HL Deb 02 February 1999 vol 596 cc196-9WA
Baroness Pitkeathley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for February; and list the major European Union events for the next six months. [HL829]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

See below.

Monthly forecast of business: February 1999
Date Location Event
February 1999
4–6 Bonn Ministers for Labour & Social Affairs (Informal)
8 Brussels ECOFIN
8–9 Dakar EU/ACP Ministerial
8–12 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
11–12 Berlin Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)
22 Brussels Political Committee
22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council
22–23 Brussels Agriculture Council
24–25 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
25 Brussels Internal Market
26 Petersberg Informal meeting of Heads of State and Government

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

February 4–6: Ministers for Labour/Social Affairs (Informal)

  • No formal agenda

February 8: ECOFIN

  • Stability and growth pact: examination of stability and convergence programmes
  • Economic situation and policy in the Community (Policy debate on macro-economic and structural policy issues)

Agenda 2000

  • Financial framework
  • Inter-institutional agreement
  • Report on own resources

February 8–9: EU/ACP Ministerial

  • Ministerial negotiations on the Lomé convention

February 8–12: European Parliament Plenary

  • No agenda yet available

February 11–12: Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)

  • No formal agenda

February 22–23: General Affairs Council

  • Agenda 2000
  • Enlargement
  • Amsterdam treaty
  • Report from the Council General Secretariat on the Council's operating procedure in the light of an enlarged Union

Slovenia

  • preparation of the 1st Association Council (possible "A" item)

Latvia

  • preparation of the 1st Association Council (possible "A" point)

Lithuania

  • preparation of the 1st Association Council (possible "A" point)

Human rights

Western Balkans

EU-Pakistan

  • Co-operation agreement (possible "A" item)

Middle East Peace process

Great Lakes

February 22–23: Agriculture Council

  • No agenda yet available

February 24–25: European Parliament Plenary

  • No agenda yet available

February 25: Internal Market Council

  • No agenda yet available

February 26: Informal meeting of Heads of State and Government

  • No formal agenda expected but likely to focus on Agenda 2000.

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 at the date of issue.

European Calendar: February-July 1999
Date Location Event
February 1999
4–6 Bonn Ministers for Labour & Social Affairs (Informal)
8 Brussels ECOFIN
8–9 Dakar EU/ACP Ministerial
8–12 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
11–12 Berlin Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)
22 Brussels Political Committee
22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council
22–23 Brussels Agriculture Council
24–25 Brussels European Parliament Plenary
25 Brussels Internal Market
26 Petersberg Informal Meeting of Heads of State and Government
March 1999
2 Brussels Youth Council (possible)
8–12 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary
9 Brussels Social Affairs Council
11–12 Brussels Environment Council
12 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council
13–14 Reinhartshausen Foreign Ministers (Informal)
15 Brussels ECOFIN
15–16 Brussels Agriculture Council
18 Brussels Education Council (possible)
22 Brussels Political Committee
22–23 Brussels General Affairs Council

European Calendar: February-July 1999
Date Location Event
24–25 Berlin Special European Council
29 Brussels Transport Council
29–30 Berlin Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers
30 Brussels Fisheries Council
April 1999
13 Luxembourg Consumer Affairs Council
15–16 Stuttgart Euro-Med Foreign Ministers Conference "Barcelona III"
16–18 Dresden ECOFIN (Informal)
19–20 Luxembourg Agricultural Council
22 Luxembourg Telecommunications Council
23–25 Mecklenburg Environment Ministers (Informal)
24–25 Luxembourg NATO Summit
26–27 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
29 Luxembourg Industry Council
May 1999
6 Brussels EU-ACP Ministerial meeting
7–9 Brussels Environment Council (Informal)
10 Brussels ECOFIN
10 Bremen WEU Council
10–11 Berlin Trade Ministers (Informal)
11 Brussels Energy Council
17–18 Brussels General Affairs Council
17–18 Brussels Agriculture Council
18 Brussels EEA Council
18 Brussels Co-Operation Council with Russia
18–19 Weimar Culture Ministers (Informal)
20 Brussels Research Council
21 Brussels Development Council
25 Brussels Joint ECOFIN and Labour & Social Affairs Council
25 Brussels Social Affairs Council
27 Brussels Youth Council
27–28 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs Council
31 Brussels General Affairs Council
30 May-1 June Dresden Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
June 1999
1 Dresden Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
3–4 Cologne European Council
7 Luxembourg Education Council
8 Luxembourg Health Council
10 Luxembourg Fisheries Council
14 Luxembourg ECOFIN (possible)
14–15 Luxembourg Agriculture Council
17 Bonn EU-Japan Summit
17–18 Luxembourg Transport Council
18–20 Cologne G8
21 Luxembourg Internal Market
21 Bonn EU-USA/Canada Summit
21–22 Luxembourg General Affairs Council
22 Luxembourg Labour & Social Affairs Council (possible)
24–25 Luxembourg Environment Council
28 Luxembourg Culture Council
July 1999
2–3 Oulu Industry and Research Ministers (Informal)
9–10 Oulu Labour/Social Affairs Ministers (Informal)
12 Brussels ECOFIN
16 Brussels Budget
16–18 Helsinki Environment Ministers (Informal)
18–20 Savonlinna Culture/Audiovisual Ministers (Informal)
19–20 Brussels Agriculture