---

European Union: Business and Events

Lord Monkswell asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for February and list major European Union events for February.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Monthly forecast of business for February 1998

The following Councils are scheduled:

Date	Location
February 12	Brussels	Research Council
February 16	Brussels	Ecofin Council
February 16-17	Brussels	Agriculture Council
February 23-24	Brussels	General Affairs Council
February 26	Brussels	Telecom Council

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

February 12: Research Council

Proposal for an EP and Council decision on the Fifth Framework Programme of the EC for research, technological development and demonstration and demonstration activities (1998-2002): Common position.

Proposal for a Council decision on the Fifth Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for research and training activities (1998-2002): Political agreement.

Article 130j decision--rules of participation: Exchange of views (possible item).

Divers--Working document on the specific programmes: Progress report by the Commission (possible item).

A points.

February 16: Ecofin Council

Agenda not yet available.

February 16-17: Agriculture Council

Organisation for Economic Coordination and Development Agriculture Ministerial: EU Coordination.

Reform of the tobacco regime: Commission presentation.

Reform of the olive oil regime: Commission presentation.

Operation of ewe premium: Report.

Agrimony developments 1996-97: Report.

Laying hens in battery cages (possible item).

Veterinary equivalence agreements (possible item).

February 23-24: General Affairs Council

Enlargement.

Lome: Orientation discussion.

Estonia: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).

Latvia: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).

2 Feb 1998 : Column WA95

Lithuania: Adoption of EU position for Association Council (possible A point).

EU/Malta: Commission Communication on future relations (possible item).

EU/Russia Summit: Information point.

ASEM II: Progress Report following senior officials meeting.

Western Balkans.

Middle East Peace Process.

Cyprus (possible item).

Belarus (possible item).

Generalised System of Preferences: Extension of Lome trade terms to Non-ACP Least Developed Countries.

Generalised System of Preferences: Social/ environmental incentive clause (possible A point).

Third Country meetings in margins: Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia Association Councils.

February 26: Telecom Council

Commission Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on an International Charter for Global Commmunications: Debate and (possible) Conclusions.

Green paper on the implications for the regulatory framework of convergence between telecommunications, audiovisual and information technology: Open debate.

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on connected telecommunications equipment and the mutual recognition of the conformity of equipment: (possible) Common Position.

Commission Communication on the implementation of telecommunications legislation: Presentation (possible item).

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Decision on universal mobile telecommunications system: Presentation (possible item).

Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on digital signatures and security of communications: Presentation (possible item).

Commission Communication on the century date change problem: Presentation (possible item).

European Calendar: February-July 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
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 Ministers' Informal
15-17	Macclesfield	Seminar for Cultural and Audiovisual 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
31-1 April	Moscow	GB Energy Ministerial
April 1998
1-3	Strasbourg	European Parliamentary Plenary
2-4	London	ASEM II
6	Luxembourg	Social Affairs Council
6-8	Birmingham	Audiovisual Conference
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 Parliamentary Plenary
14	London	EU/Canada
14-16	London	Conference on Culture and Employment
15-17	Birmingham	G7/8 Summit
18	London	EU/US Summit
18	Brussels	Development Council
18	Brussels	Internal Market
19	Brussels	Telecommunication Council
25-26	Brussels	General Affairs Council
25-26	Brussels	Agriculture Council
27-28	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
28	Brussels	Culture and Audiovisual Council
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.)
July 1998
6	Brussels	Ecofin Council
6-7	Luxembourg	Political Committee
8-10	Luxembourg	Employment/Social Affairs/Women (Informal)
13	Luxembourg	Political Committee
13-14	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
17-19	Luxembourg	Environment Council (Informal)
20-21	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
23	Luxembourg	Political Committee
27	Luxembourg	Budget Council

2 Feb 1998 : Column WA97

BBC Monitoring Service: Funding

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they propose to set an external financing limit for the BBC monitoring service in 1997-98.[HL361]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The external financing limit for 1997-98 for the BBC monitoring service will be set at £1,183,000. The creation of the EFL reflects the change in the funding arrangements of the BBC World Service Monitoring Service from grant in aid to subscription based funding, as announced by my honourable Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Derek Fatchett, on 5 November 1997. (Vol: 300, Hansard, Commons, col. 201).

Interdepartmental Working Groups

Lord Lucas asked Her Majesty's Government:

What inter-departmental working groups have been set up which include representatives from the Department of International Development; and what their membership and remits are.[HL373]

Lord Whitty: A ministerial inter-departmental working group on development, chaired by the Secretary of State for International Development, has been set up to promote the coherent approach to development set out in the Government's White Paper. Department for International Development (DFID), Foreign and Commonwealth Office, H M Treasury, Department of Trade and Industry, Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health, Department for Education and Employment,

2 Feb 1998 : Column WA98

Cabinet Office and the Export Credit Guarantee Department are members. DFID is also represented at meetings of the EU Presidency task force, chaired by the Foreign Secretary and attended by interested departments as appropriate.

In addition, DFID is represented at official level in inter-departmental working groups, on a wide range of issues including trade and development, energy and climate change, world health, countries with economies in transition, science and technology, the Lome Convention and UNESCO. Membership of these groups varies according to the subject matter.

---