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Great Lakes Region: Committee Report
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer given by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey on 21st January (WA 50-1) what steps they have taken "as a matter of priority" to determine whether the precise terms of the Order in Council implementing the UN arms embargo against Rwanda are adequate, whether remedial action is necessary, and, if so, what action is being taken.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The interdepartmental committee report on trafficking in arms noted a particular issue had arisen as to whether or not the existing Rwanda Orders in Council can be read as prohibiting the supply or delivery of arms to neighbouring countries for use in Rwanda, as the UN Security Council Resolutions require. This is the subject of detailed and urgent consultation between government departments. It is the Government's intention to make amending orders. These are currently in preparation.
Middle East: Organisation for Co-operation
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it was in collaboration with Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs recently proposed the establishment of an organisation for security and co-operation in the Middle East, such as Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed on 28th November and at the OSCE summit last week.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: No. Following my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary's speech on 4th November in Abu Dhabi, which raised the idea of an organisation for co-operation in the Middle East, a number of countries both in the region and outside it have voiced their support in principle. Israel is one.
EU Council: Forthcoming Business
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for February, and what are the major EU events for the next six months.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: Monthly forecast of business for February 1997
The following Councils are scheduled:
- February 1st-2nd: Industry Council (Informal)
- February 5th-6th: Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal)
- February 17th: Ecofin Council
- February 17th-18th: Agriculture Council
- February 24th-25th: General Affairs Council
- February 28th: Development Aid Council (Informal)
There is no formal agenda. February 5th-6th: Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal)
There is no formal agenda. February 17th: Ecofin Council
- Draft 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 17th-18th: Agriculture Council
- Beef labelling/Cattle identification.
- Presentation of Commission's proposal on olive oil (possible item).
- Arable penalties (possible item).
- 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 Czech Republic.
- BSE (possible item).
February 24th-25th: General Affairs Council
- Belarus.
- Ex-Yugoslavia.
- Middle East Peace Process.
- Great Lakes Region.
- Relations with South Africa.
- European Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia.
- Mediterranean Policy:
- Egypt
- Libya
- Palestinian Authority.
- Yemen.
- Relations 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 28th: Development Aid Council (Informal)
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.
| Date | Venue | Event |
| February 1997 | ||
| 1st-2nd | The Hague | Industry Council (Informal) |
| 5th-6th | Noordwijk | Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) |
| 6th | Brussels | Political Committee & meeting with CEEs Council (Informal) |
| 17th | Brussels | Political Committee & Troika meeting with OAU |
| 17th | Brussels | Ecofin Council |
| 17th-18th | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 17th-21st | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 24th-25th | Brussels | General Affairs Council (& IGC Ministerial) |
| 28th | Amsterdam | Development Aid Council (Informal) |
| March 1997 | ||
| 1st-2nd | Amsterdam | Development Aid Council (Informal) |
| 1st-3rd | Amsterdam | Education Council (Informal) |
| 3rd-4th | Brussels | Environment Council |
| 6th | Brussels | Telecommunications Council |
| 10th | Brussels | Internal Market Council |
| 10th-14th | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 11th-12th | Brussels | Transport Council |
| 13th | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 14th-15th | Rotterdam | Social Affairs Council (Informal) |
| 15th-16th | Apeldoorn | Gymnich (Informal) |
| 17th | Brussels | Ecofin Council |
| 17th-19th | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 24th-25th | Brussels | General Affairs Council (& IGC Ministerial) |
| April 1997 | ||
| 4th-6th | Noordwijk | Ecofin Council (Informal) |
| 6th-8th | Maastricht | Informal meeting of Cultural Affairs Ministers |
| 7th-10th | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 9th-11th | The Hague | Ministerial Conference on Social Integration |
| 10th | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 10th | Luxembourg | Consumer Council |
| 14th-15th | Luxembourg | Fisheries Council |
| 17th | Luxembourg | Social Affairs Council |
| 18th-19th | Maastricht | Post-Lome Ministerial meeting |
| 18th-20th | Amsterdam | Environment Council (Informal) |
| 21st-22nd | The Netherlands | Political Committee |
| 21st-22nd | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council |
| 23rd | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary |
| 24th | Luxembourg | Industry Council |
| 24th-25th | Luxembourg | ACP/EU Ministerial Conference |
| 24th-25th | The Hague | International Conference on Innovative Research, and Appropriate Health Care for the People of Europe |
| 24th-26th | The Hague | Ministerial Conference on Trafficking in Women |
| 25th | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary |
| 29th-30th | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council (& IGC Ministerial) |
| May 1997 | ||
| 6th-7th | Strasbourg | Council of Europe Ministerial |
| 12th | Brussels | Ecofin Council |
| 12th-13th | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 12th-13th | Paris | WEU Ministerial |
| 12th-16th | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 14th-15th | Brussels | Research Council |
| 15th | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 20th | Brussels | Internal Market Council |
| 22nd | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 25th-27th | Domburg | Agriculture Council (Informal) |
| 26th | Brussels | Energy Council |
| 27th-28th | Brussels | Justice & Home Affairs Council |
| 28th-29th | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary |
| 29th | Brussels | Telecommunications Council |
| June 1997 | ||
| 2nd-3rd | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council (& ICG Ministerial) |
| 5th | Luxembourg | Health Council |
| 5th | Luxembourg | Development Council |
| 5th-6th | The Hague | K4 Committee |
| 9th | Luxembourg | Ecofin Council |
| 9th-10th | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council |
| 9th-13th | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 10th | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council (tbc) |
| 12th | Luxembourg | Social Affairs Council |
| 16th-17th | Amsterdam | European Council |
| 17th-18th | Luxembourg | Transport Council |
| 19th | Brussels | Political Committee |
| 20th-22nd | Denver | G7 |
| 23rd | Luxembourg | Fisheries Council |
| 23rd-24th | Luxembourg | Environment Council |
| 25th-26th | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary |
| 26th | Luxembourg | Education Council |
| 30th | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council |
| 30th | Luxembourg | Culture Council |
| July 1997 | ||
| 1st | Luxembourg Presidency begins | |
| 7th | Brussels | Ecofin Council |
| 12th-13th | ? | Labour & Social Affairs Council (Informal) |
| 14th-18th | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary |
| 22nd | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 22nd-23rd | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 24th | Brussels | Budget Council |
Explanatory Memoranda Select Committee: Proposal
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the written answer given by Baroness Chalker of Wallasey on 16th December 1996
(WA 101), whether they would be in favour of the setting up of a Parliamentary Select Committee to scrutinise explanatory memoranda submitted to Parliament in accordance with the new Guidelines on Explanatory Memoranda for Treaties.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: The Government do not consider that a new Select Committee as proposed by the noble Lord is necessary.
Commonwealth Institute: Funding
Baroness Wilcox asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have for future assistance to the Commonwealth Institute.
Baroness Chalker of Wallasey: We value the work of the Commonwealth Institute and recognise the efforts it has made to modernise its operations, increase revenue and seek private sector investment. We are pleased to confirm that we have decided to give the Institute a grant-in-aid of £800,000 for the financial year 1997/98; and £600,000 for the year 1998/99. The question of funding beyond 1999 will be subject to normal public expenditure constraints and procedures. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to support the Institute's attempts to obtain further private sector investment.
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