Finland's EU Presidency: Newsletter 20/2006
11 Dec 2006, 09:29
ENLARGEMENT AND JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS TO BE THE MAIN THEMES AT THE DECEMBER EUROPEAN COUNCIL
The European Council meeting during Finland's EU Presidency will be held in Brussels on 14 and 15 December. The meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen.
The main topic at the meeting will be EU enlargement. The Heads of State or Government will base their discussions on the enlargement strategy, approved by the European Commission on 8 November, and the special report annexed to it on the Union's capacity to integrate new members. The objective will be to consolidate the consensus among the Member States on how to proceed with the enlargement process.
The European Council will also focus on justice and home affairs as the second main theme. The Heads of State or Government will discuss ways of improving EU decision-making and action in the area of freedom, security and justice. The goal will be to enhance the Member States' commitment to more effective decision-making on justice and home affairs.
The press conferences, to be held at 22.00 (GMT+1) on Thursday 14 December and at 13.00 (GMT+1) on Friday 15 December, will be webcast and can be viewed live or as recordings at www.eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko50/en_GB/1136456998803/
GENERAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COUNCIL (GAERC) ON 11-12 DECEMBER IN BRUSSELS
The EU Foreign Ministers will hold a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 December. The meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Foreign Minister, Erkki Tuomioja. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paula Lehtomäki, will also attend.
In the field of general affairs, the Ministers will discuss the Council's 18-month Programme for January 2007 - June 2008, preparations for the European Council on 14-15 December 2006 and enlargement. In the field of external relations, the issues on the agenda include relations with the Western Balkans, the Middle East peace process, Iran, Afghanistan, relations with China and the draft Council Common Position defining common rules governing the control of exports of military technology and equipment.
The open session, due to start at 9.30 (GMT+1) on Monday 11 December, and the press conferences, scheduled to begin at 17.00 (GMT+1) (GAERC) and at 20.45 (GMT+1) (EU - Former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia) on Monday 11 December, will be webcast and can be viewed live or as recordings at www.eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko50/en_GB/1147700142524/
TRANSPORT, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ENERGY COUNCIL ON 11-12 DECEMBER IN BRUSSELS
The EU Transport Ministers will gather in Brussels on 11-12 December for the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council. The Ministers will prepare conclusions at the meeting with a view to moving forwards on the logistics action plan, to be finalised next year. The conclusions will deal with issues such as combating congestion, making good use of information technology and promoting smart transport systems. Logistics has been the top priority for transport policy during Finland's Presidency.
Furthermore, the Council hopes to decide on a common approach to Directives concerning the retrofitting of blind-spot mirrors to heavy goods vehicles and port state control. The Council meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications, Susanna Huovinen.
The open sessions, scheduled to begin at 10.00 (GMT+1) on Monday 11 December and at 10.00 (GMT+1) on Tuesday 12 December, and the press conferences, scheduled for 13.15 (GMT+1) on Monday and 15.00 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, will be webcast and can be viewed live or as recordings at www.eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko50/en_GB/1147702633868/
CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS
The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 13 December.
www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/
NEWSLETTERS
The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 18 December.
www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/
