§ Lord Monkswellasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for February and list major European Union events for February.
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean:Monthly forecast of business for February 1998
The following Councils are scheduled:
Date Location February 12 Brussels Research Council February 16 Brussels Ecofin Council February 16–17 Brussels Agriculture Council February 23–24 Brussels General Affairs Council February 26 Brussels Telecom Council The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
February 12: Research Council
Proposal for an EP and Council decision on the Fifth Framework Programme of the EC for research, technological development and demonstration and demonstration activities (1998–2002): Common position.
Proposal for a Council decision on the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for research and training activities (1998–2002): Political agreement.
Article 130j decision—rules of participation: Exchange of views (possible item).
Divers—Working document on the specific programmes: Progress report by the Commission (possible item).
A points.
February 16: Ecofin Council
Agenda not yet available.
February 16–17: Agriculture Council
Organisation for Economic Coordination and Development Agriculture Ministerial: EU Coordination.
Reform of the tobacco regime: Commission presentation.
Reform of the olive oil regime: Commission presentation.
Operation of ewe premium: Report.
Agrimony developments 1996–97: Report.
Laying hens in battery cages (possible item).
Veterinary equivalence agreements (possible item).
February 23–24: General Affairs Council
Enlargement.
Lomé: Orientation discussion.
Estonia: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).
Latvia: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).
95WALithuania: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).
EU/Malta: Commission Communication on future relations (possible item).
EU/Russia Summit: Information point.
ASEM II: Progress Report following senior officials meeting.
Western Balkans.
Middle East Peace Process.
Cyprus (possible item).
Belarus (possible item).
Generalised System of Preferences: Extension of Lome trade terms to Non-ACP Least Developed Countries.
Generalised System of Preferences: Social/ environmental incentive clause (possible A point).
Third Country meetings in margins: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia Association Councils.
February 26: Telecom Council
Commission Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on an International Charter for Global Commmunications: Debate and (possible) Conclusions.
Green paper on the implications for the regulatory framework of convergence between telecommunications, audiovisual and information technology: Open debate.
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on connected telecommunications equipment and the mutual recognition of the conformity of equipment: (possible) Common Position.
Commission Communication on the implementation of telecommunications legislation: Presentation (possible item).
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on universal mobile telecommunications system: Presentation (possible item).
Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on digital signatures and security of communications: Presentation (possible item).
Commission Communication on the century date change problem: Presentation (possible item).
European Calendar: February-July 1998
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.
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Date Location Event February 1998 3 Brussels Political Committee 9–11 Costa Rica EU/San José Group 11–12 Brussels Select Committee on Trade & Industry visit 12 Brussels Research Council 12–13 Panama EU/Rio Group 12–13 London Political Committee 13–15 Cambridge Internal Market (Informal)
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Date Location Event 16 Brussels Ecofin Council 16–17 Brussels Agriculture Council 16–20 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 23–24 Brussels General Affairs Council 26 Brussels Telecom Council March 1998 3 Brussels Political Committee 9 Brussels Ecofin Council (t.b.c.) 9–10 Manchester UK Presidency Conference 9–13 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 12–13 London Joint Social&Education (Informal) 14–15 Edinburgh Foreign Ministers' Informal 15–17 Macclesfield Seminar for Cultural and Audiovisual Ministers 16–17 Brussels Agriculture Council 17 Brussels Transport Council 19 Brussels Political Committee 19 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council 20–22 York Ecofin Informal 23 Brussels Environment Council 24 Brussels Fisheries Council 30 Brussels Internal Market Council 30–31 Brussels General Affairs Council 30–31 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 31–1 April Moscow GB Energy Ministerial April 1998 1–3 Strasbourg European Parliamentary Plenary 2–4 London ASEM II 6 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council 6–8 Birmingham Audiovisual Conference 7 Brussels Political Committee 16 Brussels Political Committee 20–21 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 21 Luxembourg Ecofin Council 23 Luxembourg Consumer Affairs Council 24–26 Chester Environment&Transport (Informal) 27–28 Luxembourg General Affairs Council 29–30 Brussels European Parliament 30 Luxembourg Health Council May 1998 1–3 Brussels Ecofin & Special EMU Council 5 Brussels Political Committee (t.b.c.) 7 Brussels Industry Council 10–12 Newcastle Agriculture (Informal) 11 Brussels Energy Council 11 Brussels Euro-Med Energy Ministerial 12 Brussels Political Committee 11–15 Strasbourg European Parliamentary Plenary 14 London EU/Canada 14–16 London Conference on Culture and Employment 15–17 Birmingham G7/8 Summit 18 London EU/US Summit 18 Brussels Development Council 18 Brussels Internal Market 19 Brussels Telecommunication Council 25–26 Brussels General Affairs Council 25–26 Brussels Agriculture Council 27–28 Brussels European Parliament Plenary 28 Brussels Culture and Audiovisual Council 28–29 Brussels Justice&Home Affairs Council June 1998 2 Luxembourg Political Committee 4 Luxembourg Education&Social Affairs Council
Date Location Event 8 Luxembourg Fisheries Council 8–9 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (t.b.c.) 15–16 Cardiff European Council 15–19 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary 16–17 Luxembourg Environment Council 17 Luxembourg Joint Environment&Transport Council 18 Luxembourg Transport Council 22 Luxembourg Research Council 22–23 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 29–30 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (t.b.c.) July 1998 6 Brussels Ecofin Council 6–7 Luxembourg Political Committee 8–10 Luxembourg Employment/Social Affairs/Women (Informal) 13 Luxembourg Political Committee 13–14 Luxembourg General Affairs Council 17–19 Luxembourg Environment Council (Informal) 20–21 Luxembourg Agriculture Council 23 Luxembourg Political Committee 27 Luxembourg Budget Council