Finland's EU Presidency: Newsletter 2/2006
10 Jul 2006, 11:34
EU MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPETITIVENESS ISSUES TO MEET IN JYVÄSKYLÄ TO DISCUSS INNOVATION POLICY
The informal meeting of the Competitiveness Council will take place on 10-11 July in Jyväskylä, Finland. The theme of the meeting is innovation policy. The objective is to make innovation policy an integral part of the EU's competitiveness agenda. The meeting will be chaired and hosted by the Finnish Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen.
Press conferences, to be held on Monday, 10 July, at 17:00 (GMT+3) and on Tuesday, 11 July, at 12:15 (GMT+3), can be viewed live at www.eu2006.fi.
ECOFIN COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS ON TUESDAY
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) will be held in Brussels on Tuesday, 11 July, at 11:00 (GMT+3). The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Finance, Eero Heinäluoma. The meeting will discuss the Presidency working programme and the Stability and Growth Pact. In addition, the Council is to make a decision on Slovenia's membership of the euro zone.
The open sessions of the Council meeting, to be held approximately at 10:00 (GMT+2), and the press conference, to be take place approximately at 12:30 (GMT+2), can be viewed live at www.eu2006.fi.
FOCUS ON ECO-EFFICIENCY AND NEW ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
The informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for environmental issues will take place in Turku, Finland, on 14-16 July. The meeting will focus on a new generation of environmental policy and also on the protection of the Baltic Sea. The meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of the Environment, Jan-Erik Enestam.
Press conferences, to be held on Saturday, 15 July, at 11:10 (GMT+3) and at 15:30 (GMT+3), can be viewed live at www.eu2006.fi.
ECOFIN (BUDGET) IN BRUSSELS ON FRIDAY
The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) will convene again in Brussels on Friday, 14 July, to discuss budgetary issues. The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Co-ordinate Minister for Finance, Ulla-Maj Wideroos. The Council is to have its first discussion on the budget proposal for 2007.
The press conference, to be take place approximately at 13:00 (GMT+2), can be viewed live at www.eu2006.fi.
EU2006.FI AT THE SERVICE OF THE MEDIA
SUBSCRIPTION TO E-MAIL AND SMS TEXT MESSAGE NEWS SERVICES
It is possible to subscribe to e-mail and SMS news services from the Presidency website. An electronic Presidency newsletter will be issued in English, French and Latin.
News and newsletter subscription: www.eu2006.fi/news_subscription/
WEBCASTS AND PHOTOS
The main press conferences and open Council sessions can be viewed live at eu2006.fi. A picture archive consisting of print quality photographs is also available for media representatives.
Webcasts: www.eu2006.fi/webcasts/
Photos: www.eu2006.fi/photos/
MEDIA ACCREDITATION FOR PRESIDENCY EVENTS IS OPEN
A request for accreditation should be submitted in good time before the meeting.
Accreditation: www.eu2006.fi/accreditation/
The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 17 July.
