European Union (Business) (Hansard, 30 January 1997)

§ Mr. David Davis

The information is as follows:

Monthly forecast of business for February 1997

The following Councils are scheduled:

February 1–2: Industry Council (Informal)
February 5–6: Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
February 17: Ecofin Council
February 17–18: Agriculture Council
February 24–25: General Affairs Council
February 28: Development Aid Council (Informal)

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

February 1–2: Industry Council (informal)

There is no formal agenda.

February 5–6: Justice and Home Affairs Council (informal)

There is no formal agenda.

February 17: Ecofin Council

Draft Directive on taxation of energy products.
Consideration of Belgian convergence programme (possible item).
EU Balance of Payments lending to FYROM and the Ukraine (possible item).
Annual Community Economic report (possible item).
Solvency ratio Directive for credit institutions - expanded matrix (possible item).

February 17–18: Agriculture Council

Beef labelling/Cattle identification.
Presentation of Commission's proposal on olive oil (possible item).
Arable penalties (possible items).
Duram wheat (possible item).
Geographical designations (possible item).
Protection of forests against fires and atmospheric pollution (possible item).
Presentation of Commission's proposals on agricultural price fixing (possible item).
Progress report on veterinary and phytosanitary equivalence agreements and possible adoption of the agreement with the Czech Republic.
BSE (possible item).

February 24–25; General Affairs Council.

First Draft Agenda—likely to change.
Belarus.
Ex-Yugoslavia.
Middle East Peace Process.
Great Lakes Region.
Relations with South Africa.
European Obsrvatory on Racism and Xenophobia.
Mediterranean Policy:

Egypt
Libya
Palestinian Authority.

Yemen
Relations with Mexico.
Relations with Australia.
Transatlantic Relations.
Relations with Turkmenistan.
Burma/Myanmar.
Laos/Cambodia.
13th San Jose Ministerial Conference.
Association Council with Slovakia.
Association Council with Bulgaria.
Association Council with Cyprus.

February 28; Development Aid Council (informal)

There is no formal agenda.

European calendar: February—July 1997
	Venue	Event
February 1997
1–2	The Hague	Industry Council (Informal)
5–6	Noordwijk	Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
6	Brussels	Political Committee and meeting with CEEs Council (Informal)
17	Brussels	Political Committee and Troika meeting with OAU
17	Brussels	Ecofin Council
17–18	Brussels	Agriculture Council
17–21	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
24–25	Brussels	General Affairs Council (and IGC Ministerial)
28	Amsterdam	Development Aid Council (Informal)
March 1997
1–2	Amsterdam	Development Aid Council (Informal)
1–3	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)

322W

European calendar: February-July 1997
	Venue	Event
17	Brussels	Ecofin Council
17–19	Brussels	Agriculture Council
24–25	Brussels	General Affairs Council (and IGC Ministerial)
April 1997
^*4–6	Noordwijk	Ecofin Council (Informal)
^*6–8	Maastricht	Informal meeting of Cultural Affairs Ministers
^*7–10	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
^*9–11	The Hague	Ministerial Conference on Social Integration
10	Brussels	Political Committee
10	Luxembourg	Consumer Council
14–15	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
17	Luxembourg	Social Affairs Council
18–19	Maastricht	Post-Lomé Ministerial meeting
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	ACP/EU Ministerial Conference
24–25	The Hague	International Conference on Innovative Research, and Appropriate Health Care for the People of Europe
24–26	The Hague	Ministerial Conference on Trafficking in Women
25	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
29–30	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council and IGC Ministerial)
May 1997
^*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	Domburg	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 (and ICG Ministerial)
5	Luxembourg	Health Council
5	Luxembourg	Development Council
^*5–6	The Hague	K4 Committee
9	Luxembourg	Ecofin Council
9–10	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
9–13	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
10	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council (tbc)
12	Luxembourg	Social Affairs Council
16–17	Amsterdam	European Council
17–18	Luxembourg	Transport Council
19	Brussels	Political Committee
^*20–22	Denver	G7
^*23	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
23–24	Luxembourg	Environment Council
25–26	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
26	Luxembourg	Education Council

323W

European calendar: February-July 1997
	Venue	Event
30	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
30	Luxembourg	Culture Council
July 1997
1		Luxembourg Presidency begins
^*7	Brussels	Ecofin Council
^*12–13	?	Labour and Social Affairs Council (Informal)
^*14–18	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
^*22	Brussels	Agriculture Council
^*22–23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
^*24	Brussels	Budget Council
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.