services. Adoption is also sought on the proposed Council resolution on the development of Technology and Standards in the Advanced Television Sector. The Postal Services Green paper is also scheduled for discussion.

The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 10–11 May. EC Foreign Ministers will consider Trade Policy Questions; relations with the EP; Commission report on access to information. Ministers will also consider Russia; Central and Eastern Europe and Ex-Yugoslavia.

The Foreign Affairs/Gulf Cooperation Council will meet on 11 May to discuss the implementation of the Cooperation agreement. Ministers will also exchange views on developments in the two regions and on questions of political interest.

The Cultural Affairs Council will meet on 17 May. The agenda has not yet been finalised, but the European Cultural Month 1995, the media programme, and the Artemis programme are likely to be discussed. There may also be a draft resolution to create a scheme for the translation of dramatic works. Future work on books and reading may also be discussed.

The Agricultural Council will meet on 24–25 May. Ministers will discuss price fixing; milk, sugar; cereal quality; GATT; potatoes; CAP reform and Portuguese wine distillation.

The Development Council is planned for 25 May. The agenda has not yet been finalised, but development Cooperation in the run-up to 2000; Human Rights—Democracy and development; and Population Policy—family planning are likely to be discussed. Emergency Aid, Untying of Aid and women in development are also likely to be discussed. Ministers may also discuss UNCED follow-up and the "Special EC initiative for Africa".

The Health Council will meet on 27 May to discuss a resolution on future actions in the field of public health. Ministers will discuss the draft decision on the cancer programme which notes the Commission's report on the effectiveness of action undertaken in the "Europe Against Cancer" programme over the past five years. Ministers will discuss the conclusions on "Europe against AIDS" programme and the conclusions on reducing smoking in the Community which stress the importance of price as a mechanism to reduce tobacco consumption. The conclusions on smoking in public places will also be discussed.