Finnish Government to meet members of the European Commission
22 Jun 2006, 16:19 en fr de fi sv
Government Communications Unit
The Finnish Government and the members of the European Commission will meet in Helsinki on 2 and 3 July. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the agenda for Finland’s EU Presidency. All Finnish ministers and the 25 members of the European Commission will be attending the meeting.
On Monday, 3 July, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen will meet José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission to discuss, for example, the G8 Summit to be held in July and the informal meeting of Heads of State and Government to be held in October in Lahti. President Barroso will also meet President of the Republic Tarja Halonen.
On Monday, 3 July, the Finnish Government and the members of the European Commission will hold discussions first in sector-specific working groups and then convene for a joint session
The press conference will be webcast live on the website of Finland’s EU Presidency at www.eu2006.fi.
Programme and accreditation
N.B. The press conference will be held at the Helsinki City Hall.
Accreditation is required for media representatives. Accreditation will take place via the Internet on the Presidency website at www.eu2006.fi/accreditation on Monday 26 June at the latest. Press cards can be picked up from the media centre at the Helsinki City Hall (Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13) from 9.00 to 12.00 on Friday and from 7.30 to 12.00 on Monday.
More information on media arrangements and especially on photo instructions is available on the Presidency website at www.eu2006.fi.
Sunday, 2 July
The European Commission arrives in Finland
19.30 Departure for dinner from the Halkolaituri quay. Photo opportunity at the beginning. Assembly at 19.15 at Halkolaituri quay (nearest street: Pohjoisranta). Registration required for the photo opportunity by Sunday 2 July at 17.00 at the latest. E-mail: media@eu2006.fi.
Dinner
Monday, 3 July
8.30 President Barroso meets President Halonen, Mäntyniemi (address: Mäntyniementie 4). Photo opportunity at the beginning, assembly at the Mäntyniemi gates at 08.00. Registration required by Friday 30 June at 16.00 at the latest, E-mail liina.aulin@tpk.fi.
9.00 Members of the European Commission arrive at the House of Estates. Photo opportunity
9.30 Working groups of the Government and the Commission, House of the Estates
9.30 Prime Minister Vanhanen meets President Barroso, Government Palace. Photo opportunity at the beginning, assembly in the main entrance hall of the Government Palace at 09.15 (address: Snellmaninkatu 1 A).
10.30 Joint session of the Government and the European Commission, House of the Estates. Photo opportunity at the beginning, assembly in the entrance hall of the House of the Estates at 10.10 (address: Snellmaninkatu 9-11).
11.30 Family photo. Photo opportunity, assembly in the entrance hall of the House of the Estates at 11.15.
12.00 Press conference by Prime Minister Vanhanen and President Barroso, Helsinki City Hall. Security checks begin at 11.00. Representatives of the media are requested to arrive in good time.
13.00 Lunch
Departure from Finland
Further information: Helena Tuuri, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, EU Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2055 or +358 40 553 3494 and Sanna Kangasharju, Deputy Head of Information, tel. +358 9 1602 2175 or +358 40 731 9915 and, on accreditation, Anu Kurki, Project Manager, Secretariat for Finland’s EU Presidency, tel. +358 9 1602 2639
