Council of the European Union: Forthcoming Business (Hansard, 30 March 2001)

§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal

See attached.

To date we have received the detailed agendas for the following Council meetings in April:

4–5—Transport and Telecommunications Council—Luxembourg

1. Adoption of the provisional agenda

2. Approbation of the list of "A" items

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

3. Proposal for a Directive on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services

—Political agreement

4. Proposal for a Directive on access to, and interconnection of, electronic communications networks and associated facilities

—Political agreement

5. Proposal for a Directive on the authorization of electronic communications networks and services

—Political agreement

6. Proposal for a Directive on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services

—Progress report

7. Proposal for a Regulation on the implementation of Internet Top Level Domain "EU"

—Common orientation

8. Proposal for a Directive amending Directive 97/67/EC with regard to further opening to competition of Community postal services

—Information from the Presidency

9. Commission Communication on the introduction of third generation mobile communication (3G) in the European Union: state of play and the way forward

—Presentation by the Commission

10. e Europe Action Plan 2002

(a) Report

—Information from the Commission

(b) Network security

—Information from the Presidency/Commission

HORIZONTAL TRANSPORT ISSUES

11. (poss.) Commission communication on a revised strategy for the common transport policy ("White Paper")

—Presentation by the Commission

12. (poss.) Proposal for amending the decision 1692/96/EC on guidelines for Trans-European Networks for transport (general revision)

—Presentation by the Commission

13. Strategy for integrating environment and sustainable mobility into the transport policy (Cardiff/Helsinki follow-up)

—Council resolution

14. Galileo

—Council resolution

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AIR TRANSPORT

15. Aviation and environment: ICAO regulations for gaseous and noise emissions

—Common approach for the ICAO Assembly

16. Aviation safety: Proposal for a Regulation establishing common rules in the field of civil aviation safety and setting up of a European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA)

—Progress report and policy debate

17. Montreal Convention on air carrier liability

—Decision for conclusion of this Convention by the Community

—Council conclusions on the ratification process of the Convention

—Progress report on the draft regulation (amendment of Reg. 2027/97)

LAND TRANSPORT

18. Proposal for a Regulation on action by member states concerning public service requirements and the award of public service contracts in passenger transport by rail, road and inland waterway

—Progress report and policy debate

19. Proposal for a Regulation on certain rules concerning the control of drivers engaged by road transport operators established in the EU when carrying out with Community vehicles intraCommunity transport operations (third country drivers)

—Common orientation

20. Proposal for a Directive on a transparent system of harmonised rules for driving restrictions on heavy goods vehicles involved in international transport on designated roads (week-end bans)

—Common orientation

21. Proposal for amending Directive 91/671/EEC on compulsory use of safety belts, including compulsory use of type-approved child restraint systems

—Common orientation

22. Commission Recommendation on the maximum permitted blood alcohol level for vehicle drivers

—Council conclusions

23. Proposal for amending Directive 96/53/EC on weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles—15 metre buses

—Common position

SHIPPING

24. Maritime safety—2nd package

—Directive on the establishment of a Community system for the monitoring and control of and information on maritime traffic

—Regulation concerning the creation of a fund for compensation in the case of oil pollution in European waters and the adoption of related measures

—Regulation setting up a European agency for maritime safety

Policy debate

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Other business

8–10—Brussels—General Affairs Council

8–10—Ostersund—Agriculture Council (Informal)

20–22—Malmo—ECOFIN

24–25—Brussels—Agriculture Council

25–26—Brussels—Fisheries Council

26–28—Lund—Internal Market, Consumers and Tourism Council (Informal)

No agendas for the above are available at present.

The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 May and September 2001 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue):

Date	Location	Event
May
5–6	Brussels	Gymnich
7	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
7	Brussels	Employment and Social Council (possible)
14–15	Brussels	General Affairs Council
14–15	Brussels	Industry and Energy Council
22–23	Brussels	Agriculture Council
28–29	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs Council
28	Brussels	Education and Youth Council
30	Brussels	Development Council
31	Brussels	Health Council
June
5	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
5	Brussels	Internal market/Consumer Council
7–8	Brussels	Environment Council
11–12	Brussels	General Affairs Council
11	Brussels	Employment/Social Affairs Council
15–16	Gothenburg	European Council
18	Brussels	Fisheries Council (possible)
19–20	Brussels	Agriculture Council
19	Brussels	ECOFIN Council (possible)
21	Brussels	Culture Council
25–26	Brussels	General Affairs Council
26	Brussels	Research Council
27–28	Brussels	Transport/Telecommunications Council
July
6–7	Brussels	Informal Employment and Social Affairs Council
10	Brussels	ECOFIN Council
13–14	Brussels	Regional Territories Council (Informal)?
16–17	Brussels	General Affairs Council
20	Brussels	Budget Council
23–24	Brussels	Agriculture Council
August
There are no Councils scheduled for August
September
8–9	Brussels	Gymnich
14–16	Brussels	Environment and Transport Council (Informal)
16–18	Brussels	Agriculture (Ministerial Informal)
22–23	Brussels	ECOFIN (Informal)
24–25	Brussels	Agriculture Council
27–28	Brussels	Justice and Home Affairs Council

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