European Council

HC Deb 25 February 1999 vol 326 cc440-5W

Mr. Savidge

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March; and if he will list the major European Union events for the next six months. [73879]

Ms Quin

I refer my hon. Friend to the table.

Monthly forecast of business
March 1999	Venue	Event
4	Brussels	Political committee
8–12	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
9	Brussels	Social Affairs Council
11–12	Brussels	Environment Council
12	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs Council
13–14	Reinhartshausen	Foreign Ministers (Informal)
15	Brussels	ECOFIN
15–16	Brussels	Agriculture Council
22	Brussels	Political Committee
22–23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
24–25	Berlin	Special European Council
26	Brussels	K4 Committee
22–23	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
29	Brussels	Transport Council
29–30	Berlin	Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers
30	Brussels	Fisheries Council
The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
4	Brussels	Political Committee No agenda yet available
8–12	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary No agenda yet available

9 March—Brussels—Social Affairs Council Dialogue with acceding countries on social issues Directive on employee involvement in the Societe European Political agreement Decision on the Standing Committee on Employment Adoption Code of Conduct on cooperation between authorities in the case of transnational hiring-out of workers and combating benefit fraud and illegal work Adoption of Resolution Proposal for Directives on the organisation of working time Progress report from the Presidency 11–12 March—Brussels—Environment Council Proposal for a Council Directive on end-of-life vehicles Common position Amended proposal for a Council Directive establishing a framework for Community action in the field of auto policy Common position Community strategy on climate change Council conclusions Preparation of the 7th session of the Commission on Sustainable development (CSD) (19–30 April 1999) Council conclusions Proposal for a Council regulation allowing voluntary participation by organisations in a community eco-management and audit system Policy debate Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 88/609/EEC Policy debate Incineration Directives Policy debate Commission report on progress in accession negotiations in the environment sector Commission report 12 March—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council (possible) Adoption of the agenda Europol, pension fund Europol activities report 1998 Europol: draft Council act adopting the rules governing the transmission of personal data by Europol to 3rd states and 3rd bodies Europol: draft decision of the Council instructing Europol to deal with forgery of money and means of payments Europol: preparation of the taking-up of activities EURODAC: draft Council act drawing up a protocol extending the scope ratione personae of the Convention concerning the establishment of "EURODAC" for the comparison of fingerprints of applicants for asylum Drugs: decision on MBDB Joint position on the EU-Convention on organised crime Draft explanatory report on the Second Protocol to the Convention on the protection of the European Communities financial interests Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters Questions relating to the transition from the Maastricht to the Amsterdam treaty with regard to conventions Revision of the Conventions of Brussels and Lugano Information on some ongoing activities in the field of internal market and consumer protection Preparation of the meeting with CEEC's and Cyprus Definition and integration of the Schengen Aquis (information by the Presidency) Any other business 13–14 March—Reinhartshausen Foreign Ministers (Informal) No formal Agenda 15 March—Brussels-ECOFIN AGENDA 2000 Financial Framework Institutional agreement Report on own resources (poss.) Stability and Growth pack: Examination of stability ad convergence programmes Report of the European Court of Auditors for the financial year 1997 Presentation of report Recommendation on discharge and statement of assurance Follow up to Vienna European Council Duty Free Sales (poss.) Taxes Taxation of interest income Interim report on the discussions with third countries Energy Taxation Progress report (poss.) Euro 11 Multilateral monitoring and coordination of economic policy 15–16 March—Brussels—Agricultural Council No agenda yet available 22 March—Brussels—Political Committee 22–23 March—Brussels—General Affairs Council AGENDA 2000: Preparation of Special European Council (24 and 25 March, Brussels) (poss.) Enlargement Common Strategies Mediterranean Policy Situation/Prospect of TEP negotiations EU-Latin America Summit Progress of preparations EU-ASEAN relations Preparation of meeting Foreign Ministers (25 March) ASEM Preparation of meeting of Foreign Ministers (30 March) Western Balkans European security and defence policy 24–25 March—Berlin—Special European Council Agenda not yet available 24–25 March—Brussels—European Parliament Plenary Agenda not yet available 29 March—Brussels—Transport Council Land Transport Proposals for Council Directive amendments: Policy debate Proposal for the amendment of: Directive 92/106/EEC and 96/53 Political agreement Communication on the organisation of working time in the sectors and activities excluded from Directive 93/104/EC Policy debate Commission report on the use of buses and coaches of up to 15 metres in length Council conclusions Possible agreement on the transits lorries through Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria Political agreement on the draft text Air Transport Mandate for the revision of the Warsaw convention on uniform rules on the transport of cargo in international air transport Agreement on the granting of the mandate to the Commission Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation 295/91 Adoption of the common position Commission report on air transport and environment Debate All Transport Modes Report on a proposal for the amendment of Decision I692/96/EC Debate Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) Commission proposal expected at the beginning of 1999—Debate Negotiations between the EC and Switzerland on land and air transport Conclusion of the agreement Political agreement on the implementation of the agreement 29–30 March—Berlin—Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers Agenda not yet available

March-August 1999	Venue	Event
March 1999
4	Brussels	Political Committee
8–12	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
9	Brussels	Social Affairs Council
11–12	Brussels	Environment Council
12	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs Council
13–14	Reinhartshausen	Foreign Ministers (Informal)
15	Brussels	ECOFIN
15–16	Brussels	Agriculture Council
22	Brussels	Political Committee
22–23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
22–23	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
24–25	Berlin	Special European Council
26	Brussels	K4 Committee
29	Brussels	Transport Council
29–30	Berlin	Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers
30	Brussels	Fisheries Council
April 1999
8	Brussels	Political Committee
12–16	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
13	Luxembourg	Consumer Affairs Council
15–16	Stuttgart	Euro-Med Foreign Ministers Conference "Barcelona III"
16-18	Dresden	ECOFIN (Informal)
19–20	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
20	Brussels	Political Committee
22	Luxembourg	Telecommunications Council
23–25	Mecklenburg	Environment Ministers (Informal) (TBC)
24–25	Luxembourg	NATO Summit
26	Luxembourg	Political Committee
26–27	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
29	Luxembourg	Industry Council
29–30	Brussels	K4 Committee
May 1999
3–7	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
6–7	Berlin	Political Committee
6	Brussels	EU-ACP Ministerial meeting
7–9	Mecklenburg	Environment Ministers (Informal) (TBC)
10	Brussels	ECOFIN
10	Bremen	WEU Council
10–11	Berlin	Trade Ministers (Informal)
11	Brussels	Energy Council
17	Brussels	K4 Committee
17	Brussels	Political Committee
17–18	Brussels	General Affairs Council
17–18	Brussels	Agriculture Council

30 March—Brussels—Fisheries Council Proposal for Council regulation laying down the detailed rules and arrangements regarding community structural assistance in the fisheries sector Policy debate Proposal for a Council regulation establishing a list of serious infringements in the context of the control system (Regulation (EEC) 2847/93) applicable to the common fishery policy Policy debate Proposals to amend Council regulation (EC) 850/96 Final adoptionl Proposals opening and providing for the administration of autonomous community tariff quotas for certain fisheries products Final adoptionl Proposal for a Council Regulation on the collection of basic fisheries data Presentation by the Commission and initial debate European Calendar: March-August 1999 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.

March-August 1999	Venue	Event
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 and Social Affairs Council
25	Brussels	Social Affairs Council
25	Brussels	Political Committee
27	Brussels	Youth Council
27–28	Brussels	Justice and 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	Brussels	Political Committee
10	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
10–13		European Parliament Elections
14	Luxembourg	ECOFIN (possible)
14–15	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
14–15	Brussels	K4 Committee
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 and Social Affairs Council (possible)
24–25	Luxembourg	Environment Council
25–29	Rio de Janeiro	EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit
28	Luxembourg	Culture Council
29	Brussels	Political Committee (possible)
July 1999
2–3	Oulu	Industry and Research Ministers (Informal)
6–7	Savonlinna	Culture Ministers
8	Hameenlinna	Political Committee
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	Brussels	Political Committee
19–20	Brussels	General Affairs Council
20–23	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
22–23	Helsinki	K4 Committee
August 1999
No Council Business