HC Deb 02 May 1996 vol 276 cc586-9W
Mr. Fabricant

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [28196]

Mr. David Davis

The information is as follows:

SUBJECT: MONTHLY FORECAST OF BUSINESS FOR MAY 1996

1. The following Councils are scheduled:

  • 3 May: Spatial Planning and Regional Development (informal)
  • 4 May: Spatial Planning and Regional Development (informal)
  • 5 May: Agriculture (informal)
  • 6 May: Agriculture (informal)
  • 6 May: Education
  • 7 May: Agriculture (informal)
  • 7 May: Energy
  • 13 May: Foreign Affairs Council
  • 14 May: Foreign Affairs Council
  • 14 May: Health
  • 20 May: Industry
  • 20 May: Agriculture
  • 21 May: Agriculture
  • 23 May: Civil Protection
  • 28 May: Development
  • 28 May: Internal Market
  • 29 May: Telecommunications

2. The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

  • 3–4 MAY: SPATIAL PLANNING AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (INFORMAL)

Agenda not yet available

  • 5–7 MAY: AGRICULTURE COUNCIL (INFORMAL)

Agenda not yet available

  • 6 MAY: EDUCATION COUNCIL
  • 587
  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "A" Points
  • Open debate on White Paper on Education and Training
  • Draft resolution on multimedia software
  • Draft conclusions on synergies between academic recognition and professional recognition of qualifications
  • Commission note on the assessment of the quality of higher education
  • Commission note on the assessment of the quality of school education
  • Commission information on:
  • European Year of Lifelong Learning;
  • Cooperation with Third countries;
  • Progress on green Paper on Obstacles to Mobility'
  • Key education figures (1996 edition)
  • Communication from Greece on setting up a European centre for classical literature
  • 7 MAY: ENERGY COUNCIL
  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • Electricity liberalisation: common position (possible item)
  • Euro-Mediterranean energy cooperation: Council conclusions
  • Commission's Energy Policy White Paper: Council resolution
  • Commission communication on gas supply: Council conclusions
  • SAVE II energy efficiency programme: political agreement (possible item)
  • SYNERGY programme for energy cooperation with third countries: debate
  • Integrated resource planning directive: debate
  • Energy charter treaty: progress report
  • Commission report on civil protection, tourism and energy;
  • Commission presentation
  • Commission report on oil supply: Commission presentation

13–14 MAY: FOREIGN AFFAIRS COUNCIL

  • Agenda not yet available

14 MAY: HEALTH COUNCIL

  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • Adoption of the draft agenda
  • Proposal for a decision adopting a programme of Community action on health monitoring within the framework for action in the field of public health: adoption of a common position
  • Proposal for a decision of the European parliament and of the council creating a network for the epidemiological surveillance and control of communicable diseases in the European Community: orientation debate
  • Creation of an EU/US (EU/United States) action group charged with developing a global early warning system and response network for communicable diseases: information on work to date
  • Proposal for a decision of the EP and the Council adopting a Community programme of Community action on the prevention of drug dependence within the framework for action in the field of public health: second reading, in preparation for concilliation with EP
  • 588
  • Amended proposal for a Council directive on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the member states relating to the advertising of tobacco products: orientation debate
  • BSE and the potential risks for transmission to man: information from the commission and exchange of views.

20 MAY: INDUSTRY COUNCIL

  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • SMEs: draft Council Decision for new multi-annual programme for SMEs: orientation debate
  • Industrial cooperation with third countries, and the Mediterranean Basin in particular: draft Council resolution
  • Automobile industry: Commission report on follow-up on Council resolution of 22 April 1994
  • Competition Policy: 25th annual Commission report on competition policy
  • Steel:
  • State aids—Commission monitoring report
  • Extension of steel state aid code: presentation and exchange of views
  • Commission document on expiry of ECSC treaty in 2002: exchange of views
  • Draft Council regulation on state aid for shipbuilding: exchange of views

20–21 MAY: AGRICULTURAL COUNCIL

  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • Reform of the fruit and vegetable regime
  • Price fixing
  • Bananas (possible item)
  • Wine reform (possible item)
  • Olive oil reform (possible item)
  • Tobacco reform (possible item)
  • Plant health: solidarity and responsibility (possible item)
  • Veterinary and fish fees (possible item)
  • BSE

23 MAY: CIVIL PROTECTION COUNCIL

  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • Community action programme on civil protection
  • Resolution on civil protection research
  • Resolution on cooperation with the CEEs on civil protection

28 MAY: INTERNAL MARKET COUNCIL

  • "A " Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • Sweeteners: common position
  • Traditional foodstuffs: common position
  • Miscellaneous additives: common position
  • Foodstuffs for particular nutritional uses (PARNUTS): common position (possible item)
  • Food irradiation: orientation debate

28 MAY: DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • Links between emergency aid, rehabilitation and reconstruction: debate on priorities for immediate action
  • Conflict prevention: presentation by the Commission
  • Operational co-ordination: Council conclusions
  • Council conclusions on:
  • Environmental impact evaluation
  • Decentralised co-operation
  • Migration and development
  • Counterpart funds
  • Proposals for legal bases for EC development cooperation (i.e. draft EC regulations governing EC aid) (possible item)
  • Other business:
  • Cocoa (requested by Belgium)
  • UN Reform (requested by Sweden)

29 MAY: TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL

  • "A" Points
  • As advised by Council Secretariat
  • "B" Points
  • 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 the quality of service: common position