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Written Answers
Tuesday, 11th June 2002.
EU Flag
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the legal status of the European Union flag; and whether in order to fly it on public or other buildings it is necessary to have a local authority licence or other authority.[HL4326]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): The flying of the EU flag in the UK is controlled under the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) Regulations 1992 and for this purpose the flag is classified as an "outdoor advertisement".
Government buildings benefit from Crown immunity. In order to fly the EU flag from other buildings the express consent of the local planning authority is required.
Black Sea and Adriatic: Land Communications
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the context of the South-East Europe Stability Pact and the Prime Minister's recent remarks on migration in Europe, they can report progress on improving land communications between the Black Sea and the Adriatic, or on an oil bypass for the Bosphorus and Dardanelles; and when they expect improvements to come into use.[HL4480]
Baroness Amos: Land communications between the Black Sea and the Adriatic are being improved largely through the Corridor VIII road and rail project to link Burgas (Bulgaria) and Durres (Albania). Some work on the various elements of the corridor is under way but we understand that there are differences between some states of the region over rail routes and prioritisation of component projects. We hope that the parties involved will soon approve a memorandum of understanding to enable the work to accelerate.
A number of projects involving oil pipelines which would bypass the Bosphorus are under consideration. The two most advanced proposals are (a) a pipeline from Burgas via Macedonia to Vlore (Albania) on the Adriatic coast and (b) a pipeline from Burgas with Alexandropoulis (Greece) on the Aegean Sea coast. We understand that no firm decision has been made with regard to construction of either.
Turkey and Iraq
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they can confirm reports from France and Germany that heavily armed Turkish military forces crossed the frontier into Iraq on 16 May, killed and wounded some civilians and arrested others, who were then subjected to torture; whether NATO was informed of any such operations; and, in any case, what is their response.[HL4506]
Baroness Amos: We cannot confirm the reports cited by the noble Lord; nor have we received other reports suggesting a major incident of that kind. We continue to monitor the situation closely and to raise our concerns where appropriate.
Convention on the Future of Europe
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to set up fora within the United Kingdom to engender and encourage discussion relating to the Convention on the Future of Europe as envisaged and recommended on page 33 of the first progress report from the United Kingdom representatives to the convention; if so, what form these fora will take; and, if not, why not.[HL4545]
Baroness Amos: The convention recommends that member states organise forums for civil society to discuss the future of Europe. In line with the Government's efforts to bring Europe closer to the people, we are encouraging local and regional governments, think tanks and other public organisations to engage in this debate. There will also be a web-based discussion and direct contact with citizens during ministerial visits across the country.
Inter-Congolese Dialogue
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What material assistance they have provided to facilitate the Inter-Congolese Dialogue; and with what tangible results.[HL4615]
Baroness Amos: The UK has provided substantial financial assistance of £525,000 and an expert to work with the talks facilitator, former President of Botswana, Sir Ketumile Masire. As a result of the dialogue, for the first time in almost 30 years a large representation of Congolese society have come together to discuss arrangements for a democratic government in the DRC. We welcome the progress that was made during these discussions and continue to work with all the parties to conclude arrangements for an inclusive transitional government which will lead to peace in the country for the first time for many years.
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they intend to support the United Nations peace-keeping force in the eastern Congo during the coming year; what is the strength of that force; how many casualties it has suffered; and how it will be expanded.[HL4616]
Baroness Amos: In addition to political and financial support, the UK is providing six military personnel to the United Nations Mission in the DRC. The mandated strength of the UN force is 5,537, of which 3,633 are deployed in theatre. There have been six fatalities since the mission was established in November 1999. The force can only be expanded on the recommendation of the Secretary General and with the agreement of the Security Council. There are no plans to do so at present.
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What foreign armies are operating in the areas of the eastern Congo monitored by the United Nations; and what is the estimated strength of those forces.[HL4617]
Baroness Amos: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and Angola still have troops in eastern DRC. The estimated strength of these forces is 4,000, 20,000–30,000, 1,500, 8,000 and 1,000 respectively.
European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
Baroness Gould of Potternewton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for June, and what are the major European Union Events for the period between 1 July and November 2002.[HL4640]
2. (poss) Approval of the list of "A" items
3. Preparation of the Seville European Council
— Council report on Broad Economic Policy and Guidelines
— Council report on administrative co-operation in tax matters.
4. (poss) Recasting of the Financial Regulation
7. (poss) Directive on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision
8. Sixth half-yearly Commission report on the Financial Services Action Plan
- — Report on dependent or associated territories
- — Report on negotiations with third States
- — Political agreement
— Administrative co-operation in tax matters
- — Council conclusions
10. Methods of evaluating output gaps
11. Advantages of the different types of pension schemes
6–7 June—Industry and Energy Council—Brussels
1. Approval of provisional agenda
2. (poss) Approval of the list of "A" items
3. Competitiveness and enterprise policy in the EU
- (a) — Commission communication "Productivity: the key to competitiveness"
- — Annual Commission report on competitiveness (2002)
- — Presentation by the Commission and discussion
- — Council conclusions
- (b) — Communication from the Commission on the impact of the e-Economy on European businesses: economic analysis and political implications 14748/01 ECO 367
- — Council conclusions
- (c) — Report on the European Charter for Small Enterprises; Follow-up to the Barcelona European Council on 15 and 16 March 2002
- — Presidency briefing 6125/02 ECO 38
- (a) Strategy for chemicals
- — Commission briefing
- (b) Contribution of enterprise policy to sustainable development
- — Discussion
- — Council conclusions
- (c) Expiry of the ECSC Treaty
- — Commission briefing
- (d) Situation on the world steel market
- — Commission briefing
- (e) Fifth report from the Commission to the Council on the situation in world shipbuilding
- — Presentation by the Commission 8689/02 RC 6
- (b) Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning a temporary defensive mechanism in shipbuilding (LA) (*)
- (f) Proposal for a Council Regulation on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty and amending Regulations (EEC) No 1017/68, (EEC) No 2988/74, (EEC) No 4056/86 and (EEC) No 3975/87
- — Progress report
- (g) XXXIst Commission Report on Competition Policy 2001
- — Presentation by the Commission
- 8455/02 RC 4
State-aid scoreboard—Spring 2002 edition
- — Presentation by the Commission
- — Council conclusions
- 6415/02 RECH 40 ENV 103 CONSOM 14 SAN 24 DEVGEN 15 MI 31 IND 23 AGRI 43 SOC 87 RELEX 27 EDUC 30 AG 6
- — Presidency briefing on the outcome of the Ministerial Conference in Malaga on 9 and 10 April 2002 7922/02 ECO 116 MED 30
- — Report from the High-Level Working Party on innovation and the supply of medicinal products
- — Commission briefing
12. Proposal for a Council Regulation on State aid to the coal industry after the expiry of the ECSC Treaty (LA) (*)
- — Political agreement
- (h) Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directives 96/92/EC and 98/30/EC concerning
- common rules for the internal market in electricity and natural gas (LA) (*)
- — Political agreement
- (i) Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on conditions for access to the network for cross-border exchanges in electricity (LA)
- — Progress report
- — General approach
- — General approach
- — Progress report
- — Presentation by the Commission
- — Commission briefing on follow-up to consultations on the Green Paper on security of supply
3—Brussels—Employment and Social Affairs Council
3—Brussels—Eurogroup (Evening)
6–7—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary session
6–7—Madrid—EU-ASEM meeting (EU 15)
6–8—Brussels—Foreign Affairs (ASEM Ministers)
10–11—Brussels—General Affairs Council
10–11—Brussels—Agriculture Council
13–14—Brussels—Justice and Home Affairs Council
17–18—Brussels—General Affairs Council
21–22—Seville—European Council
24—Brussels—General Affairs Council (Evening)
24–25—Brussels—Convention on the Future of Europe—Plenary Session
24–25—Brussels—Environment Council
The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 July and November 2002. The list is based on the information available at the date of issue.
| Date | Location | Event |
| July | ||
| 12–13 | Kolding | Meeting of Employment and Social Policy Ministers (Informal) |
| 15–16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 19 | Brussels | Budget Meeting |
| 19–21 | Arhus | Environment Ministers meeting (Informal) |
| 22–23 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| August | ||
| 31–1 | Elisnore | Gymnich (Ministerial Informal) |
| September | ||
| 6 | Brussels | ASEM Economic Ministers Meeting |
| 6–8 | Copenhagen | ECOFIN (Ministerial Informal) |
| 8–10 | Nyborg | Agriculture Council (Ministerial Informal) |
| 12–13 | Copenhagen | Justice and Home Affairs Council (Ministerial Informal) |
| 22–23 | Copenhagen | ASEM Meeting |
| 23–24 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 26 | Brussels | Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Tourism Council |
| 27 | Tent | ACP-EU Ministers Meeting |
| 30 | Brussels | Research Council |
| 30–1 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| October | ||
| 3–4 | Brussels | Transport and Telecommunications Council |
| 8 | Brussels | ECOFIN |
| 8 | Brussels | Employment and Social Policy Council |
| 14 | Brussels | Fisheries Council |
| 14–15 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council |
| 15–16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 17 | Brussels | Environment Council |
| 18–19 | Aalborg | Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Industry Meeting (Ministerial Informal) |
| 21–22 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 24–25 | Brussels | European Council |
| November | ||
| 1 | Brussels | Culture Council |
| 2 | Brussels | ECOFIN—Troika meeting on Macro-Economic Dialogue |
| 12 | Brussels | Education and Youth Council |
| 14–15 | Brussels | Internal Market, Consumer Affairs and Youth Council |
| 18 | Brussels | Fisheries Council |
| 18–19 | Brussels | General Affairs Council |
| 19–20 | Brussels | Agriculture Council |
| 22 | Brussels | Development Council |
| 25–26 | Brussels | Budget (Council) |
| 25–26 | Brussels | Industry and Energy Council |
| 28–29 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs, and Civil Protection Council |
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