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Written Answers

Tuesday, 20th January 1998.

European Union: Forthcoming Business

Lord Williams of Elvel asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will announce forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for January and list major European Union events for the next six months.[HL190]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Monthly forecast of business for January 1998

The following Councils are scheduled:

Date	Location	Event
January 19	Brussels	Ecofin Council
January 19-20	Brussels	Agriculture Council
January 26-27	Brussels	General Affairs Council
January 29-30	Birmingham	Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal)

The following subjects are likely to be discussed: January 19: Ecofin Council

Presidency work programme--Commission work programme:


Presentation and debate.


Preparation of Stage III of EMU.


Reduced VAT on labour-intensive services.


Council Regulation on allocation of Financial Intermediate Services indirectly measured. January 19-20: Agriculture Council


Statement of Presidency aims.


Agri-environment Regulation (2078/92) and Forestry Regulation (2080/92): Commission reports.


Amendments to Regulation 404/93 (possible item).


Reform of tobacco regime (possible item).


Promotion of quality beef and veal.


Potato starch quotas.


World Trade Organisation dispute on hormones.


Veterinary equivalence agreements.


Vehicle standards for carriage of livestock.


Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (possible item). January 26-27: General Affairs Council


Presidency Programme: Public debate.


Enlargement: EU negotiating position for the Central and Eastern European Countries and

20 Jan 1998 : Column WA226

Cyprus: Outline of Europe Conference: Pre-Accession Strategy--Presidency Progress report.


Switzerland.


Transatlantic Relations: Report in EU-US Ministerial.

EU-Japan Summit: Presidency Report.


Trade issues: China--Silk Agreement: Mongolia--Textile Agreement (possible A point): Russia--Textiles: Vietnam Textiles Agreement (possible A point): Financial Services.


CFSP: Former Yugoslavia--Albania--Great Lakes--Turkey-Cyprus (developments post- Luxembourg)--Middle East Peace Process--Overseas Countries and Territories.


Third Country meetings in margins: Albania: Russia Co-operation Council. January 29-30: Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal)


No formal Agenda. European Calendar: January-June 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.

Date	Location	Event
January 1998
1		UK Presidency commences
8	London	Visit of College of Commissioners
12-16	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
15	Brussels	Political Committee
19	Brussels	Ecofin Council
19-20	Brussels	Agriculture Council
26-27	Brussels	General Affairs Council
28-29	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
29-30	Birmingham	Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal)
February 1998
3	Brussels	Political Committee
9-11	Costa Rica	EU/San Jose Group
11-12	Brussels	Select Committee on Trade & Industry visit
12	Brussels	Research Council
12-13	Panama	EU/Rio Group
12-13	London	Political Committee
13-15	Cambridge	Internal Market (Informal)
16	Brussels	Ecofin Council
16-17	Brussels	Agriculture Council
16-20	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
23-24	Brussels	General Affairs Council
26	Brussels	Telecom Council
March 1998
3	Brussels	Political Committee
9	Brussels	Ecofin Council (t.b.c.)
9-10	Manchester	UK Presidency Conference
9-13	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
12-13	London	Joint Social & Education (Informal)
14-15	Edinburgh	Foreign Minister's Informal
15-17	Manchester	Seminar for Cultural Ministers
16-17	Brussels	Agriculture Council
17	Brussels	Transport Council
19	Brussels	Political Committee
19	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
20-22	York	Ecofin Informal
23	Brussels	Environment Council
24	Brussels	Fisheries Council
30	Brussels	Internal Market Council
30-31	Brussels	General Affairs Council
30-31	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
3-11 April	Moscow	G8 Energy Ministerial
April 1998
1-3	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
2-4	London	ASEM II
6	Luxembourg	Social Affairs Council
7	Brussels	Political Committee
16	Brussels	Political Committee
20-21	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
21	Luxembourg	Ecofin Council
23	Luxembourg	Consumer Affairs Council
24-26	Chester	Environment & Transport (Informal)
27-28	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
29-30	Brussels	European Parliament
30	Luxembourg	Health Council
May 1998
1-3	Brussels	Ecofin & Special EMU Council
5	Brussels	Political Committee (t.b.c.)
7	Brussels	Industry Council
10-12	Newcastle	Agriculture (Informal)
11	Brussels	Energy Council
11	Brussels	Euro-Med Energy Ministerial
12	Brussels	Political Committee
11-15	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
18	Brussels	Development Council
18	Brussels	Internal Market
19	Brussels	Telecommunications Council
25-26	Brussels	General Affairs Council
25-26	Brussels	Agriculture Council
27-28	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
28-29	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
June 1998
2	Luxembourg	Political Committee
4	Luxembourg	Education & Social Affairs Council
8	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
8-9	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)
15-16	Cardiff	European Council
15-19	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
16-17	Luxembourg	Environment Council
17	Luxembourg	Joint Environment & Transport Council
18	Luxembourg	Transport Council
22	Luxembourg	Research Council
22-23	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
29-30	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council (t.b.c.)

20 Jan 1998 : Column WA228

European Committee of the Regions: Nominations

Lord Burlison asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whom they have nominated for the second term of the European Committee of the Regions.[HL189]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The following nominations have been forwarded to the Council of Ministers: Full Members

From English local government:

George Gill CBE, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council


John Battye, Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council


Pam Warhurst, Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council


Dennis Pettitt, Nottinghamshire County Council


Ken Bodfish, Brighton and Hove Unitary Authority


Albert Bore, Birmingham City Council


Sally Powell, Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council


Jane Hore, Suffolk County Council


Sir Ronald Watson CBE, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council


Lord Bowness CBE DL, Croydon London Borough Council


Paul White, Essex County Council


Sir Simon Day, Devon County Council


Lord Tope CBE, Sutton London Borough Council


Dr. James Walsh RD, West Sussex County Council and Arun District Council


Ruth Coleman, North Wiltshire District Council


Milner Whiteman, Bridgnorth District Council

From Scottish local government:

Hugh Henry, Renfrewshire Council


Ian Stewart Houghton, Angus Council


Christine May, Fife Council


Peter James Peacock, Highland Council

From Welsh local government:

Brian Smith, Torfaen Borough Council


Linda Mathews, Merthyr County Borough Council

From Northern Ireland local government:

Reg Empey, Belfast City Council


Denis Haughey, Cookstown District Council

20 Jan 1998 : Column WA229

Alternate Members

From English local government:

Ian Swithenbank, Northumberland County Council


Ruth Henig, Lancashire County Council


Keith Billington, Rotheram Borough Council


Peter Soulsby, Leicester Unitary Authority


Toby Harris, Harringey London Borough Council


Sarah McCarthy-Fry, Portsmouth Unitary Authority


Diane Bunyan, Bristol Unitary Authority


Sue Davies, The Wrekin Unitary Authority


David Martin, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council


Margaret Eaton, Bradford City Council


Gordon Keymer, Tanbridge District Council


Suzie Kemp, Newbury Unitary Authority


Keith Whitmore, Manchester City Council


Liz Tucker, Hereford and Worcester County Council


Ros Scott, Suffolk County Council


Peter Moore, Sheffield City Council

From Scottish local government:

Irene Oldfather, North Ayrshire Council


Marcus Humphrey, Aberdeenshire Council


Joan Mitchell, Dumfries and Galloway Council


Cormick Keenan McChord, Stirling Council

From Welsh local government:

Doctor John Evans, Caerphilly County Borough Council


Eurig Wyn, Gwynedd County Council

From Northern Ireland local government:

George Savage, Craigavon Borough Council


John Fee, Newry and Mourne District Council

In making these nominations, we have sought, in consultation with local government, to provide a delegation which is appropriately representative of all of the United Kingdom, which provides appropriate expertise, and which takes account of the current political balance within United Kingdom local government.

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