Mr. Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the forthcomingbusiness in the Council of the European Union for February; and if will list the major EU events for the next six months. [13781]Mr. David Davis: The information is as follows:Monthly forecast of business for February 1997The following Councils are scheduled:February 1-2: Industry Council (Informal)February 5-6: Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)February 17: Ecofin CouncilFebruary 17-18: Agriculture CouncilFebruary 24-25: General Affairs CouncilFebruary 28: Development Aid Council (Informal)The following subjects are likely to be discussed:February 1-2: Industry Council (informal)There is no formal agenda.February 5-6: Justice and Home Affairs Council (informal)There is no formal agenda.February 17: Ecofin CouncilDraft Directive on taxation of energy products.Consideration of Belgian convergence programme (possible item).EU Balance of Payments lending to FYROM and the Ukraine (possible item).Annual Community Economic report (possible item).Solvency ratio Directive for credit institutions - expanded matrix (possible item).February 17-18: Agriculture CouncilBeef labelling/Cattle identification.Presentation of Commission's proposal on olive oil (possible item).Arable penalties (possible items).Duram wheat (possible item).Geographical designations (possible item).Protection of forests against fires and atmospheric pollution (possible item).Presentation of Commission's proposals on agricultural price fixing (possible item).Progress report on veterinary and phytosanitary equivalence agreements and possible adoption of the agreement with the CzechRepublic.BSE (possible item).February 24-25: General Affairs Council.First Draft Agenda--likely to change.Belarus.Ex-Yugoslavia.Middle East Peace Process.Great Lakes Region.Relations with South Africa.European Obsrvatory on Racism and Xenophobia.Mediterranean Policy: Egypt Libya Palestinian Authority.YemenRelations with Mexico.Relations with Australia.Transatlantic Relations.Relations with Turkmenistan.Burma/Myanmar.Laos/Cambodia.13th San Jose Ministerial Conference.Association Council with Slovakia.Association Council with Bulgaria.Association Council with Cyprus.February 28: Development Aid Council (informal)There is no formal agenda.European calendar: February-July 1997_________________________________________________________________________________________________.Venue EventFebruary 19971-2 The Hague Industry Council (Informal)5-6 Noordwijk Justice and Home Affairs Council(Informal)6 Brussels Political Committee and meeting with CEEsCouncil (Informal)17 Brussels Political Committee and Troika meetingwith OAU17 Brussels Ecofin Council17-18 Brussels Agriculture Council17-21 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary24-25 Brussels General Affairs Council (and IGCMinisterial)28 Amsterdam Development Aid Council (Informal)March 19971-2 Amsterdam Development Aid Council (Informal)1-3 Amsterdam Education Council (Informal)3-4 Brussels Environment Council6 Brussels Telecommunications Council10 Brussels Internal Market Council10-14 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary11-12 Brussels Transport Council13 Brussels Political Committee14-15 Rotterdam Social Affairs Council (Informal)15-16 Apeldoorn Gymnich (Informal)17 Brussels Ecofin Council17-19 Brussels Agriculture Council24-25 Brussels General Affairs Council (and IGCMinisterial)April 1997*4-6 Noordwijk Ecofin Council (Informal)*6-8 Maastricht Informal meeting of Cultural AffairsMinisters*7-10 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary*9-11 The Hague Ministerial Conference on SocialIntegration10 Brussels Political Committee10 Luxembourg Consumer Council14-15 Luxembourg Fisheries Council17 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council18-19 Maastricht Post-Lome Ministerial meeting18-20 Amsterdam Environment Council (Informal)21-22 The Netherlands Political Committee21-22 Luxembourg Agriculture Council23 Brussels European Parliament Plenary24 Luxembourg Industry Council24-25 Luxembourg ACP/EU Ministerial Conference24-25 The Hague International Conference on InnovativeResearch, and Appropriate Health Care forthe People of Europe24-26 The Hague Ministerial Conference on Trafficking inWomen25 Brussels European Parliament Plenary29-30 Luxembourg General Affairs Council and IGCMinisterial)May 1997*6-7 Strasbourg Council of Europe Ministerial12 Brussels Ecofin Council12-13 Brussels Agriculture Council12-13 Paris WEU Ministerial12-16 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary14-15 Brussels Research Council15 Brussels Political Committee20 Brussels Internal Market Council22 Brussels Political Committee*25-27 Domburg Agriculture Council (Informal)26 Brussels Energy Council27-28 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council28-29 Brussels European Parliament Plenary29 Brussels Telecommunications CouncilJune 19972-3 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (and ICGMinisterial)5 Luxembourg Health Council5 Luxembourg Development Council*5-6 The Hague K4 Committee9 Luxembourg Ecofin Council9-10 Luxembourg Agriculture Council9-13 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary10 Luxembourg General Affairs Council (tbc)12 Luxembourg Social Affairs Council16-17 Amsterdam European Council17-18 Luxembourg Transport Council19 Brussels Political Committee*20-22 Denver G7*23 Luxembourg Fisheries Council23-24 Luxembourg Environment Council25-26 Brussels European Parliament Plenary26 Luxembourg Education Council30 Luxembourg General Affairs Council30 Luxembourg Culture CouncilJuly 19971 Luxembourg Presidency begins*7 Brussels Ecofin Council*12-13 ? Labour and Social Affairs Council(Informal)*14-18 Strasbourg European Parliament Plenary*22 Brussels Agriculture Council*22-23 Brussels General Affairs Council*24 Brussels Budget Council_________________________________________________________________________________________________.This calendar is primarily concerned with European Union matters, but certain other relevant events are also included. Events anddates quoted are based on the information available on the date of issue.