Finland's EU Presidency: Newsletter 12/2006
16 Oct 2006, 08:37
GENERAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COUNCIL (GAERC) IN LUXEMBOURG ON 16 AND 17 OCTOBER
The EU Foreign Ministers will hold a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Luxembourg on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 October. On Monday, there will be a joint session of Ministers of Trade and Development. The topic for discussion will be Aid for Trade. In the afternoon, the EU Ministers of Development will discuss the effectiveness of aid.
On Tuesday, there will be another joint session; this time between the EU Foreign Ministers and Ministers of Development. Discussion will focus on the coherence of development policies, the effectiveness of the Union's external action and the Strategy for Africa. The Foreign Ministers will also discuss issues related to the Union's enlargement, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Georgia.
The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paula Lehtomäki, and the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja.
Press conferences on 16 October:
at 15.15 (GMT+2)
Press conference: Aid for Trade (Minister Lehtomäki)
at 16.15 (GMT+2)
Press conference: EU - Turkey, Foreign Ministers' Troika (Minister Tuomioja)
at 18.30 (GMT+2)
Press conference: EU - Serbia, Foreign Ministers' Troika (Minister Tuomioja)
The open session and press conference on 17 October:
at 10.00 (GMT+2)
Open session
at 16.15 (GMT+2)
Press conference: Common foreign and security policy (Minister Tuomioja)
The open session and the press conferences can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko42/en_GB/1147776041139/
PRESIDENCY MEETS THE PRESS ON 18 OCTOBER
On 18 October at 14.15 (GMT+2), Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen will answer reporters' questions live on TV and the web in the Presidency Meets the Press, transmitted on EbS, Europe by Satellite. The Presidency Meets the Press, produced by Finland's EU Presidency, EbS and YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, will be on air once a month during Finland's Presidency. It can be viewed by anyone with access to the web or EbS satellite transmission.
INFORMAL TRIPARTITE SOCIAL SUMMIT IN LAHTI ON 20 OCTOBER
Finland, the current holder of the EU Presidency, will organise in cooperation with the European Commission an Informal Tripartite Social Summit in Lahti on Friday, 20 October. The meeting will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. The meeting will discuss ways of improving the quality of working life and labour market efficiency in Europe characterised by tightening competition and ageing population. The meeting will focus on the management of change through "flexicurity" - flexibility and security on the labour market. The Social Summit in Lahti will be the first high-level meeting on the issue.
The Social Summit precedes the Informal Meeting of EU Heads of State or Government in Lahti on Friday. The Social Summit will also provide a platform for the social partners to convey their views on the issues for discussion to the leaders' meeting.
The press conference at 11.30 (GMT+3), can be viewed as a live webcast or as a recording from the archive at eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko42/en_GB/1152024070238/
EU HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT MEET IN LAHTI ON 20 OCTOBER
An informal meeting of the EU Heads of State or Government will take place in Lahti on 20 October. The main themes of the meeting will be the Union's innovation policy and external energy relations. The Heads of State or Government will also touch on the Union’s immigration policy. The meeting will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Finland, Matti Vanhanen.
After their informal meeting, the EU Heads of State or Government will be joined for dinner by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. Discussion during the dinner will focus on the development of the strategic partnership between the EU and Russia, including cooperation in energy issues.
Press conferences for the meeting on Friday 20 October: press conference (informal tripartite social summit) at 11.30 (GMT+3), Presidency press conference (informal meeting of Heads of State or Government) at 17.30 (GMT+3) and at 21.30 (GMT+3). Press conferences can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.
www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko42/1129707161527/
CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS
The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 18 October.
NEWSLETTERS
The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 23 October.
