Monday, 8th June 1998.

June 3–4: Joint Education & Social Affairs Council

• Adoption of the Agenda.
• A points—Draft Directive extending the Burden of Proof Directive to the UK—Draft Regulation amending 1408/71 (various amendments 1997).
• Preparation of the Cardiff European Council: Debate.
• Commission proposals for draft decisions for the new generation of education, training and youth programmes: Presentation by the Commission and debate.
• Draft decision on European Pathways including Apprenticeship.
• Presidency information on a pilot project on European Teacher Mobility.
• Draft Directive on the Transferability of Supplementary Pension Rights of migrant workers.
• Draft Regulation amending Regulation 1408/71 and 574/72 on social security rights of migrant workers.
• Draft Directive amending the directive safeguarding the rights of workers in the event of the transfer of undertakings.
• Draft Directive on employee involvement in the European Company Statute: Political agreement.
• Communication on the future of the Social Dialogue: Commission presentation.
• Social Policy Action programme: Commission presentation.

June 5: Ecofin Council (provisional agenda)

• Commission and EIB report on the loan guarantee system for lending to third countries.
• Council draft if Broad Economic Policy Guidelines.
• Preparation of Cardiff European Council.
• Preparation of Stage 3 of EMU.
• Adoption of ECB legislation under Article 106(6): Collection of statistical information by the ECB—minimum reserves of financial institutions at the ECB—Powers of the ECB to impose sanctions on institutions failing to comply with monetary regulations.
• Appointment of ECB auditors.
• Rules and composition of Economic and Financial Committee.

June 8: Fisheries Council

• Post-Amsterdam enforcement proposal: debate, (possible) adoption.
• Commission report on the follow-up to the 1997 Bergen Inter-Ministerial meeting: Council conclusions.
• Commission progress report on the 2002 Review: Progress report.
• Proposal for revision of Structural Funds: Adoption (possible item).
• Revision of basic Marketing Regulation (3759/1992): Policy debate.
• Proposal on rules for mesh size combinations: Policy debate.

June 8–9: General Affairs Council (provisional agenda)

• Korea: Council Decision on Conclusion of EU/Korea framework Agreement (possible A point).
• China: Council conclusions (possible A point).
• Additional Protocols concerning the IAEA "93+2" Programme (possible A point).
• Schengen.
• Agenda 2000.
• Preparations for Cardiff European Council: Procedural.
• Enlargement.
• Lomée.
• Mediterranean Policy (possible item).
• South Africa.
• Western Balkans.
• Middle East Peace Process.
• Great Lakes.
• EU/Mercosur and EU/Chile (possible item).
• Renegotiation of Industrial GSP Regulation.

June 15–16: European Council

• Not yet available.

June 16–17: Environment Council

• Proposal for a Council Directive relating to limit values for sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, particulate matter and lead in ambient air: Common position, co-operation procedure Art. 189c.
• Proposal for a Council Directive relating to a reduction of the sulphur content of certain liquid fuels and amending Directive 93/12/EEC: Common position, co-operation procedure Art. 189c.
• Amended proposal for a Council Directive establishing a framework for a Community action in the field of water policy: Orientation debate, co-operation procedure Art. 189c.
• Proposal for a Council recommendation relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos: Common position, co-operation procedure Art. 189c.
• Proposal for a Council Directive amending Directive 90/220 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms: Orientation debate.
• Proposal for a Council Directive on emissions from heavy goods vehicles: Orientation debate.
• Community strategy on climate change: Council conclusions.
• Community strategy on biological diversity: Council conclusions (possible item).
• Carbon dioxide emissions from cars: Council conclusions (possible item).

June 17: Joint Transport and the Environment Council

• Transport and Environment: Orientation debate and Council conclusions.

June 18: Transport Council (provisional agenda)

• EASA: Adoption.
• Air traffic management: Adoption.
• EU/US aviation: Debate.
• Denied Boarding Compensation: Agreement of Conclusions.
• Hush-kits: Debate, political agreement.
• Computer reservation systems: Common position.
• NOx: Agreement of conclusions.
• Random checks: Debate, political agreement.
• Dangerous goods safety adviser training: Debate, political agreement.
• Railways: Progress report.
• Transport safety: Debate.
• Ferry Operators: Debate, political agreement.
• Manning conditions: Debate.
• Ports green paper: Report by Commission.

June 22: Research Council

• Fifth EC Framework Programme—specific programmes: Thematic programmes—International co-operation—Innovation and participation of SMEs—Improving human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base: (possible) agreement.
• Fifth EURATOM Framework Programme—EURATOM part of specific programmes: (possible) Agreement.
• JRC programmes: (possible) Agreement.
• Rules of participation and dissemination of results (Article 130j decisions): (possible) Common position (EC)/decision) (EURATOM).

June 22–23: Agriculture Council

• Not yet available.

June 29–30: General Affairs Council (provisional agenda)

• Enlargement.
• Follow-up to Cardiff European Council.
• Lomée.
• Transatlantic Relations.
• Western Balkans.
• Middle East Peace Process.
• Iran.
• Pakistan (possible item).

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.

The Council underlined EU support for Indonesia, called on President Habibie to continue political reform, welcomed the release of two political prisoners and called on the Indonesian authorities to co-operate constructively with the efforts under the auspices of the UN Secretary General on East Timor.

The Foreign Secretary briefed partners on his visit to Ankara on 19 May, and reported Turkey's decision not to attend the Association Council which had been planned for 25 May.

The Council discussed preparations for the ad hoc meeting of Euro-Mediterranean Foreign Ministers in Palermo on 3–4 June. This should give renewed impetus to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership and prepare the ground for the third Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference in Stuttgart in April 1999. The Council endorsed the Presidency's handling, and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the meeting is a success.

The Council took note of developments in the Middle East Peace Process in the light of on-going US efforts. The French Foreign Minister briefed colleagues on the Franco-Egyptian "Call for Peace".

The Council heard a report from Mr. Felipe Gonzalez, the EU and OSCE Special Representative for the FRY. It noted with concern recent developments in the FRY affecting the freedom of the media. It welcomed the opening of a dialogue between Belgrade and the leadership of the Kosovar Albanian community, while expressing grave concern about the escalating violence in the province. It underlined the need for the parliamentary elections in Montenegro on 31 May to be free and fair and for their results to be respected by all.

The Council agreed to consider on 29 June whether Croatia should continue to benefit from Autonomous Trade Measures in the light of that country's performance on refugee returns and other important issues such as democratisation and independent media.

The Council endorsed the principle of financial support for Azerbaijan (beyond that provided under TACIS), as proposed by the Commission, subject to technical examination by Financial Counsellors.

The Foreign Secretary drew attention to the EU/Russia Summit (15 May) and reported on the outcome of the G8 Birmingham Summit.

Aviation Week, 20 April); and, if they were not consulted, or did not agree, what is their view of such jamming. [HL1959]

Source:

¹ Annual Report by the General Manager of the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board.

² The 1997 figure shows traffic flow for northbound traffic only. (One-way tolling was established on the bridge in September 1997).

Letter to Viscount Simon from the Director of Network and Customer Services of the Highways Agency, Mr. P. Nutt, dated 8 June 1998.

The Minister for Roads, Lady Hayman, has asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency to reply to your recent parliamentary questions about the sweeping of motorway hard shoulders. I am writing on his behalf.

The Highways Agency is only responsible for the trunk roads and motorways in England. The requirements for sweeping and cleaning of roads (including motorway hard shoulders) are dictated by the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse. The code defines standards of cleanliness and requires that an area be returned to a set cleanliness standard within a specified time of it falling to a lower standard. It does not require roads to be cleaned at regular frequencies.

In England, the Highways Agency contracts with maintaining agents and contractors for the routine maintenance of motorways, including the sweeping and cleaning of motorway hard shoulders. Information from regular safety inspections and safety patrols on our motorways is used to programme sweeping and cleaning, as need dictates. The aim is to achieve the overall cleanliness standard set in the code and to target "black spot" locations which result from factors such as debris from vehicles or wind blown litter.

I regret that, as sweeping of hard shoulders is on an "as needs" basis, information on how many times the hard shoulder of each motorway in England has been swept in each of the past five years, and even in the current year, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

₁₀ and PM_2.5 particles from diesel emissions. [HL2080]

They are:

Escapes

• to ensure no Category A prisoners escape;
• to ensure that the number of escapes from prisons and from escorts, expressed as a proportion of the prison population, is lower than in 1997–98.

Assaults

• to ensure that the number of assaults on staff, prisoners and others, expressed as a proportion of the average population, is lower than 9 per cent.

Drugs

• to ensure that the rate of positive testing for drugs (the number of random drug tests that prove positive expressed as a percentage of the total number of random tests carried out) is lower than 20 per cent.

Overcrowding

• to ensure that the percentage of the prison population above the uncrowded capacity of the estate is no more than 12 per cent.

Purposeful Activity

• to ensure that prisoners spend on average at least 24 hours per week engaged in purposeful activity.

Time Unlocked

• to ensure that at least 60 per cent. of prisoners are held in establishments which normally unlock all prisoners on the standard or enhanced regime for at least ten hours per weekday.

Offending behaviour programmes

• to ensure that there are at least 3,000 completions by prisoners of programmes accredited as being effective in reducing re-offending, of which 680 should be completions of the Sex Offender Treatment Programmes.

Cost Per Place

• to ensure that the average cost of a prison place does not exceed £24,615.

Staff Training

• to ensure that, on average, staff spend at least 6.5 days in training.

We will publish a longer term strategy for the Prison Service, including new objectives and targets, once the Comprehensive Spending Review is completed.

This was a very successful Council, where agreement was reached on a number of outstanding issues. There was also full discussion on a range of issues relating to the justice and home affairs aspects of the enlargement process. The main matters dealt with were as follows.

Ministers signed the Convention on Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Matrimonial Matters (known as the 'Brussels II Convention') and its Protocol relating to the European Court of Justice. This convention establishes grounds for court jurisdiction in cases of divorce, nullity and separation, as well as related parental responsibility orders securing care for any children involved.

The Council agreed as "A" points, among other things, a report on terrorist funding aimed at combating terrorism by cutting off sources of funding and countering terrorist fund raising; a report on football hooliganism; a report on the exchange of DNA analysis results; conclusions on encryption and law enforcement; a recommendation seeking to establish uniform levels of expertise and equipment for detecting forged documents at points of entry into the European Union: and a Council Communication concerning a uniform format for residence permits.

The Council held a wide-ranging open debate on organised crime, in which Ministers stressed concerns about the growing threat posed by criminal organisations and the need for member states to act both individually and collectively to combat the threat. The Council agreed that environmental and economic crime in particular were activities on which more work should be taken forward.

The Council noted a report on progress in implementing the Action Plan on Organised Crime which, subject to appropriate updating, will now be submitted to the Cardiff European Council.

Political agreement was reached on the Convention on Driving Disqualification, which will now be finalised and made ready for early signature. This convention is an important road safety measure which will enable a driving disqualification imposed in one member state to be enforced in another.

A Joint Action was agreed on good practice in mutual legal assistance. A further Joint Action establishing a European Judicial Network was also agreed, which will help to speed up gathering of evidence across jurisdictions and facilitate contacts between magistrates and prosecutors. This was one of the recommendations in the Action Plan on Organised Crime.

The Council noted progress in the preparations for Europol to begin working. The ratification by all member states of the Convention is expected to be completed soon. The Council agreed that the activities of Europol should be extended to terrorism in principle from 1 January 1999 and that the necessary preparatory work should be put in hand. We also agreed the Europol budget for 1999.

The Council had a wide-ranging discussion on the Convention on Mutual Legal Assistance, and reached agreement on some of the outstanding issues. However, further work remains to be done on several important issues, including data protection, interception of communications and the role of the European Court of Justice.

The Council agreed a Joint Action establishing a mechanism for collective evaluation of applicant states' implementation of the acquis in the Justice and Home Affairs field. A new expert group will be able to draw on the wide range of information already available and feed the results of its evaluations into the wider enlargement process. Conclusions on the "rule of law" were also agreed, which will provide guidelines to the applicant states on what they need to do to build democratic and accountable institutions as a necessary precondition for European Union membership. There was also a discussion of ways in which the applicant states might be associated with the practical application of the Justice and Home Affairs acquis before their formal accession, and this issue will be considered further.

The Council held a joint meeting with Interior and Justice Ministers from the applicant countries to approve the Pre-Accession Pact on Organised Crime, which was another of the recommendations of the Action Plan on Organised Crime; its approval six months ahead of the timetable set by the Amsterdam Council represents a significant achievement. Ministers also had a useful discussion covering organised crime, implementation of the pre-accession pact and the rule of law. There was full agreement on the importance placed on these issues, and members of the Justice and Home Affairs Council emphasised that they stood ready to assist the candidate countries in these areas.

The Council agreed arrangements for the exchange of information and best practice in crime prevention, in advance of the coming into force of the Treaty of Amsterdam. A report on European Union drugs activities was approved and will be forwarded to the European Council in Cardiff. This included elements of a post-1999 European Union drugs strategy.

The Council discussed, on the basis of proposals from Italy, the varying data protection provisions which exist in different Justice and Home Affairs instruments. Further work was commissioned to examine the scope and need for greater harmonisation of approach.

A progress report was presented on the Action Plan on the influx of migrants from Iraq and the neighbouring region. The incoming Austrian Presidency agreed to pursue the implementation of the Action Plan and to report to the next meeting of the Council in September.

There was a full discussion of outstanding issues on the Eurodac convention, which is concerned with fingerprinting of asylum applicants. It was agreed that a Protocol should be drawn up to extend the convention to fingerprints of illegal immigrants. This is intended to be adopted by the end of 1998, when the other outstanding issues on the Convention itself should also be resolved.

After the Council, the first meeting was held of the Committee of Ministers set up under Article 18 of the Dublin Convention, which lays down criteria for determining the state responsible for deciding asylum applications. The committee agreed on a Decision and a Programme of Action aimed at improving the operation of the Dublin Convention.