HC Deb 18 December 1996 vol 287 cc673-5W
Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for January; and if he will list the major EU events for the next six months. [9865]

Mr. David Davis

Monthly Forecast of Business for January 1997 The following Councils are scheduled:

  • January 7: Fisheries Council
  • January 20: General Affairs Council
  • January 20: Agriculture Council
  • January 21: General Affairs Council
  • January 21 Agriculture Council
  • January 27: ECOFIN Council
  • January 31: Transport Council (Informal)
The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

January 7: Fisheries Council This Council will take place only if the December Council fails to agree on the following item: Total allowable catches and quotas.

January 20–21: General Affairs Council Agenda not yet available.

January 20–21: Agriculture Council

  • Identification and registration of bovine animals (possible item).
  • Durum wheat (possible item).
  • Honey (possible item).
  • Flax (possible item).
  • BSE (possible item).
  • Veterinary and phytosanitary equivalence agreement (possible item).

January 27: ECOFIN Council

  • Presentation of the Dutch presidency programme work
  • Programme of the Commission.
  • Structured dialogue with Ministers from central and eastern European countries and the Baltics.
Follow-up to the Dublin European Council:
  • Preparation of stage 3 of economic and monetary union; Employment.
  • Sound and efficient Management-2000 (possible item).
  • Macrofinancial assistance to Ukraine (possible item).
  • Georgia, Armenia and Tadjikstan (possible item).
  • Renewal of European Investment bank lending envelopes (possible item).
  • Taxation (possible item).
  • Appointment of EC Jury for coin competition (possible item).
 Other Business:
  • Lunch: With Minister of Finance of the CEECs and the Baltics;
  • Coffee: Briefing on intergovernmental conference

January 31: Transport Council (informal) No formal agenda.

EUROPEAN CALENDAR: DECEMBER 1996—MAY 1997

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.

Venue Event
January 1997
1 Dutch presidency begins
7 Brussels Fisheries Council
9–10 The Hague Political Committee
13–17 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
20–21 Brussels General Affairs Council
20–21 Brussels Agriculture Council
23–25 Amsterdam Conference on Social Policy
27 Brussels ECOFIN Council (t.b.c.)
29–30 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
30–31 The Hague Opening of "European Year Against Racism"
31 Amsterdam Transport Council (Informal)
February 1997
1 Amsterdam Transport Council (Informal)
1–2 The Hague Economic Affairs Council (Informal)
5–6 Noordwijk Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
6 Brussels Political Committee
17 Brussels Political Committee
17 Brussels ECOFIN Council
17 Qatar EU/GCC Conference
17–18 Brussels Agriculture Council
17–21 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
24–25 Brussels General Affairs Council
26 Brussels EU/San Jose Conference
28 Amsterdam Development Council (Informal)
March 1997
1–2 Amsterdam Development Council (Informal)
3 Amsterdam Education Council (Informal)
3–4 Brussels Environment Council
6 Brussels Telecommunications Council
10 Brussels Internal Market Council
10–14 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
11–12 Brussels Transport Council
13 Brussels Political Committee
14–15 Rotterdam Social Affairs Council (Informal)
15–16 Apeldoorn Gymnich (Informal)
17 Brussels ECOFIN Council
17–19 Brussels Agriculture Council
18–19 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council
24–25 Brussels General Affairs Council
25 Rome Informal IGC Ministerial
April 1997
4–6 Noordwijk ECOFIN Council (Informal)
6–8 Maastricht Culture Council (Informal)
7–8 Noordwijk EU/Rio Group
7–10 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
9–11 The Hague Social Integration Conference
10 Brussels Political Committee
10 Luxembourg Consumer Council
14–15 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
17 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council
17–18 Maastricht Ministerial Conference on EC aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries post-Lomé IV
18–20 Amsterdam Environment Council (Informal)
21–22 The Netherlands Political Committee
21–22 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
23 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
24 Luxembourg Industry Council
24–25 Luxembourg African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries/EU Ministerial Conference

Venue Event
25 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
29–30 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
May 1997
5 Brussels General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)
6–7 Strasbourg Council of Europe Ministerial
12 Brussels ECOFIN Council
12–13 Brussels Agriculture Council
12–13 Paris WEU Ministerial
12–16 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
14–15 Brussels Research Council
15 Brussels Political Committee
20 Brussels Internal Market Council
22 Brussels Political Committee
25–27 Middelburg Agriculture Council (Informal)
26 Brussels Energy Council
27–28 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council
28–29 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
29 Brussels Telecommunications Council
June 1997
2–3 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
5 Luxembourg Health Council
5 Luxembourg Development Council
8–10 Noordwijk Environmental Planning Conference
9 Luxembourg ECOFIN Council
9–10 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
9–13 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
10 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)
12 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council
16–17 Amsterdam European Council
17–18 Luxembourg Transport Council
19 Brussels Political Committee
19 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
23 Luxembourg ECOFIN Council (t.b.c.)
23–24 Luxembourg Environment Council
25–26 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
26 Luxembourg Education Council
30 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
30 Luxembourg Culture Council