HC Deb 01 November 1994 vol 248 cc1053-5W
Mr. French

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union.

Mr. David Davis

The following meetings are planned.

  • 7 November: ECOFIN
  • 8 November: Industry
  • 10 November: Cultural Affairs
  • 14 November: Agriculture
  • 15 November: Agriculture
  • 16 November: Budget
  • 17 November: Telecom
  • 21 November: Transport
  • 22 November: Transport
  • 23 November: Fisheries
  • 25 November: Development
  • 28 November: FAC
  • 29 November: FAC, Energy
  • 30 November: Justice, Youth Council
  • 1 December: Justice

The following subjects are likely to be discussed.

A: 7 November, ECOFIN

  • White paper on competitiveness and employment
  • Vat definitive regime
  • CO2/energy tax (possible)
  • Taxation of savings (possible)
  • Financial assistance to Slovakia (possible)
  • Dinner with CEE Finance Ministers

B: 8 November, Industry

Agenda likely to include:

  1. (i) Resolution on industrial competitiveness
  2. (ii) Steel (Ekostahl)

C: 10 November, Cultural Affairs

  • Agenda not available

D: 14/15 November, Agriculture

  • Wine (possible)
  • Duram wheat (possible)
  • Set-aside (possible)
  • CAP simplification (possible)
  • Fruit and vegetables (possible)
  • Yellow fats (possible)
  • Definition of butter (possible)
  • Sugar (possible)
  • Animal welfare (possible)
  • Plant breeder rights

E: 16 November, Budget

  • Council second reading of 1995 budget
  • Revision to financial perspectives

F: 17 November, Telecom

Possible agenda:

  • Infrastructure liberalisation
  • Digital broadcasting standards
  • Interchange of Data between Administrations
  • Mutual recognition of Telecoms/Satellite licenses
  • Access to Space segment
  • TENs ISON

G: 21 November, Transport

Maritime

  • Port State Control Directive, common position
  • Reporting zones Directive, common position
  • Ferry safety Directive, possible resolution
  • Competition Directive, discussion

Land

  • High Speed Train interoperability—orientation debate
  • Tachographs—orientation debate
  • Dangerous goods advisers—orientation debate
  • Trans European Networks—orientation debate

Other

  • Switzerland discussion
  • Satellite Navigation resolution

H: 23 November, Fisheries

  • Spain and Portugal
  • Marketing
  • Guide prices

I: 25 November, Development

  • Agenda not available

J: 28 November, FAC

  • Agenda not available

K: 29 November, Energy

  • Internal market in electricity
  • Review of Community energy law (Council conclusions)
  • Energy networks (possible)
  • Energy policy
  • Thermie II
  • Energy Charter (probably over lunch)

L: 30 November, Youth Council

  • Agenda not available

M: 30 November/ 1 December, Justice

A items

  1. (i) External frontiers convention—Conclusion on Art.8.(3)
  2. (ii) Form of Council agreements on Asylum

B items

  1. (iii) Europol convention
  2. (iv) Nuclear crime
  3. (v) Data protection—interim report
  4. (vi) Extradition—simplified procedure
  5. (vii) CEES. Follow up to the Berlin declaration
  6. (viii) Fraud against the Community Budget
  7. (ix) Asylum: burden-sharing
  8. (x) Racism and xenophobia—interim report from Consultative Commission
  9. (xi) Third Pillar priority objectives for 1995

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