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CFSP Working Group Meetings: UK Representation
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many British diplomats (a) based in London and (b) based in Europe are normally engaged in working groups on the Common Foreign and Security Policy in Brussels.[HL1721]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The United Kingdom is represented at all working group meetings: usually by one London-based member of staff, and by one member of staff based at the United Kingdom Representation to the European Union.
Nuclear Disarmament
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they endorse the view of former President Carter as expressed in the Washington Post on 23 February that the world is facing a nuclear crisis for a variety of reasons including the failure of nuclear powers to meet the terms of the proviso stipulated by potential nuclear powers at the time of the renewal of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty in 1995 and the continual maintenance by the United States and Russia of nuclear missiles in a "hair-trigger alert" status.[HL1553]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No. But the Government do agree that further early steps need to be taken towards nuclear disarmament and continue to press for progress.
United Nations: Modernisation
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What priorities they have so far identified for the reform and regeneration of the United Nations.[HL1724]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We strongly support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General to modernise the UN to make it more efficient and effective and better able to meet the needs of all its members. In particular, we want to see the implementation of modern management and budgetary practices. Together with our EU partners, we look forward to a high-level discussion on strengthening the UN at the Millennium Summit in New York in September.
WEU Parliamentary Assembly
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Bearing in mind the implications of the European security and defence initiative for the Western European Union, what they envisage as the future role of the WEU Parliamentary Assembly, with
- particular reference to European nations which are members of NATO but not of the European Union and European and European nations which are members of neither NATO nor the European Union.[HL1725]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are committed to parliamentary scrutiny of European defence by national parliaments. Discussions on the future of the WEU Assembly are at an early stage. The WEU Assembly proposal for the creation of a European Security and Defence Assembly is one of the options under consideration.
Zimbabwe: Human Rights
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will seek to have Zimbabwe's human rights record investigated by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.[HL1729]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Although deeply worrying, developments in Zimbabwe do not, at this stage, amount to serious or persistent violations of human rights which would trigger an investigation by the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG).
Yugoslavia: Flight Ban Suspension
Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the European Union flight ban against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was suspended.[HL1744]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I refer to the Written Answer given by the Minister of State for Europe to my honourable friend the member for Gedling on 14 March 2000, Official Report, column 142W. The EC regulation required to give effect to Common Position 2000/176/CFSP suspending the flight ban against the FRY was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 20 March 2000. EC Regulation 607/2000 came into force on 22 March and, in addition to suspending EC Regulation 2151/1999 imposing the flight ban until 28 August 2000, permits, in relation to the suspension of the flight ban, specific exemptions from Regulation 1294/1999 concerning a freeze of funds and a ban on investment and from Regulation 2111/1999 prohibiting the sale and supply of petroleum and petroleum products to certain parts of the FRY.
European Union: Forthcoming Council Business
Baroness Serota asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of European Union for April and list the major European Union events for the next six months.[HL1745]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: See attached.
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. Monthly Forecast of EU Business: April 2000
3 to 4--Cairo--EU-Africa Summit
Prospects for Regional Integration
Integrating Africa into the world economy, including trade, investment, transfer of technology and debt.
Human rights, democratic principles and institutions, good governance and rule of law, including empowering the civil society, terrorism, migration issues and xenophobia.
Peace building, conflict prevention, management and resolution, including refugees and illegal arms trafficking.
Challenges to sustainable development in Africa, including poverty eradication, investment in human resources, education, health and environment.
4--Brussels--Intergovernmental Conference (Preparatory Group)
- No agenda available.
- No formal agenda.
- No agenda yet available.
- Agenda not yet finalised.
- No agenda yet available.
- No agenda yet available.
- No formal agenda.
- No agenda yet available.
| Date | Location | Event | |
| April | |||
| 3-4 | Cairo | EU-Africa Summit | |
| 4 | Brussels | Intergovernmental Conference (Preparatory Group) | |
| 7-8 | Lisbon | ECOFIN Council (Informal) | |
| 10-11 | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council | |
| 11 | Luxembourg | EU/Turkey Association Council | |
| 10-14 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 13 | Luxembourg | Consumer Affairs Council | |
| 15-16 | Oporto | Environment Council (Informal) | |
| 17-18 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council | |
| May | |||
| 2 | Brussels | Telecommunications Council | |
| 3-4 | Brussels | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 5-7 | San Miguel, Azores | Informal Meeting of Foreign Ministers | |
| 8 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council | |
| 8 | Lisbon | EU/New Zealand Ministerial | |
| 11 | Brussels | Health Council | |
| 15-16 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
| 15-16 | Oporto | WEU Council | |
| 15-19 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 16 | Brussels | Culture Council | |
| 18 | Brussels | Industry Council | |
| 18 | Brussels | Development Council | |
| 22-23 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
| 25 | Brussels | Internal Market Council | |
| 25-26 | Lisbon | EuroMed Foreign Ministers Meeting (Informal) | |
| 28-30 | Evora | Agriculture Council (Informal) | |
| 29-30 | Brussels | Justice and Home Affairs Council | |
| 30 | Brussels | Energy Council | |
| June | |||
| 5 | Luxembourg | ECOFIN Council | |
| 6 | Luxembourg | Social Affairs Council | |
| 7 | Fiji | ACP/EU Ministerial | |
| 8 | Fiji | Signing of post Lome convention | |
| 8 | Luxembourg | Education Council | |
| 13-14 | Luxembourg | General Affairs Council | |
| 13-16 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 15 | Luxembourg | Research Council | |
| 16 | Luxembourg | Fisheries Council | |
| 19-20 | Luxembourg | Agriculture Council | |
| 19-20 | Sta. Maria da Feira | European Council | |
| 21-23 | Cyprus | 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Conference | |
| 22-23 | Luxembourg | Environment Council | |
| 26-27 | Luxembourg | Transport Council | |
| 28 | Lisbon | EU/India Summit | |
| July | |||
| 3-7 | Strasbourg | European Parliament Plenary | |
| 6-7 | Lille | Culture Council | |
| 7-8 | Paris | Social Affairs Council (Informal) | |
| 10-11 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
| 15-16 | Paris | Environment Council (Informal) | |
| 17 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council | |
| 17-18 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
| 24 | Brussels | Budget Council | |
| 27 | Bangkok | ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial | |
| 28-29 | Bangkok | ASEAN Post Ministerial | |
| 28-29 | Arles | Justice & Home Affairs Council (Informal) | |
| August | |||
| There are no Councils scheduled for this month. | |||
| September | |||
| 1-2 | Evian | Gymnich | |
| 3-5 | Biarritz | Agriculture Council (Informal) | |
| 6 | New York | EU/Ukraine Summit | |
| 9-10 | Paris (tbc) | ECOFIN Council (Informal) | |
| 18 | Brussels | Telecommunications Council | |
| 18-19 | Brussels | General Affairs Council | |
| 25-26 | Brussels | Agriculture Council | |
| 28 | Brussels | ECOFIN Council | |
| 28 | Brussels | Internal Market Council | |
| 28-29 | Marseilles | Justice and Home Affairs Council | |
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