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European Union Programme

Mr. Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November and (b) the major European Union events for the next six months. [96950]

8 Nov 1999 : Column: 411

Mr. Vaz [pursuant to his reply, 29 October 1999, c. 1038-44]: An administrative error led to an omission in my answer of 29 October to my hon. Friend. The correct answer should read as follows:














































8 Nov 1999 : Column: 412


    8 November--Brussels--Consumer Affairs Council


    Adoption of the agenda


    (possible) Approval of the list of "A" items


    Amended proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive concerning the distance marketing of consumer financial services and modifying Directives 97/7/EC and 98/27/EC (Legal basis proposed by Commission: Articles 47[2], 55 and 95) (Item on which a vote may be called for)


    Common position


    13097/98 CONSOM 76 ECOFIN 239 CODEC 622


    10505/99 CONSOM 46 ECOFIN 136 CODEC 456


    Implementation and application of consumer protection legislation


    Information from the Commission on the implementation and application in the member states of certain Directives, in particular Directives on time-sharing and package holidays


    Consumer access to justice


    (a) Information from the Commission on the follow-up to its recommendation on the principles applicable to the mechanisms responsible for out-of-court settlements of consumer disputes


    (b) Information from the Presidency on the European Council meeting in Tampere on 15 and 16 October 1999 as regards the item on citizen's access to justice


    Food security


    (a) Information campaign on food security in the member states


    Progress report from the Commission


    (b) "European Food 2000" seminar


    (Helsinki, 23 and 24 September 1999)


    Presidency briefing on the outcome


    (c) Discussion


    (15.00-16.00: open debate)


    Consumer protection and services of general interest--Discussion


    11682/99 CONSOM 49 MI 93


    Other business


    Transparency for the consumer in regard to civil liability for motor vehicles (automobile insurance)


    contribution by the Italian delegation


    9 November--Brussels--Industry Council


    Adoption of the agenda


    (possible) Approval of the list of "A" items


    Competitiveness and entrepreneurial policy of the European Union


    Debate and Council conclusions


    (a) Commission communication entitled "Structural change and adjustment in European manufacturing"


    11552/99 ECO 309


    11706/99 ECO 317


    (b) Competitiveness in the Information Society


    (c) Medium-term programme for the organisation of an ongoing debate on industrial competitiveness


    (d) SME


    SME forum: Rapid growth and competitiveness through technology


    Commission report on concerted action with the member states


    Integration of sustainable development into EU industrial policy


    Report to the Helsinki European Council


    State of the competitiveness of the EU forest-based and related industries


    Commission communication


    Council conclusions 11707/99 ECO 318


    Steel industry


    (a) State of the competitiveness of the steel industry in the EU


    Commission communication


    Commission presentation

8 Nov 1999 : Column: 413


    11708/99 SID 32 SOC 332 FIN 374 ECO 319


    (b) Commission report to the Council on the monitoring of aid for steel covered by Article 95 of the Treaty


    Information from the Commission


    Shipbuilding


    (a) Commission report on the international shipbuilding situation


    Council conclusions 11919/99 RC 24


    (b) Fourth Commission report to the Council on the monitoring of aid to certain shipyards currently being restructured in Germany and Spain


    Commission presentation 11921/99 RC 26


    White Paper on the modernisation of the rules laid down by Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty--Commission briefing


    Other business--State aids


    Note from the Danish delegation


    11855/99 ECO 323 FIN 379 RC 23 EEE 99


    11 November--Brussels--Development Council


    No agenda yet available


    11 November--Brussels--Standing Committee on Employment


    Rules of procedure


    Confirmation of the Council's position


    Co-ordinated strategy for employment


    Commission Communication on Employment Guidelines for 2000


    Draft Joint Report on Employment for 1999


    Commission Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the implementation of member states' employment policies


    The discussion will take account of the Community's economic and social objectives (i.e. the Broad Economic Guidelines).


    11-12 November--Helsinki--Ministerial Conference on the Northern Dimension


    No formal agenda


    12 November--Brussels--Accession Conference


    No formal agenda


    12 November--Brussels--Labour and Social Affairs Council


    Adoption of the provisional agenda


    (possible) Approval of the list of "A" items


    Employment


    Proposal for Guidelines for Member States' Employment Policies 2000


    doc. 10992/99/ SOC 302 ECOFIN 159


    Draft Joint Employment Report 1999


    doc. 10993/99 SOC 303 ECOFIN 160 + COR1 (f)


    Commission Recommendation for Council Recommendations on the Implementation of Member States' Employment Policies


    doc. 10994/99 SOC 304 ECOFIN 161


    Any other business


    15-16 November--Brussels--Agriculture Council


    Adoption of the agenda


    Approval of the list of "A" items


    Strategy on environmental integration and sustainable development in the common agricultural policy (in preparation for the Helsinki European Council on 11 and 12 December 1999) 12082/99 AGRI 165 ENV 360


    Beef labelling


    (a) Report by the Commission to the European Parliament and to the Council on the situation regarding the implementation of beef-labelling systems in the different Member States (Art. 19(3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97) 12031/99 AGRILEG 163


8 Nov 1999 : Column: 414


    establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97


    amending Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products 12030/99 AGRILEG 162 CODEC 583


    Progress report


    Proposal for a Council Regulation on measures to promote and provide information on agricultural products in third countries (Item on which a vote may be requested)


    (Legal basis: Art. 37 of the Treaty)


    5386/99 AGRI 7 AGRIFIN 7


    (possible) Proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation (EEC) No 1765/92 establishing a support system for producers of certain arable crops (non-food) (Item on which a vote may be requested)


    (Legal basis: Art. 36 and 37 of the Treaty)


    11375/95 AGRIORG 249 AGRIFIN 220


    (possible) Cotton: Proposals for Council Regulations


    adjusting, for the sixth time, the system of aid for cotton introduced by Protocol 4 annexed to the Act of Accession of Greece


    relating to the production aid for cotton


    (possible) Commission information on the banana dossier


    Extension of State aid for small producers


    Austrian delegation's request for authorisation


    Items Within the Competence of the Permanent Representatives Committee


    Dioxin: Progress report


    (possible) Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 64/432/EEC on health problems affecting intra-Community trade in bovine animals and swine


    Other business


    Use of hormones as growth promoters (request by the Danish delegation)


    Equal opportunities for men and women and rural development (request by the Swedish delegation)


    Organisation of future work

8 Nov 1999 : Column: 415


    15-16 November--Brussels--General Affairs Council


    Adoption of the provisional agenda


    Approval of the list of "A" items


    Horizontal Issues


    Resolutions, decisions and opinions adopted by the European Parliament at its part-sessions in Strasbourg on 417 and 25129 October 1999


    Electoral procedure


    European Security and Defence Policy: elements for the Presidency report on military and non-military aspects of crisis management


    Common Strategies


    External Relations


    Negotiations for a development partnership agreement with the ACP states


    preparation for the next Ministerial Conference


    Follow-up of the EU-Russia Summit


    Pakistan; Western Balkans; Indonesia


    Bananas


    WTO: Ministerial Conference in Seattle


    AOB


    Items Likely to Become "A" Points


    Adoption of the EU position for the 12th meeting of the EEA Council


    Adoption of the EU position for the Association Council with Tunisia (16 November 1999)


    Adoption of the EU position for the 5th Association Council with Bulgaria (16 November 1999)


    Adoption of the EU position for the second Co-operation Council with Moldova on 16 November 1999


    (possible) European armaments policy: adoption of the common position


    15-19 November--Strasbourg--European Parliament Plenary


    No agenda yet available


    16 November--Brussels--EEA Council


    No agenda yet available


    18 November--Brussels--Health Council


    No agenda yet available


    22 November--Brussels--Fisheries Council (possible)


    No agenda yet available


    23 November--Brussels--Culture/Audiovisual Council


    No agenda yet available


    23 November--Brussels--Youth Council


    No agenda yet available


    25-26 November--Brussels--Budget Council


    No agenda yet available


    26 November--Brussels--Education Council


    No agenda yet available


    29 November--Brussels--Labour and Social Affairs Council


    No agenda yet available

8 Nov 1999 : Column: 416


    29 November--Brussels--ECOFIN Council


    Preparation of the European Council in Helsinki


    Economic policy cooperation, report by the Council


    Employment


    Joint annual employment report of Council and Commission


    Employment Guidelines 2000


    Report on reinforced tax policy co-operation


    Effective fight against fraud


    Report by the Council


    Tax Package


    Code of Conduct (Business Taxation)


    Final report


    Taxation of Savings--Political agreement on Draft Directive


    Interest and Royalties--Political agreement on Draft Directive


    Implementation of Stability and Growth Pact


    Financial Services Policy Group


    Report by the Commission


    Amendment of the UCITS Directive


    Political agreement


    Annual Report of the Court of Auditors concerning financial year 1998


    EURO 11--Joint meeting with Labour and Social Affairs Council (Employment Guidelines 2000 and joint annual employment report)


    30 November--Brussels--Telecommunications Council


    No agenda yet available


    30 November-3 December--Seattle--WTO Ministerial Conference


    No formal agenda.


    European Calendar: November 1999--April 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 on the date of issue.

DateVenueEvent
November 1999
2DubaiEU-Gulf Co-operation Council (EU-GCC 9th Joint Council)
3-4BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
8BrusselsECOFIN Council
8BrusselsConsumer Affairs Council
9BrusselsIndustry Council
11BrusselsDevelopment Council
11BrusselsStanding Committee on Employment
11-12HelsinkiMinisterial Conference on the Northern Dimension
12BrusselsAccession Conference
12BrusselsLabour and Social Affairs Council
15-16BrusselsAgriculture Council
15-16BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
15-19StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
16BrusselsEEA Council
18BrusselsHealth Council
22BrusselsFisheries Council (possible)
23BrusselsCulture/Audiovisual Council
23BrusselsYouth Council
25-26BrusselsBudget Council
26BrusselsEducation Council
29BrusselsLabour and Social Affairs Council
29BrusselsECOFIN Council
30BrusselsTelecommunications Council
30 November- 3 DecemberSeattleWTO Ministerial Conference
December 1999
30 November- 3 DecemberSeattleWTO Ministerial Conference
1-2 DecemberBrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
2BrusselsEnergy Council
2BrusselsResearch Council
2-3BrusselsJustice and Home Affairs Council
6-7BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
7BrusselsInternal Market Council
7BrusselsAccession Conference
7-8BrusselsEU-ACP Ministerial Meeting (probable)
9-10BrusselsTransport Council
10-11HelsinkiEuropean Council
13BrusselsECOFIN Council
13-14BrusselsEnvironment Council
13-17StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
14-15BrusselsAgriculture Council
14-16BrusselsMinisterial Conference on Follow-up of Progress on UN Beijing Platform for Action
16-17BrusselsFisheries Council
January 2000
14BrusselsFisheries Council
17-21StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
18BrusselsBudget Council
24-25BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
24-25BrusselsAgriculture Council
28-29LisbonDevelopment Council (Informal)
31BrusselsECOFIN Council
February 2000
2-3BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
11-12LisbonSocial Affairs Council (Informal)
14-15BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
14-18StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
21-22BrusselsAgriculture Council
21-23VilamouraSan Jose Meeting
23-25VilamouraRio Group Meeting
28BrusselsECOFIN Council
March 2000
1-2BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
3-4LisbonJustice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
9BrusselsEuropean Conference
13BrusselsSocial Affairs/ECOFIN Council
13-17StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
16BrusselsInternal Market Council
20-21BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
20-21BrusselsAgriculture Council
23-24LisbonEuropean Council
27BrusselsJustice and Home Affairs Council
28BrusselsTransport Council
29-30BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
30BrusselsEnvironment Council
April 2000
3LuxembourgFisheries Council
4LuxembourgSocial Affairs Council
4CairoEU-Africa Summit
7-8LuxembourgECOFIN Council (Informal)
10-11LuxembourgGeneral Affairs Council
10-14 StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
13LuxembourgConsumer Affairs Council
15-16OportoEnvironment Council (Informal)
17-18LuxembourgAgriculture Council


8 Nov 1999 : Column: 418


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