Hansard

European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Volume 622: debated on Wednesday 28 February 2001

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Baroness Hilton of Eggardon

asked Her Majesty's Government:What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for March; and what are the major European Union events for the period between 31 March and August 2001. [HL952]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Please see the following list.To date we have received the detailed agendas for the following Council meetings in March:

March 8, Brussels, Environment Council

  • 1. Directive on type-approval of 2 and 3-wheeled motor vehicles (common position)
  • 2. 6th Environment Action Programme (policy debate, public)
  • 3. Integration of environmental aspects into other policy areas, strategy for sustainable development (information from Presidency and Commission)
  • 4. World summit on sustainable development, 2002 (presentation by Commission, information by Presidency)
  • 5. White Paper on chemicals strategy (policy debate)
  • 6. Climate change (council conclusions, preparation for COP6)
  • 7. Commission Communication on bathing water policy (exchange of views)
  • 8. Commission Green Paper on integrated product policy (presentation)
  • 9. Presidency reports on state of play on:
    • —Directive on public access to information
    • —Directive on public participation
    • —Directive on waste electrical and electronic equipment, and draft directive on restriction of use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment
    • —Decision on the list of priority substances for water policy
    • —Directive on recreational craft
    • —Directive on non-road mobile machinery (auto-oils)
    • —Recommendation on integrated coastal zone management
  • 10. (possibly) Commission proposals on labelling and traceability of GMOs (Commission presentation)
  • 11. AOB, including a request from the Netherlands for information on measures to reduce emissions of VOCs, in line with the Council minutes statements in June 2000.

    • March 12, Brussels, Internal Market/Consumer Affairs/Tourism Council

  • 1. The Cardiff economic reform process—Internal Market aspects
    • —Council conclusions
  • 2. The European Council in Stockholm, 23–24 March—Internal Market aspects
    • —Policy debate
  • 3. Commission strategy for removing barriers to trade in services
    • —Orientation debate
  • 4. Commission strategy for better lawmaking—simplification of legislation
    • —Presentation by the Commission—
  • 5. Strategy for integration of environmental protection and sustainable development into Internal Market policy
    • —Information by the Presidency
  • 6. (poss.) Parallel imports/Exhaustion of trademark rights
    • —Orientation debate
  • 7. Community patent
    • —Orientation debate/Progress report
  • 8. (poss.) Community design
    • —Adoption
  • 9. (poss.) European company statute
    • —Adoption
  • 10. (poss.) Strategy for customs union
    • —Resolution
  • 11. Public procurement
    • —Orientation debate
  • 12. eEurope action plan
    • —Progress report
    • —Exchange of views
  • 13. (poss.) White Paper on chemicals strategy—internal market and consumer aspects
    • —Presentation by the Commission
  • 14. Food law and establishing the European food authority
    • —Orientation debate
  • 15. Proposal on food supplements
    • —Political agreement/Common position
  • 16. Distance marketing of consumer financial services
    • —Political agreement

    Other business

    March 1–3, Uppsala, Informal Research and Education Council

    March 6, Brussels, Employment and Social Affairs Council

    March 12, Brussels, ECOFIN Council

    March 15–16, Brussels, Justice and Home Affairs Council

    March 19, Brussels, Agriculture Council

    March 19–20, Brussels, General Affairs Council

    March 21, Brussels—Fisheries Council

    March 23–24, Stockholm, European council

    March 31-April 1, Brussels, Informal Meeting of Ministers of the Environment

    No agendas for the above are available at present.

    The following are the principal events in the EU between 1 April and August 2001 (certain relevant events are also included: the list is based on the information available at the date of issue.)

    Date

    Location

    Event

    April

    5–6BrusselsTransport/Telecommunications Council
    8–10BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
    8–10BrusselsAgriculture Council (Informal)
    24–25BrusselsAgriculture Council

    May

    5–6NykopingGymnich
    7BrusselsECOFIN Council
    7BrusselsEmployment and Social Council (possible)
    14–15BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
    14–15BrusselsIndustry and Energy Council
    22–23BrusselsAgriculture Council
    28–29BrusselsJustice and Home Affairs Council
    28BrusselsEducation and Youth Council
    31BrusselsDevelopment Council
    31BrusselsHealth Council

    June

    5BrusselsECOFIN Council
    5BrusselsInternal market/Consumer Council
    7–8BrusselsEnvironment Council
    11–12BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
    11–12BrusselsAccession Ministerial Conference
    11BrusselsEmployment/Social Affairs Council
    15–16GothenburgEuropean Council
    18BrusselsFisheries Council (possible)
    19–20BrusselsAgriculture Council
    19BrusselsECOFIN Council (possible)
    21BrusselsCulture Council
    25–26BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
    26BrusselsResearch Council

    Date

    Location

    Event

    27–28BrusselsTransport/Telecommunications Council

    July

    6–7BrusselsInformal Employment and Social Affairs Council
    10BrusselsECOF1N Council
    13–14BrusselsRegional Territories Council (Informal)'?
    16–17BrusselsGeneral Affairs Council
    20BrusselsBudget Council
    23–24BrusselsAgriculture Council

    August

    		There are no European Councils scheduled for August