§ Lord Burnhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will detail the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe information requested is as follows:
Subject: Monthly forecast of business for June 1996
1. The following Councils are scheduled:
149WA
- 3rd June: ECOFIN
- 3rd June: Agriculture
- 3rd June: Social Affairs
- 4th June: Agriculture
- 4th June: Social Affairs
- 4th June: Justice and Home Affairs
- 5th June: Justice and Home Affairs
- 10th June: Fisheries
- 10th June: General Affairs Council
- 11th June: Fisheries
- 11th June: General Affairs Council
- 11th June: Culture/Audiovisual
- 17th June: Transport
- 18th June: Transport
- 21st June: European Council
- 22th June: European Council
- 24th June: Agriculture
- 25th June: Agriculture
- 25th June: Environment
- 26th June: Environment
- 26th June: Research (to be confirmed)
- 27th June: Telecommunications
2. The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
3rd June: ECOFIN Council
Approval of the agenda
Approval of the "A" points
Preparation for European Council in Florence
broad economic guidelines for 1996–97
progress report on preparation for stage 3 of EMU
appointment of president of the emi
interim report on employment
Excessive deficits procedure
EIB lending to Asia and Latin America
VAT—taxation of agricultural outputs
AOB:
Jordan (possible item)
preview of the Irish Presidency
financial repercussions of Commission's BSE measures
revision of the Financial Perspective
3rd/4th June: Agriculture Council
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of the list of "A" points (possible item) Beef and Veal:
proposal for a Council decision amending Commission decision 96/239/EC on emergency measures to protect against Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)*
implementation of paragraph 7 of the conclusions of the Agriculture Council on 29th and 30th April 1996 (support measures in the Beef and Veal sector)
Fruit and Vegetables:
proposal for a Council regulation on the common organisation of the market in fruit and vegetables*
proposal for a Council regulation on the common organisation of the market in processed fruit and vegetables*
AOB:
organisation of future work
*denotes item on which a vote may be requested.
3rd/4th June: Social Affairs Council
Approval of the agenda
Approval of the list of "A" points
Adoption of Parental Leave Directive (likely "A" point)
Adoption of Posted Workers Directive (likely "A" point)
Council Recommendation on the Balanced Participation of Men and Women in Decision-making (likely "A" point)
150WAEssen follow up: interim report on employment for Florence European Council
Follow up to Peking UN Conference on Women
Draft Decision on a European Year against Racism (1997)
Draft Resolution on the Transparency of Training Certificates (possible item)
Orientation debate on the Commission Communication on Information and Consultation (possible item)
Commission report on the demographic situation
Commission information on the state of play on the two Social Protocol dossiers: Burden of Proof; and Part-time, Fixed-time and Temporary Work
AOB:
Presidency information on the French Memorandum for a European Social Model
Joint lunchtime discussion with ECOFIN Ministers about the employment situation
4th/5th June: Justice and Home Affairs Council
Draft External Frontiers Convention: progress report
Draft Recommendation on combatting illegal employment of third country nationals
Eurodac: progress report
Europol Drugs Unit: report on 1995 budget, draft 1997 budget, computer system
Terrorism: draft joint action on directory of competences, threat assessment report, statistics of racist offences
International Law Enforcement Academy
Relations with third countries
Crime prevention: results of Stockholm seminar
Draft Resolution on priorities for cooperation 1996–1998
Financing of Title VI
ECJ jurisdiction in Europol and other Third Pillar Conventions
Draft Extradition Convention
Fraud: draft Corruption Convention and Second Protocol to Convention on protection of Community's financial interests
Draft Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters: progress report
Draft Convention on service of documents
Common Position on draft Hague Convention on Protection of Minors
Accession of new Members States to Brussels (and Rome) Convention(s)
10th/11th June: Fisheries Council
Adoption of the agenda
Approval of the list of "A" points (possible item)
Proposal for a Council regulation laying down for 1996 certain conservation and management 151WA measures for fishery resources in the technical area of the convention as defined in the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North East Atlantic Fisheries (allocation of the NEAFC Redfish quota)*
Proposal for a Council regulation amending for the second time regulation (EC) No. 3090/95 laying down for 1996 certain conservation and management measures for the fishery resources in the regulatory area as defined in the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North West Atlantic Fisheries (allocation of the NAFO 3M Redfish quota)*
Proposal for a council regulation amending regulation (EC) No. 3074/95 fixing, for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, the total allowable catches for 1996 and certain conditions under which they may be fished (Sprat Fishery in the Skagerrak and Kattegat)*
European Fisheries Research: further discussions
Proposal for a Council regulation on technical measures for the conservation of fishery resources: Presentation by the Commission Multiannual Guidance Programmes 1997–99: Communication from the Commission
Communication on the organisation of the second conference on the management of fishery resources in the Mediterranean (Venice, November 1996)
Communication from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on small-scale coastal fishing (Budget heading B2-521)
Proposals for the conclusion of fisheries agreements with:
Estonia
Latvia
Lithuania
(possible items)
FAO: proposal for a Council decision on accession of the European Community to the agreement to promote compliance with international conservation and management measures by fishing vessels on the high seas* (possible item)
Proposal for a Council decision on the signature of the agreement for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations
Convention on the law of the Sea of 10th December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling stocks and highly migratory fish stocks* (possible item)
Report from the Commission on the establishment of a system for monitoring community fishing vessels by satellite: presentation by the Commission (possible item)
Proposal for a Council regulation amending regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy: presentation by the Commission (possible item)
152WAProposal for a Council regulation amending for the 4th time regulation (EEC) No. 3699/93 laying down the criteria and arrangements regarding community structural assistance in the fisheries and aquaculture sector and the processing and marketing of its products (possible item)
Commission report on the activities of third countries in Community waters
Adoption in the languages of the Community of:
a Council regulation amending Council regulation (EC) No. 3078/95 allocating, for 1996, certain catch quotas between Member States for vessels fishing in Faroese waters*
a Council regulation amending Council regulation (EC) No. 3077/95 laying down, for 1996, certain measures for the conservation and management of fishery resources applicable to vessels flying the flag of the Faroe Islands*
adoption in the official languages of the community of a council regulation amending council regulation (EC) No. 3090/95 laying down, for 1996, certain conservation and management measures for fishery resources in the regulatory area as defined in the convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the North-West Atlantic Fisheries*
AOB:
situation on the salmon market (requested by the Irish delegation)
organisation of future work
*denotes items on which a vote may be taken
10th/11th June: General Affairs Council
Provisional agenda is as follows:
Mediterranean Policy:
follow-up to Barcelona
decision to conclude Euro-Med Association Agreements
MEDA Regulation
Relations with Syria: common position for Cooperation Council (likely "A" Point)
Preparation of Florence European Council
EEA: common position for EEA Council (likely "A" Point)
Relations with Chile (likely "A" Point)
Preparation of EU/Turkey Association Council (possible item)
Former Yugoslavia
Agricultural GSP (possible item)
Commercial Questions
Maritime transport
Commission Communication on Market Access (preparation for Singapore)
153WANiger
EU/Africa Summit
Relations with Canada
Middle East Peace Process
Relations with US
KEDO (possible item)
New Council building
11th June: Culture/Audiovisual Council
Approval of the draft agenda
Approval of the list of "A" points
Proposal for a directive modifying Directive 89/552/EEC of 3rd October 1989 "Television without Frontiers": draft common position
Proposal for a Council decision setting up a European Guarantee Fund to encourage cinema and television production: state of work
Preparation of joint work between the Council and the PECO countries
Proposal for a Council decision establishing an action programme in the field of cultural heritage (RAPHAEL): draft common position
Cultural goods: proposal for a Council Regulation modifying the annex of Council Regulation No. 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods, and proposal for a EP/Council Directive modifying the annex of Directive 93/7/CEE on the return of cultural goods unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State
Access to culture for all: draft Resolution
Electronic publishing and libraries: draft Resolution
First report of the Commission on the consideration of cultural aspects in European Community action: general debate
AOB:
prize for politically persecuted authors (Austrian delegation)
encouragement of access of the young to culture: lowering of VAT on records, CDs and tapes (French delegation)
17th/18th June: Transport Council
Trans European Network Transport Guidelines (possible item)
Aviation relations with the US: adoption of mandate
Negotiations with Switzerland on air and land transport: Commission report
Negotiations with EUROCONTROL and ESA on global satellite navigation: adoption of mandate
Commission White Paper on air traffic management: debate
Proposed amendment to driving licences directive: harmonisation of codes: political agreement on common position
154WAProposed directive on summertime: political agreement on common position
Commission Green Paper on fair and efficient pricing in transport: debate
Commission Green Paper on the Citizen's Network: debate
Commission document on maritime strategy: debate
Proposed Directive on safety rules for passenger ships: political agreement on common position
21st/22nd June: European Council
Agenda not yet available
24th/25th June: Agriculture Council
Reform of the fruit and vegetable regime
Price fixing
Bananas (possible item)
Set-aside rates for 1997–98 (possible item)
Amending Directive 64/432 on intra-community trade in bovine animals and swine
Plant health: solidarity and responsibility (possible item)
Veterinary and fish fees
Italian memorandum on the Single Market in veterinary matters
BSE (possible item)
25th/26th June: Environment Council
Biocides: adoption of a common position
Emissions from off-road vehicles: adoption of a common position
5th action programme: orientation debate
Climate change: conclusions
Convention on Biological Diversity: state of play
Biosafety Protocol: conclusions
Water policy: debate
Auto-oil programme proposals: presentation
Leghold traps (mandate): adoption (if not already done)
Leghold traps: debate
CO2 emissions: conclusions
Genetically modified organisms (revision of 90/219): state of play
Zoos: debate
Trade/Environment (at lunch)
Mandates if necessary
2nd reading (landfill/air quality/PCB/IPPC/ Vans/Loo "CE"/LIFE)
Transfer of waste to non-OECD countries: state of play
AOB:
Structured dialogue (Cyprus/Malta): information by the Presidency
155WA26th June: Research Council (to be confirmed)
Proposals for decisions adapting the 4th RTD Framework Programme (EC) and the EURATOM Research Framework Programme (1994–98): financial supplement
Green Paper on Innovation: information from the Commission S/T cooperation with Mediterranean third countries: information from the Presidency
S/T cooperation agreement with USA: adoption of negotiating mandate (possible "A" point)
Decision modifying the specific programme on RTD cooperation with third countries and international organisations (INTAS) (possible "A" point)
Supplementary Research Programme on the High Flux Reactor (HFR) (possible "A" point)
27th June: Telecommunications Council
Directive on a common framework for general authorisations and individual licences in the field of telecommunications services: common position
Directive on common rules for the development of Community postal services and the improvement of quality of service: common position
Directive on the processing of personal data and protection of personal privacy in the telecommunications sector, in particular ISDN and digital mobile networks: common position
Directive amending ONP Directives 90/387 and 92/44 to adapt them to a competitive environment in telecommunications: common position (possible item)
Decision on the adoption of a multi-annual programme to promote linguistic diversity in the information society: decision (possible item) Council Resolution on the development of universal service for telecommunications in the EU.