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Yugoslavia: Land Rovers for UNHCR

Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have for exporting two armoured Land Rovers to the office of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Belgrade in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY).[HL827]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Her Majesty's Government has granted a licence for the export to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) of two armoured vehicles based on the Land Rover Defender 110 for use by UNHCR personnel. Given the key humanitarian role played by the UNHCR in the FRY, and the obvious need for the UNHCR to be able to protect staff serving with its office in Belgrade, including against landmines, we were glad to be able to approve this licence. The UN Sanctions Committee appointed under UNSCR 1160 has raised no objection to it.

Bosnia: Protective Clothing for EU Monitoring Mission

Baroness Goudie asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals they have for exporting a ballistic undervest to the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) in Bosnia.[HL828]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government have granted a licence for the export to Bosnia of a ballistic undervest for use by the Paymaster General at the European Community Monitoring Mission (ECMM) in Sarajevo. We were glad to approve this export licence in view of the obvious need for the ECMM to be able to protect its staff involved in international peace-keeping activities in the former Yugoslavia.

European Union: Forthcoming Business

Baroness Pitkeathley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for February; and list the major European Union events for the next six months.[HL829]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: See below.

Monthly forecast of business: February 1999

Date	Location	Event
February 1999
4-6	Bonn	Ministers for Labour & Social Affairs (Informal)
8	Brussels	ECOFIN
8-9	Dakar	EU/ACP Ministerial
8-12	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
11-12	Berlin	Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)
22	Brussels	Political Committee
22-23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
22-23	Brussels	Agriculture Council
24-25	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
25	Brussels	Internal Market
26	Petersberg	Informal meeting of Heads of State and Government

2 Feb 1999 : Column WA197

The following subjects are likely to be discussed: February 4-6: Ministers for Labour/Social Affairs (Informal)

No formal agenda February 8: ECOFIN

Stability and growth pact: examination of stability and convergence programmes

Economic situation and policy in the Community (Policy debate on macro-economic and structural policy issues)

Agenda 2000

Financial framework

Inter-institutional agreement

Report on own resources

February 8-9: EU/ACP Ministerial

Ministerial negotiations on the Lome convention

February 8-12: European Parliament Plenary

No agenda yet available

February 11-12: Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)

No formal agenda

February 22-23: General Affairs Council

Agenda 2000

Enlargement

Amsterdam treaty

Report from the Council General Secretariat on the Council's operating procedure in the light of an enlarged Union

2 Feb 1999 : Column WA198

Slovenia

preparation of the 1st Association Council

(possible "A" item)

Latvia

preparation of the 1st Association Council

(possible "A" point)

Lithuania

preparation of the 1st Association Council

(possible "A" point)

Human rights

Western Balkans

EU-Pakistan

Operation agreement (possible "A" item)

Middle East Peace process

Great Lakes

February 22-23: Agriculture Council

No agenda yet available

February 24-25: European Parliament Plenary

No agenda yet available

February 25: Internal Market Council

No agenda yet available

February 26: Informal meeting of Heads of State and Government

No formal agenda expected but likely to focus on Agenda 2000.

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 at the date of issue.

European Calendar: February-July 1999

Date	Location	Event
February 1999
4-6	Bonn	Ministers for Labour & Social Affairs (Informal)
8	Brussels	ECOFIN
8-9	Dakar	EU/ACP Ministerial
8-12	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
11-12	Berlin	Ministers for Justice & Home Affairs (Informal)
22	Brussels	Political Committee
22-23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
22-23	Brussels	Agriculture Council
24-25	Brussels	European Parliament Plenary
25	Brussels	Internal Market
26	Petersberg	Informal Meeting of Heads of State and Government
March 1999
2	Brussels	Youth Council (possible)
8-12	Strasbourg	European Parliament Plenary
9	Brussels	Social Affairs Council
11-12	Brussels	Environment Council
12	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
13-14	Reinhartshausen	Foreign Ministers (Informal)
15	Brussels	ECOFIN
15-16	Brussels	Agriculture Council
18	Brussels	Education Council (possible)
22	Brussels	Political Committee
22-23	Brussels	General Affairs Council
24-25	Berlin	Special European Council
29	Brussels	Transport Council
29-30	Berlin	Asia-Europe Foreign Ministers
30	Brussels	Fisheries Council
April 1999
13	Luxembourg	Consumer Affairs Council
15-16	Stuttgart	Euro-Med Foreign Ministers Conference "Barcelona III"
16-18	Dresden	ECOFIN (Informal)
19-20	Luxembourg	Agricultural Council
22	Luxembourg	Telecommunications Council
23-25	Mecklenburg	Environment Ministers (Informal)
24-25	Luxembourg	NATO Summit
26-27	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
29	Luxembourg	Industry Council
May 1999
6	Brussels	EU-ACP Ministerial meeting
7-9	Brussels	Environment Council (Informal)
10	Brussels	ECOFIN
10	Bremen	WEU Council
10-11	Berlin	Trade Ministers (Informal)
11	Brussels	Energy Council
17-18	Brussels	General Affairs Council
17-18	Brussels	Agriculture Council
18	Brussels	EEA Council
18	Brussels	Co-Operation Council with Russia
18-19	Weimar	Culture Ministers (Informal)
20	Brussels	Research Council
21	Brussels	Development Council
25	Brussels	Joint ECOFIN and Labour & Social Affairs Council
25	Brussels	Social Affairs Council
27	Brussels	Youth Council
27-28	Brussels	Justice & Home Affairs Council
31	Brussels	General Affairs Council
30 May-1 June	Dresden	Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
June 1999
1	Dresden	Agriculture Ministers (Informal)
3-4	Cologne	European Council
7	Luxembourg	Education Council
8	Luxembourg	Health Council
10	Luxembourg	Fisheries Council
14	Luxembourg	ECOFIN (possible)
14-15	Luxembourg	Agriculture Council
17	Bonn	EU-Japan Summit
17-18	Luxembourg	Transport Council
18-20	Cologne	G8
21	Luxembourg	Internal Market
21	Bonn	EU-USA/Canada Summit
21-22	Luxembourg	General Affairs Council
22	Luxembourg	Labour & Social Affairs Council (possible)
24-25	Luxembourg	Environment Council
28	Luxembourg	Culture Council
July 1999
2--3	Oulu	Industry and Research Ministers (Informal)
9-10	Oulu	Labour/Social Affairs Ministers (Informal)
12	Brussels	ECOFIN
16	Brussels	Budget
16-18	Helsinki	Environment Ministers (Informal)
18-20	Savonlinna	Culture/Audiovisual Ministers (Informal)
19-20	Brussels	Agriculture

2 Feb 1999 : Column WA200

Afghanistan: Arms Embargo

Baroness Pitkeathley asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the United Kingdom will continue to impose an arms embargo on Afghanistan in line with the European Union's common position of 17 December 1996.[HL830]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government remain committed to the EU arms embargo against Afghanistan, which the UK interprets as covering all goods and technology entered on Part III to Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods Order 1994, as amended.

Following consultations with this department and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently issued a licence for the export of mine clearance equipment for use by the Halo Trust to aid their demining activities in Afghanistan. The grant of this licence is for humanitarian purposes, and falls outside the scope of the embargo.

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