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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

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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