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2 Jul 1997 : Column WA27

Written Answers

Wednesday, 2nd July 1997.

UN Security Council

Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What progress is being made in the reform of the UN Security Council.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The UN Working Group on Security Council reform has for the first time this year begun to discuss detailed and comprehensive proposals for enlarging the Security Council and improving its working methods. This has improved the prospects for an early conclusion to the debate.

EU Arms Exports Code of Conduct

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will propose that the European Union (a) agrees a code of conduct on arms transfers, including personal weapons and ammunition and (b) earmarks specific funds for conflict prevention and peace-building outside the boundaries of the EU.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are working to secure the introduction of a European Union code of conduct setting high common standards to govern all conventional arms exports from all European Union Member States.

We fully endorse EU support for conflict prevention and peace-building in third countries. These activities are funded on a case-by-case basis from a range of existing Community budget lines, including EC development programmes and funds set aside for Joint Actions under the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

European Commission for Democracy through Law

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will consider enabling the United Kingdom to participate in the work of the European Commission for Democracy through Law.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are considering whether the United Kingdom should participate in a variety of international bodies. Once that review has been completed we shall be better placed to take a decision on United Kingdom membership of the Venice Commission. I shall write to the noble Lord again at that stage and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

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Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will list the member countries belonging to the European Commission for Democracy through Law.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The following countries are members of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the so-called Venice Commission):


    Albania


    Austria


    Belgium


    Bulgaria


    Croatia


    Cyprus


    Czech Republic


    Denmark


    Estonia


    Finland


    France


    Germany


    Greece


    Hungary


    Iceland


    Ireland


    Italy


    Latvia


    Liechtenstein


    Lithuania


    Luxembourg


    Malta


    Moldova


    Netherlands


    Norway


    Poland


    Portugal


    Romania


    San Marino


    Slovakia


    Slovenia


    Spain


    Sweden


    Switzerland


    Former Yugoslavia


    Republic of Macedonia


    Turkey


    Ukraine.

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Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will assist the new government in the Congo in the strengthening of the civil service and democratic institutions outside Kinshasa, as well as inside.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We and our EU partners are looking at ways to initiate and restore much needed assistance to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Strengthening the Civil Service and democratic institutions is an integral and important part of that planning. We believe that any development assistance should be country wide, and will consider the scope for support to provincial and local authorities.

The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they can give an assurance that they will assist in the process of democratisation in the Congo alongside the investigation of human rights abuses, and not after it.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We and our partners in the EU are considering how we can assist the process of democratisation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. These deliberations will continue in parallel with the UN human rights investigation.

The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they have given their support to the investigation of human rights abuses and alleged killings in Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and if so in what form.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have given strong support, bilaterally and in conjunction with our partners in the EU and at the UN, to the UN human rights investigation mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have also made clear to President Kabila that the development of a constructive relationship is conditional upon his government's respect for human rights and the rule of law.

EU Council Business

Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for July: and to list major EU events for the next six months.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Details are shown below.

Monthly Forecast of Business for July 1997

The following Councils are scheduled:
July 4-5 Labour and Social Affairs Council (Informal)
July 7 Ecofin Council

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July 22-23 General Affairs Council
July 22-23 Agriculture Council
July 24 Budget Council

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:
July 4-5: Labour and Social Affairs Council (Informal)
No formal agenda.
July 7: Ecofin Council
Approval of the agenda.
Approval of the list of A items.
Work Programme of Luxembourg Presidency: open debate.
Convergence Programme of Italy (possible item).
Follow-up to Amsterdam Council (possible item).
Technical characteristics of Euro coins.
Other Business:
Preparation of the ASEM/EU Finance Ministers' meeting;


    Preparation of the EFTA/EU Finance Ministers' meeting.
    July 22-23: General Affairs Council
    Agenda not yet available.
    July 22-23: Agriculture Council
    EU/Third countries veterinary and phytosanitary equivalence agreements (possible item).
    Hops (possible item).
    Animal welfare (possible item).
    BSE (possible item).
    Set-aside rate for 1998 (possible item).
    July 24: Budget Council
    EU Budget for 1998.

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.

European Calendar: July-December 1997

DateLocationEvent
July 1997
1Luxembourg Presidency begins
3LuxembourgVisit by Commission
4-5EchternachLabour and Social Affairs Council (Informal)
7BrusselsEcofin Council
10-11LuxembourgPolitical Committee
14-18StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
22-23BrusselsAgriculture Council
22-23BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
24BrusselsBudget Council
August 1997 There are no events scheduled for August.
September 1997
4BrusselsPolitical Committee
7-9EchternachAgriculture Council (Informal)
12-14MondorfEcofin Council (Informal)
15-16BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
15-19StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
22-25New YorkPolitical Committee
22-23BrusselsAgriculture Council
29BrusselsPolitical Committee (reserve date--tbc)
October 1997
1-2BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
2LuxembourgTelecommunications Council
3-4EchternachInternal Market Council (Informal)
6-7LuxembourgGeneral Affairs Council
7LuxembourgSocial Affairs Council
9LuxembourgTransport Council
9-10MondorfJustice and Home Affairs Council (Informal)
10-11StrasbourgCouncil of Europe Summit
13LuxembourgEcofin Council
16BrusselsPolitical Committee
16LuxembourgEnvironment Council
16-17LuxembourgPossible European Council
20-21LuxembourgPolitical Committee
20-21LuxembourgAgriculture Council
20-24StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
24-27EdinburghCHOGM
25-26MondorfForeign Ministers (Informal)
30LuxembourgFisheries Council
November 1997
3BrusselsConsumer Council
3BrusselsPolitical Committee
5-6BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
10BrusselsResearch Council
10BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
13BrusselsIndustry Council
17BrusselsEcofin Council
17BrusselsPolitical Committee
17-18BrusselsAgriculture Council
17-21StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
19BrusselsFisheries Council (tbc)
20BrusselsEducation Council
21BrusselsBudget Council
24BrusselsCulture Council
24-25BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
27BrusselsInternal Market Council
28BrusselsDevelopment Council
December 1997
1BrusselsEcofin Council
1BrusselsTelecommunications Council
2BrusselsLabour and Social Affairs Council
3-4BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
4BrusselsHealth Council
4-5BrusselsJustice and Home Affairs Council
8BrusselsEnergy Council
8-9BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
10-11BrusselsTransport Council
12-13LuxembourgEuropean Council
15-16BrusselsAgriculture Council
15-19StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
16-17BrusselsEnvironment Council
18-19CopenhagenOSCE Ministerial Council
18-19BrusselsFisheries Council

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