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Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
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.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The following countries are members of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the so-called Venice Commission):
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
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:
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:
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.
Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:
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
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;
Date | Location | Event | |
July 1997 | |||
1 | Luxembourg Presidency begins | ||
3 | Luxembourg | Visit by Commission | |
4-5 | Echternach | Labour and Social Affairs Council (Informal) | |
7 | Brussels | Ecofin Council | |
10-11 | Luxembourg | Political Committee | |
14-18 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
22-23 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
22-23 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
24 | Brussels | Budget Council | |
August 1997 | There are no events scheduled for August. | ||
September 1997 | |||
4 | Brussels | Political Committee | |
7-9 | Echternach | Agriculture Council (Informal) | |
12-14 | Mondorf | Ecofin Council (Informal) | |
15-16 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
15-19 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
22-25 | New York | Political Committee | |
22-23 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
29 | Brussels | Political Committee (reserve date--tbc) | |
October 1997 | |||
1-2 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary | |
2 | Luxembourg | Telecommunications Council | |
3-4 | Echternach | Internal Market Council (Informal) | |
6-7 | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council | |
7 | Luxembourg | Social Affairs Council | |
9 | Luxembourg | Transport Council | |
9-10 | Mondorf | Justice and Home Affairs Council (Informal) | |
10-11 | Strasbourg | Council of Europe Summit | |
13 | Luxembourg | Ecofin Council | |
16 | Brussels | Political Committee | |
16 | Luxembourg | Environment Council | |
16-17 | Luxembourg | Possible European Council | |
20-21 | Luxembourg | Political Committee | |
20-21 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council | |
20-24 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
24-27 | Edinburgh | CHOGM | |
25-26 | Mondorf | Foreign Ministers (Informal) | |
30 | Luxembourg | Fisheries Council | |
November 1997 | |||
3 | Brussels | Consumer Council | |
3 | Brussels | Political Committee | |
5-6 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary | |
10 | Brussels | Research Council | |
10 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
13 | Brussels | Industry Council | |
17 | Brussels | Ecofin Council | |
17 | Brussels | Political Committee | |
17-18 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
17-21 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
19 | Brussels | Fisheries Council (tbc) | |
20 | Brussels | Education Council | |
21 | Brussels | Budget Council | |
24 | Brussels | Culture Council | |
24-25 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
27 | Brussels | Internal Market Council | |
28 | Brussels | Development Council | |
December 1997 | |||
1 | Brussels | Ecofin Council | |
1 | Brussels | Telecommunications Council | |
2 | Brussels | Labour and Social Affairs Council | |
3-4 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary | |
4 | Brussels | Health Council | |
4-5 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs Council | |
8 | Brussels | Energy Council | |
8-9 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
10-11 | Brussels | Transport Council | |
12-13 | Luxembourg | European Council | |
15-16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
15-19 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
16-17 | Brussels | Environment Council | |
18-19 | Copenhagen | OSCE Ministerial Council | |
18-19 | Brussels | Fisheries Council |
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