European Union: Forthcoming Business (Hansard, 2 December 1999)

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Barones Scotland of Asthal)

Monthly Forecast of EU Business: December 1999

29 November—3 December—Seattle WTO Ministerial Conference

No formal agenda

1–2 December—Brussels—European Parliament Plenary

Consultation Procedure

—(poss.) Proposal for a Council regulation regarding the implementation of measures to intensify the EC-Turkey Customs Union

—(poss.) Council Act establishing the Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters between the Member States of the European Union

—Proposal for a Council decision concerning the approval, on behalf of the Community, of the amendments to the Annexes to the Convention on the protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention)

—(poss.) Proposal for a Council Directive on the marketing of forest reproductive material

—(poss.) Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 2201/96 on the common organisation of the markets in processed fruit and vegetable products

—(poss.) Proposal for a Council regulation on the common organisation of the markets in fishery and aquaculture products

—Proposal for a Council regulation amending for the third time Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 of 30 March 1998 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms

—Proposal for a Council regulation amending Regulation (EC) No. 2596/97 extending the period provided for in Article 149(1) of the Act of Accession of Austria, Finland and Sweden

Codecision Procedure

First reading

—(poss.) Proposal for a European Parliament and Council regulation regarding the implementation of measures to promote economic and social development in Turkey

—(poss.) Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air

Codecision Procedure

Second Reading

—(poss.) Common position adopted by the Council with a view to adopting a European Parliament and Council decision establishing a scheme to monitor the average specific emissions of CO₂ from new passsenger cars

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Codecision Procedure

Third reading

—(poss.) Joint text approved by the Conciliation Committee for a European Parliament and Council Directive on minimum requirements for improving the safety and health protection of workers potentially at risk from explosive atmospheres

2 December—Brussels—Energy Council

1. Adoption of the provisional agenda
2. (poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items
3. Strategy for integrating environmental aspects and sustainable development into energy policy

—Report to the Helsinki European Council

4. Directive 96/92/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in electricity: State of implementation and harmonisation requirements

—Information from the Commission and adoption of Council Conclusions

5. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on energy efficiency requirements for ballast for fluorescent lighting

—Orientation debate

doc. 9564/99 ENER 81 ENV 242 CODEC 373

6. Communication from the Commission: Strengthening the Northern dimension of European energy policy

—Presentation by the Commission and adoption of Council Conclusions

doc. 12805/99 ENER 123 RELEX 44

7. Access for electricity from renewables to the internal electricity market

—Information from the Commission

8. Directive 98/30/EC concerning common rules for the internal market in natural gas: Harmonisation report

—Presentation by the Commission

9. Communication from the Commission on security of EU gas supply

—Presentation by the Commission

doc. 12896/99 ENER 124

10. Energy Charter Treaty

—Progress report

—(poss.) Adoption of Negotiating Directives on an Agreement on Transit (Item on which a vote may be requested)

11. Any Other Business

(a) Millennium bug

—Information from the Commission

(b) Community energy efficiency action plan

—Information from the Commission

Possible "A" Items

1. European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency—SAVE programme

—Adoption

57WA

2. European Parliament and Council Decision adopting a multiannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources in the Community—ALTENER programme

—Adoption

2 December—Brissels—Research Council

1. Adoption of the agenda
2. (poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items
3. Implementation of the 4th and 5th research Framework Programmes

(a) Overview of the 4th Framework Programme
(b) Outcome of the initial calls for proposals under the 5th Framework Programme
(c) Participation of the applicant CCEE and Cyprus in the 5th Framework Programme

—Commission reports and exchange of views

4. Preparation for future research Framework Programmes

(a) Information from the Commission
(b) Information from the Presidency
(c) Exchange of views
(d) Approval of the Council conclusions 12370/99 RECH 105 ATO 102 + COR 1 (d)

5. European space strategy

—adoption of a Council Resolution 9125/99 RECH 80 ECO 226 TRANS 144

6. Waste management and decommissioning of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) installation

—approval of Council conclusions 11269/99 RECH 98 ATO 93

+ COR 1 (fi)

+ COR 2 (s)

7. Additional research programme for the high-flux reactor (HFR) at Petten (2000–03)

8. Other business

—ASEM Ministerial Conference, 14 and 15 October 1999: information from the Presidency and the Commission

Possible "A" Items

—Adoption of Council Decisions concerning:

—the conclusion of a scientific and technological co-operation agreement with Argentina
—the conclusion of a scientific and technological co-operation agreement with China
—the conclusion of a scientific arid technological co-operation agreement with Russia

2 December—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council

1. Adoption of the agenda
2. Approval of the list of "A" items
3.Tampere follow-up:

—Information on the state of preparation of the "scoreboard"

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4. Draft Convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters between the member states of the European Union

doe. 13451/99 COPEN 60

5. Draft Framework Decision on increasing protection by penal sanctions against counterfeiting in connection with the introduction of the euro

doe. 13450/99 DROIPEN 21

6. Initiative for a Council Regulation on insolvency proceedings

doe. 13465/99 JUSTCIV 177 MI 120

7. Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Service in the member states of judicial and extra judicial documents in civil or commercial matters

does. 13466/99 JUSTCIV 178 8671/99 JUSTCIV 81

8. Organised crime:

(a) The Prevention and Control of Organised Crime: A European Union Strategy for the beginning of the new Millennium—oral report

1998 EU Organised Crime Situation Report—oral report

9. Eurodac—Regulation on comparison of fingerprints of asylum applicants and certain other aliens

doc. 13408/99 EURODAC 24

10. Draft negotiation mandate on Dublin parallel agreement with Norway and Iceland

—adoption^*

doc. 13407/99 ASILE 42

11. Admission: Commission proposal on family reunification

—Presentation by the Commission

12. Council Decision concerning the UK application to participate in some of the provisions of the Schengen acquis^*

doc. 11177/4/99 SCHENGEN 74 REV 4

13. Europol:

Future activities of Europol after Tampere European Council

—Information from the Presidency

14. Adoption of the decisions discussed in the Mixed Committee at Ministerial level (after the Mixed Committee meeting)^*

15. Proposal for a directive on electronic commerce—criminal law aspects:

—Information by the Swedish delegation doc. 13309/99 JAI 103 MI 119

16. Measures to combat child sex tourism

doc. 12629/99 JEUN 65 TOUR 10 JAI 96

17. Any Other Business

(^* Items on which a vote may be requested)

6–7 December—Brussels—General Affairs Council

—Adoption of the provisional agenda

—Approval of the list of "A" items

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Horizontal Issues

—Resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament at its part-sessions in Brussels on 3–4 November 1999 and Strasbourg on 15–19 November 1999

—Preparation of the Helsinki European Council (10–11 December 1999)

—Overall co-ordination
—Common strategies

—European Security and Defence Policy: Presidency reports on military and non-military aspects of crisis management

—Enlargement
—Presidency report on the Intergovernmental Conference
—An effective Council for an enlarged Union

—Draft Statute for MEPs

—EP electoral procedure

External Relations

—Negotiations for a development partnership agreement with the ACP states

—Financial allocation for the 9th European Development Fund

—Trade co-operation

—Indonesia

—Transatlantic Relations

—Western Balkans

Items Likely to Become "A" Items

—Enlargement

—Adoption of EU common position with a view to the Accession Conferences with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia at Ministerial level on 7 December 1999

—Association with Hungary

—Establishment of the EU position for the 6th Association Council meeting on 7 December 1999

—Association with Poland

—Establishment of the EU position for the 6th Association Council meeting on 7 December 1999

—Association with the Czech Republic

—Establishment of the EU position for the 5th Association Council meeting on 7 December 1999

—Arms destruction: joing action (Russian Strategy)

—TACIS: adoption of new regulation

6–7 December—Brussels—Internal Market Council

—Strategy for the Internal Market

—Presentation by the Commission—Exchange of views

—Joint Work Programme of the Three Presidencies (FIN, P, F)

—Progress report—Exchange of views

—Scoreboard (new version)

—Presentation by the Commission—Exchange of views

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—SLIM Initiative—phase IV

—Presentation by the Commission—Exchange of views

—Mutual recognition of diplomas (SLIM Directive)

—political agreement

—Copyright in the information society—Progress report

—Directive on legal aspects of electronic commerce

—Political agreement

—Resale right—Political agreement

—Take-over bids—Political agreement

—Community Customs Code— Political agreement

—Directive on distance selling of financial services —Political agreement

Parallel imports/Exhaustion of trade mark rights—Oral report

—Public Procurement—Progress report by the Commission

—(poss.) Buses and coaches—Political agreement

—Revision of chemical product policy—Presentation by the Commission

—Follow-up to the Council Resolution on Standardisation

—Vertical Directives on foodstuffs

—Sugars
—Preserved milk
—(poss.) Fruit juices
—Political agreement

—(poss.) Regulation on data protection within EU institutions

—Progress report

—Any Other Business

7 December—Brussels—Accession Conferences with Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia

—No formal agenda

7 December—Brussels—Association Councils with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland

—No agenda yet available

7–8 December—Brussels—3rd EU-ACP Ministerial Conference

—No formal agenda

9–10 December—Luxembourg—Transport Council

1. Adoption of draft agenda
2. Approval of "A" points

Maritime Transport

Short Sea Shipping—Commission Communication —Council Conclusions/Resolution

Horizontal Issues

4. Intermodality and intermodal freight transport

—Commission Communication
—Council conclusions

Land Transport

5. Railways 61WA

(a) Rail infrastructure package ^*—Common position
(b) Rail interoperability—Commission Communication and draft directive

Debate

—Commission presentation and exchange of views

6. Working time in road transport

—Commission report and debate

Air Transport

7. Aviation noise: short and long term problems

—Briefing by Commission and/or (poss.) draft regulation/Debate

8. EASA—Debate

9. (poss.) Agreement with (CEECs)

—Exchange of views/progress report

10. Agreement with Cyprus^*—Adoption of negotiating mandate

11. Air traffic delays—Commission Communication —Commission presentation

12. Galileo—negotiations with US and Russia Commission progress report

13A. Ferry Manning: economic impact of draft directive —Commission working paper—Commission presentation

13B Transport & Environment (TERM)—Commission report on indicators

13C Innovation forum—Commission presentation

13D. Eurocontrol—Community accession —Commission progress report

13E. EU/US dialogue on aviation —Commission information on Chicago Conference

13F. Air transport and the environment—Commission Communication

—Commission presentation

^*Items on which a vote may be requested

10–11 December—Helsinki—European Council —No formal agenda

13 December—Brussels— ECOFIN Council —No agenda yet available

13–14 December—Brussels—Environment Council

Adoption of the agenda
(poss.) Approval of the list of "A" items
Proposal for a Council Recommendation providing for minimum criteria for environmental inspections in the Member States ^*

(Legal basis proposed by the Commission: Art. 175(1)

—Common position

5086/99 ENV 1 PROL-COOP 1

4. Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 88/609/EEC on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from large combustion plants ^*

62WA

(Legal basis proposed by the Commission: Art. 175(1))

—Common position

10916/98 ENV 364 PRO-COOP 144

5. Amended proposal for a Council Directive on assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment ^*

(Legal basis proposed by the Commission: Art. 1754(1))

—Common position

7093/97 ENV 104 PRO-COOP 32

6333/99 ENV 59 PRO-COOP 40

6. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air ^*

(Legal basis proposed by the Commission: Art. 175(1))

—Common position

5518/99 ENV 14 PRO-COOP 10

7. International negotiations concerning the Protocol on biosafety

—Council conclusions

8. Overall assessment of the Fifth Action Programme and environmental sectoral indicators

—Presentation by the Commission and exchange of views

9. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants, and Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council relating to ozone in ambient air

—Progress report

10232/99 ENV 262 CODEC 425

10. The Commission's work programme for 2000 —Briefing by the Commission

11. Community strategy on chemical products Progress report from the Commission

12. Other business

(a) Brominated flame retardants —request by the Danish and Swedish delegations
(b) "Car-free day" event—briefing by the French delegation
(c) (poss.) Situation of the SAVE and ALTENER programmes
—statement by the Spanish delegation

^* Item on which a vote may be requested

13–17 December—Strasbourg—European Parliament Plenary

—No agenda yet available

14–15 December—Brussels—Agriculture Council

—No agenda yet available

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14–16 December-Brussels-Ministerial Conference on Follow-up of Progress on UN Beijing Platform for Action

—No formal agenda

16–17 December—Brussels—Fisheries Council

Adoption of the Agenda
Approval of the list of "A" items

Proposal for a Council Regulation fixing for 2000 the fishing opportunities and associated conditions for certain fish stocks and groups of fish stocks, applicable in Community waters and, for Community vessels, in other waters where limitations in catch are required ^*

Legal basis: Article 8(4) of Reg. (EEC) No. 3760/92 —Adoption

4.(poss.) Morocco: future fisheries relations

—State of play by Commission

5.Proposal for a Council Regulation laying down certain control measures applicable in the area covered by the Convention on Future Multilateral Co-operation in the North-East Atlantic Fisheries ^*

—Legal basis: Article 37 of the Treaty Adoption

Doc. 10074/99 PECHE 144

(poss.) Proposal for a Council Regulation amending for the fifth time Regulation (EC) No. 850/98 for the conservation of fishery resources through technical measures for the protection of juveniles of marine organisms (sandeels)

Any Other Business

—(poss.) Regional meetings
Presentation of the Communication by the Commission
—Organisation of future work

^* Item on which a vote may be requested.

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.

European Calendar: December 1999–May 2000
Date	Location	Event
December 1999
29 November -3 December	Seattle	WTO Ministerial Conference
1–2	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
2	Brussels	Energy Council
2	Brussels	Research Council
2	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs Council
6–7	Brussels	General Affairs Council
6–7	Brussels	Internal Market Council
7	Brussels	Accession Conferences with Cyprus, Hungary. Poland, Estonia, the Czech Republic and Slovenia
7–8	Brussels	Association Councils with the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland
7–8	Brussels	3rd EU-ACP Ministerial Conference
9–10	Luxembourg	Transport Council
10–11	Helsinki	European Council
13	Brussels	ECOFIN Council

64WA

European Calendar: December 1999—May 2000
Date	Location	Event
13–14	Brussels	Environment Council
13–17	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
14–15	Brussels	Agriculture Council
14–16	Brussels	Ministerial Conference on Follow-up of Progress on UN Beijing Platform for Action
16–17	Brussels	Fisheries Council
January 2000
14	Brussels	Fisheries Council (poss.)
17–21	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
18	Brussels	Budget Council (poss.)
24–25	Brussels	General Affairs Council
24–25	Brussels	Agriculture Council
28–29	Lisbon	Development Ministers (Informal)
31	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
February 2000
2–3	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
11–12	Lisbon	Social Affairs Council (Informal)
14–15	Brussels	General Affairs Council
14–18	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
21–22	Brussels	Agriculture Council
21–22	Vilamoura	San Jose Meeting
23–24	Vilamoura	Rio Group Meeting
28	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
March 2000
1–2	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
3–4	Lisbon	Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
13	Brussels	Joint Social Affairs and ECOFIN Council
13–17	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
16	Brussels	Internal Market Council
20–21	Brussels	General Affairs Council
20–21	Brussels	Agriculture Council
23–24	Lisbon	Special European Council
27	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs Council
28	Brussels	Transport Council
29–30	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
30	Brussels	Environment Council
April 2000
3	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
3–4	Cairo	EU-Africa Summit
4	Luxembourg	Social Affairs Council
7–8	Lisbon	ECOFIN Council (Informal)
10–11	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
10–14	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
13	Luxembourg	Consumer Affairs Council
15–16	Oporto	Environment Council (Informal)
17–18	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
May 2000
2	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
2	Brussels	Telecommunications Council
3–4	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
5–7	San Miguel, Azores	Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers
11	Brussels	Health Council
15–16	Brussels	Agriculture Council
15–19	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
16	Brussels	Culture Council
18	Brussels	Industry Council
18	Brussels	Development Council
22–23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
25	Brussels	Internal Market Council
28–30	Evora	Agriculture Council (Informal)
29–30	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs Council
30	Brussels	Energy Council