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2 Apr 1998 : Column WA55

Written Answers

Thursday, 2nd April 1998.

Baltic States and Russia: Aid

The Earl of Carlisle asked Her Majesty's Government:

    How much aid they have given to (a) Estonia; (b) Latvia; (c) Lithuania; and (d) the Russian Federation since 1991; and whether they have received value for money for such aid.[HL1198]

Lord Whitty: The UK Government have provided technical assistance worth £3,210,000 to Estonia, £3,234,000 to Latvia, £4,400,000 to Lithuania and £153,834,000 to the Russian Federation since 1991.

In addition to this, the Military Assistance Fund provides approximately £500,000 a year for the Baltic States. The majority of this is spent supporting the joint Baltic military projects (Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion BALTBAT, Baltic Mine Squadron BALTRON, etc). The remainder covers smaller bilateral activities. Expenditure is roughly equal in each of the three states. The UK Military Training Assistance Scheme (UKMTAS) has spent almost £1 million on the Baltic States since 1995.

Our programmes of assistance have supported priorities identified by the governments concerned, and we have had frequent indications from them that our support has been well targeted and effective. Our contracting procedures ensure that the consultants who implement our projects provide good value for money.

European Council: Forthcoming Business for April

Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for April; and list the major European Union events for the next six months.[HL1356]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): See attached programme:

The following Councils are scheduled:

Monthly forecast of business for April 1998

DateLocation
April 7LuxembourgSocial Affairs Council
April 20-21LuxembourgAgriculture Council
April 21LuxembourgECOFIN Council
April 23LuxembourgConsumer Affairs Council
April 24-26ChesterEnvironment and Transport (Informal)
April 27-28LuxembourgGeneral Affairs Council
April 30LuxembourgHealth Council

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

April 7: Social Affairs Council

National Employment Action Plans (taken with ELMC 1998 Work Programme): Political debate.

European Community Statute: Political debate.

Protection of workers from asbestos: Adoption of Council Conclusions.

Fundamental Review of Regulation 1408/71 (Social Security): Political debate.

Action plan against racism and xenophobia: Presentation.

Working time: Excluded sectors: Presentation.

Report of the High-level Group on industrial restructuring: Presentation.

Protection of workers from carcinogens: Presentation.

Directive on protection of workers from chemical agents: Possible A point.

Modifications to Regulation 1408/71 (Social Security)--miscellaneous amendments: Possible A point.

April 20-21: Agriculture Council

Agenda not yet available.

April 21: Ecofin Council

EIB lending to Bosnia.

Access to Capital.

Preparation of Stage 3 of EMU.

Package of measures for SMEs.


2 Apr 1998 : Column WA56

April 23: Consumer Affairs Council


    Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the sale of consumer goods and associated guarantees: Common position.


    Effective application and enforcement of the Community consumer legislation: Debate.


    European Home and Leisure Accidents Surveillance System (EHLASS): Exchange of views on the state of work.


    Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and the Council establishing a general framework for Community activities in favour of consumers: Presentation by the Commission and (possible) exchange of views.


    Proposal for a European Parliament and Council Directive on the distance selling of financial services. Presentation by the Commission.


    (possible) Evaluation report by the Commission on priorities for consumer policy: Presentation by the Commission.


    Commission Action Plan on the extrajudicial settlement of consumer disputes: Presentation by the Commission of the state of work. April 24-26: Environment and Transport (Informal)


    No formal agenda. April 27-28: General Affairs Council


    Agenda 2000 (possible item).


    Lome.

2 Apr 1998 : Column WA57


    Transatlantic relations--Preparation of EU/US summit and EU/Canada summit.


    ASEM II: Report.


    Switzerland.


    South Africa Agreement.


    Turkey (possible item).


    Euromed (possible item).


    Egypt (possible item).


    Middle East peace process.


    Western Balkans.


    Ukraine (possible item).


    World Trade Organisation: Ministerial meeting in Geneva (possible item).


    Russia. April 30: Health Council


    Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action 1999-2003 on rare diseases within the framework for action in the field of public health: Common position.


    Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 on injury prevention in the context of action in the field of public health: Political debate.


    Proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council adopting a programme of Community action from 1999 to 2003 on pollution-related diseases in the context of action in the field of public health: Common position.


    Proposal for a Council recommendation on suitability of blood and plasma donors and the screening of donated blood in the European Community: Adoption.


    Integration of health protection requirements in Community policies: Report by the Commission, (possible) Council conclusions.


    (possible) State of health in the European Union: Report by the Commission on migrant health.


    Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies based on Commission Services Working Paper and Commission communication following receipt of EP report on BSE: (possible) Council conclusions.


    (possible) Political debate and conclusion on future health challenges to be taken into account in the development of a framework for Community action in the field of public health in the first part of the 21st century: (possible) Presidency conclusions.


    Proposal for a Council Recommendation on non-ionising radiation: Presentation by the Commission. 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.

2 Apr 1998 : Column WA58

    European Calendar: April-September 1998

    DateLocationEvent
    April 1998
    1-3StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
    2-4LondonASEM II
    3-5Leeds CastleG8 Environment Ministerial
    6-7LondonDTI Enterprising Europe Conference
    6-8BirminghamAudiovisual Conference
    6-8BirminghamCulture Committee
    7LuxembourgSocial Affairs Council
    7BrusselsPolitical Committee
    16BrusselsPolitical Committee
    20-21LuxembourgAgriculture Council
    21LuxembourgECOFIN Council
    23LuxembourgConsumer Affairs Council
    24-26ChesterEnvironment & Transport (Informal)
    27-28LuxembourgGeneral Affairs Council
    29-30BrusselsEuropean Parliament
    30LuxembourgHealth Council
    May 1998
    1-3BrusselsEcofin & Special EMU Council
    5BrusselsPolitical Committee (t.b.c.)
    5-6BelfastEU Ministers Womens Forum (Informal)
    7BrusselsIndustry Council
    8-9LondonG8 Foreign & Finance Ministerial
    10-12NewcastleAgriculture (Informal)
    11BrusselsEnergy Council (t.b.c.)
    11BrusselsEuro-Med Energy Ministerial
    11-15StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
    12BrusselsPolitical Committee
    14LondonEU/Canada Summit
    14-15LondonInnovative Partnerships for Competitiveness Conference
    14-16LondonConference on Culture and Employment
    15-17BirminghamG8 Summit
    18LondonEU/US Summit
    18BrusselsDevelopment Council
    18BrusselsInternal Market Council
    18-20Northern IrelandRegional Affairs Committee
    19BrusselsTelecoms Council
    19BrusselsECOFIN Council
    20LondonEU Public Administration Ministers meeting
    25-26BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
    25-26BrusselsAgriculture Council
    27-28BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
    28BrusselsCulture and Audiovisual Council
    28-29BrusselsJustice & Home Affairs Council
    June 1998
    2LuxembourgPolitical Committee
    4LuxembourgEducation & Social Affairs Council
    5LuxembourgECOFIN Council
    8LuxembourgFisheries Council
    8-9LuxembourgGeneral Affairs Council (t.b.c.)
    8-9GlasgowRegional Policy/Spatial Planning Ministers' informal
    15-16CardiffEuropean Council
    15-19StrasbourgEuropean Parliament Plenary
    16-17LuxembourgEnvironment Council
    17LuxembourgJoint Environment & Transport Council
    18LuxembourgTransport Council
    19GlasgowEnergy & Environment Conference
    22LuxembourgResearch Council
    22-23LuxembourgAgriculture Council
    25BrusselsPresidency Biotechnology Round Table
    29-30LuxembourgGeneral Affairs Council (t.b.c.)
    July 1998
    1-2BrusselsEuropean Parliament Plenary
    6BrusselsECOFIN Council
    6-7LuxembourgPolitical Committee
    8-10InnsbruckEmployment/Social Affairs/Women (Informal)
    13LuxembourgPolitical Committee
    13-14LuxembourgGeneral Affairs Council
    17-19LuxembourgEnvironment Council (Informal)
    20-21BrusselsAgriculture Council
    23LuxembourgPolitical Committee
    27LuxembourgBudget Council
    August 1998
    September 1998
    3BrusselsPolitical Committee
    5-6SalzburgForeign Ministers (Informal)
    7-8BrusselsSpecial Committee on Agriculture
    11BrusselsCulture Council
    14-15BrusselsSpecial Committee on Agriculture
    19-22St. Wolfgang, AustriaAgriculture Council (Informal)
    24BrusselsJustice & Home Affairs
    24BrusselsInternal Market
    28BrusselsPolitical Committee
    28-29BrusselsAgriculture Council

2 Apr 1998 : Column WA59


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