THE GERMAN PRESIDENCY

Date: 17/12/1998

1 January - 30 June 1999Friday 1 January

EUROPE: Phase three of economic and monetary union begins in 11 of the Union's 15 member states.

EUROPE: Germany takes over the EU presidency.

Monday 11 January

STRASBOURG: European Parliament plenary session (to 15 Jan).

Thursday 14 January

BRUSSELS: EU fisheries ministers meet.

Monday 18 January

BRUSSELS: EU finance ministers meet.

BRUSSELS: EU agriculture ministers meet.

Monday 25 January

BRUSSELS: EU foreign affairs ministers meet (to 26 Jan).

Wednesday 27 January

BRUSSELS: European Parliament holds plenary session (to 28 Jan).

Monday 8 February

BRUSSELS: EU finance ministers meet.

STRASBOURG: European Parliament holds plenary session (to 12 Feb).

Thursday 11 February

BERLIN: EU justice and home affairs ministers hold informal meeting (to 12 Feb).

Thursday 18 February

BRUSSELS: EU research ministers meet.

Monday 22 February

BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers meet (to 23 Feb).

BRUSSELS: EU agriculture ministers meet (to 23 Feb).

Wednesday 24 February

BRUSSELS: European Parliament holds plenary session (to 25 Feb).

Thursday 25 February

BRUSSELS: EU internal markets ministers meet.

Monday 8 March

STRASBOURG: European Parliament holds plenary session (to 12 March).

Tuesday 9 March

BRUSSELS: EU employment and social affairs ministers meet.

Thursday 11 March

BRUSSELS: EU environment ministers meet (to 12 March).

Friday 12 March

BRUSSELS: EU justice and home affairs ministers meet.

Saturday 13 March

GERMANY: Informal meeting of EU foreign affairs ministers (to 14 March).

Monday 15 March

BRUSSELS: EU agriculture ministers meet (to 16 March).

BRUSSELS: EU finance ministers meet.

Monday 22 March

BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers meet.

Wednesday 24 March

BRUSSELS: EU heads of state and government hold summit to agree Agenda 2000 (to 25 March).

BRUSSELS: European Parliament holds plenary session (to 25 March).

Thursday 25 March

BRUSSELS: EU fisheries ministers meet.

Monday 29 March

BRUSSELS: EU transport ministers meet.

Monday 12 April

STRASBOURG: European Parliament holds plenary session (to 16 April).

Tuesday 13 April

LUXEMBOURG: EU consumer affairs ministers meet.

Friday 16 April

DRESDEN: Informal meeting of EU finance ministers.

Monday 19 April

LUXEMBOURG: EU agriculture ministers meet.

Thursday 22 April

LUXEMBOURG: EU telecommunications ministers meet.

Friday 23 April

GERMANY: EU environment ministers meet informally (to 25 April).

Monday 26 April

LUXEMBOURG: EU foreign ministers meet (to 27 April).

Thursday 29 April

LUXEMBOURG: EU industry ministers meet.

Monday 3 May

STRASBOURG: European Parliament holds plenary session (to 7 May).

Friday 7 May

BRUSSELS: EU tourism ministers meet (to8 May).

Monday 10 May

BRUSSELS: EU finance ministers meet.

BRUSSELS: EU employment and social affairs ministers meet.

Tuesday 11 May

BRUSSELS: EU energy ministers meet.

Monday 17 May

BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers meet (to 18 May).

BRUSSELS: EU agriculture ministers meet (to 18 May).

Thursday 20 May

BRUSSELS: EU research ministers meet.

Friday 21 May

BRUSSELS: EU development ministers meet.

Tuesday 25 May

BRUSSELS: EU finance ministers meet.

Thursday 27 May

BRUSSELS: EU justice and home affairs ministers meet (to 28 May).

BRUSSELS: EU education ministers meet.

Monday 31 May

BRUSSELS: EU foreign ministers meet.

BRUSSELS: EU political committee meets.

Friday 4 June

COLOGNE: Summit of EU heads of state and government (to 5 June).

Monday 7 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU education ministers meet.

Tuesday 8 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU health ministers meet.

Thursday 10 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU tourism and fisheries ministers meet.

Saturday 12 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU tourism ministers meet (to 13 June).

Monday 14 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU agriculture ministers meet (to 15 June).

Thursday 17 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU transport ministers meet (to 18 June).

Monday 21 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU foreign ministers meet (to 22 June).

LUXEMBOURG: EU internal market ministers meet.

Thursday 25 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU environment ministers meet (to 25 June).

Monday 28 June

LUXEMBOURG: EU culture ministers meet.