Author: Dale Simmmons

EU FOREIGN MINISTERS TO CONVENE FOR A EUROMED MEETING IN TAMPERE ON 27-28 NOVEMBER

EU Foreign Ministers will meet in Tampere on 27-28 November for the Euro-Mediterranean Conference of Foreign Ministers. The Conference will address key issues relating to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. These include the political situation in the region, the new European neighbourhood policy, cross-cultural dialogue, immigration issues and counter-terrorism activities. The meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Foreign Minister, Erkki Tuomioja.

 The meeting will be attended by the EU Foreign Ministers and their Mediterranean counterparts (from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunis, Turkey and the Palestinian Authority), as well as representatives from the EU institutions and observers.

Press conferences will be held at on Monday at 15.30 (GMT+2) (EU-Israel Troika) and 17.30 (GMT+2) (EU-Arab Group Troika) and on Tuesday at 12.45 (GMT+2) (final press conference). These will be webcast and can be viewed live or as recordings at www.eu2006.fi.

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko48/en_GB/1136380225208/

INFORMAL SPORTS MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE, 27-28 NOVEMBER IN BRUSSELS

The Finnish Presidency, in cooperation with the European Commission, is organising a ministerial conference on ”The EU & Sport: Matching Expectations”, to take place in Brussels on 27 and 28 November 2006. The conference will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Culture, Tanja Saarela, who is responsible for sporting matters, and Member of the European Commission, Ján Figel’.

At the Conference, the Ministers for sport will discuss the forthcoming Commission White Paper on Sport, which puts forward ideas and proposals concerning the role of sports in society and the economic importance of sports. Other topics include the Presidency priorities: health-enhancing physical activity, support for volunteering in sport and international anti-doping policy.

For the first time ever, major European sports bodies and sports journalists are invited to watch the informal ministerial conference via a video link outside the conference hall.

The press conference will be held at 14.30 (GMT+1) on 28 November in the Berlaymont Building, (VIP corner).

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko48/en_GB/1153487578242/

ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL (ECOFIN), 28 NOVEMBER IN BRUSSELS

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) will be held in Brussels on 28 November. The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Finance, Eero Heinäluoma. Ministers will discuss the VAT package, minimum excise duties on alcoholic beverages and travellers’ allowances.  There will be a macroeconomic dialogue at political level on Monday, 27 November. A Eurogroup meeting will also be held on Monday evening.    

The open session of the Council meeting, to be held at approximately 14.30 (GMT+1), and the press conference, scheduled to begin at 15.30 (GMT+1), can be viewed live or as recordings at www.eu2006.fi

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko48/en_GB/1147784846727/

EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, HEALTH AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COUNCIL (EPSCO), 30 NOVEMBER-1 DECEMBER IN BRUSSELS

The EPSCO Council, to be held on 30 November-1 December in Brussels, is set to take a decision on the establishment of a European Globalisation Fund and will endeavour to reach a political agreement on the Community Health Programme.

The Council will also adopt conclusions on health in all policies, the EU strategy to reduce alcohol-related harm, the review of implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, and men and gender equality. In addition, the Presidency report on the portability of supplementary pension rights will be presented, and there will be a discussion on the Green Paper on Labour Law.

The Council will be chaired by Minister of Labour Tarja Filatov, Minister of Health and Social Services Liisa Hyssälä and Minister of Social Affairs and Health Tuula Haatainen

The open sessions are due to start at approximately 10.00 (GMT+1) on Thursday and approximately 9.30 (GMT+1) on Friday. The press conferences are scheduled to begin at around 14.30 (GMT+1) on Thursday and around 18.00 on Friday. Both the open sessions and the press conferences can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at www.eu2006.fi.

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko48/en_GB/1147792042580/

Next week:

INFORMAL MINISTERIAL MEETING: EUROPEAN COOPERATION IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING, 4-5 DECEMBER IN HELSINKI

The Ministers in charge of vocational education and training in the European Union will convene in Helsinki on 4-5 December for an informal ministerial meeting led by the Finnish Minister of Education and Science, Antti Kalliomäki.

The meeting will discuss the position of vocational education and training in Europe and is to adopt objectives for European cooperation in that field over the next two years. Cooperation on vocational education and training is pursued as part of the Copenhagen Process, the counterpart of the Bologna Process in higher education.

In connection with the meeting, Minister Antti Kalliomäki and Commissioner Ján Figel’ will present awards to ten successful projects that have supported the aims of the Copenhagen Process, with funding from the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko49/en_GB/1129705891255/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS

The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 29 November.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

NEWSLETTERS

The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 4 December.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

30 Jun 2006, 08:42

Finnis Unioni Europaeae praesidentibus in morem venit, ut de rebus ad praesidentiam spectantibus Conspectus Latinus divulgaretur. Anno undebismillesimo (1999), cum Finnia praesidentiam teneret, ille conspectus oculos animosque Europaeorum in se convertit atque multis et benignis commentariis apud eos acceptus est. Quae cum ita sint, Conspectus etiam anno bis millesimo sexto (2006) Latine redigitur. Accedit, quod usus linguae Latinae cultui humano Europaeo honorem habet et de radicibus societatis Europaeae usque ad antiquitatem classicam pertinentibus omnes commonefacit.

Conspectus rerum Latinus a Professore Tuomo Pekkanen et Docente Reijo Pitkäranta scribitur, qui ab anno millesimo nongentesimo undenonagesimo (1989) Radiophoniae Finnicae Generali (YLE) nuntios Latinos redigunt.

Conspectus rerum Latinus in paginis interretiariis Praesidentiae Unionis Europaeae divulgatur et fieri potest, ut illum etiam in tuum cursum electronicum mittendum mandes. Mense Iulio bis, a mense Septembri usque ad Decembrem mensem semel singulis septimanis redigetur. Mense Augusto pausa erit aestiva. Dies, quo exit, est Mercurii.

Yle: Nuntii Latini

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PRAESIDENTIA DIURNARIOS DIE 18 M. OCTOBRIS CONVENIT

Die 18 m. Octobris hora 14.15 (GMT+2) primus minister Matti Vanhanen ad quaestiones diurnariorum tam in televisione quam in www coram respondebit in programmate ’Praesidentia diurnarios convenit’, quod in Ebs (Europa per satellitem) transmittetur. Programma, cuius auctores sunt Praesidentia UE Finnorum, Ebs, YLE sive Radiophonia Finnica Generalis, inter praesidentiam Finnorum semel in mense fiet et ab omnibus accessum ad interrete aut ad transmissionem EbS habentibus videri potest.

www.eu2006.fi/pmp/

CONVENTUS SOCIALIS TRIPERTITUS IN URBE LAHTI DIE 20 M. OCTOBRIS

Finnia, penes quam Praesidentia UE in praesenti est, una cum Commissione Europaea die 20 m. Octobris in urbe Lahti conventum principum socialem tripertitum inofficialiter habebit. Conventui praesidebunt Matti Vanhanen, primus minister Finnorum, et José Manuel Barroso, praeses Commissionis Europaeae. Agetur ibi de rationibus qualitatem vitae operariae et efficaciam mercatus laborum in Europa meliorandi, quae competitione gravescente et consenescente populatione insigniuntur. In conventu praecipue inquiretur, quo modo mutatio flexibilitate et securitate in mercatu laboris regatur. Conventus principum socialis in urbe Lahti futurus erit primus de his rebus coetus fastigiosus.

Conventus socialis praecedit coetui inofficiali, quem principes civitatum aut regiminum UE in urbe Lahti die Veneris habebunt. Idem conventus etiam participibus rostra praebebit, ut opiniones suas ad agenda pertinentes proferant, de quibus in coetu principum disseratur.

Colloquium diurnariis edocendis, hora 11.30 (GMT+3) interretialiter coram aut in archivo repositum videri poterit in eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko42/en_GB/1152024070238/

PRINCIPES CIVITATUM AUT REGIMINUM UE IN URBEM LAHTI DIE 20 M. OCTOBRIS CONVENIENT

Principes civitatum aut regiminum UE in urbem Lahti die 20 m. Octobris convenient. Argumenta principalia erunt politica innovationis UE et relationes de energia externae. Participes etiam de politica immigrationis agent. Conventui praesidebit Matti Vanhanen, primus minister Finnorum.

Post conventum inofficialem principes civitatum aut regiminum UE una cum Vladimiro Putin, praesidente Russiae, cenam sument. Inter eam imprimis de progressu sodalitatis strategicae inter UE et Russiam disputabitur; quibus disputationibus etiam cooperatio in rebus ad energiam spectantibus includetur.

Colloquia diurnariis edocendis de conventu die Veneris 20 m. Octobris habito: colloquium diurnariis edocendis (coetus principum tripertitus socialis) hora 11.30 (GMT+), Praesidentiale colloquium diurnariis edocendis (conventus inofficialis principum civitatum aut regiminum) hora 17.30 (GMT+3) et hora 21.30 (GMT+3). Colloquia diurnariis edocendis interretialiter coram aut in archivo reposita videri poterunt in eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko42/1129707161527/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS

Proximus conspectus Latine divulgabitur die Mercurii, vicesimo quinto m. Octobris.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL IN LUXEMBOURG ON 23 OCTOBER

The EU Ministers of the Environment will hold a meeting of the Environment Council in Luxembourg on Monday 23 October. The aim is to achieve political agreement on the Air Quality Directive and conclusions on the Strategy on sustainable use of natural resources and on preparations for the conference of the parties to the UN Climate Convention and to the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. In addition, the intention is to hold discussions on the guidelines for the Strategy on the marine environment and the Marine Environment Directive. 

The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of the Environment, Jan-Erik Enestam.

The open sessions of the Council at 10.00 (GMT+2) and at 15.30 (GMT+2), and the press conference at 15.00 (GMT+2) can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko43/en_GB/1147777912518/

AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES COUNCIL IN LUXEMBURG ON 24-25 OCTOBERThe Agriculture and Fisheries Council will hold a meeting in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 24 October and Wednesday, 25 October. The Council hopes to reach a decision on Baltic-Sea catch quotas for 2007. A proposal for a Regulation on the definition of spirit drinks is also on the agenda.

The Council will be chaired by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Juha Korkeaoja.

The open session at 15.00 (GMT+2) on Tuesday and the press conferences at around 20.30 (GMT+2) on Tuesday and 12.15 (GMT+2) on Wednesday can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko43/en_GB/1147779060158/

EU-US HIGH-LEVEL DIALOGUE ON CLIMATE CHANGE, CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HELSINKI ON 24-25 OCTOBER

The European Union and the United States will conduct a high-level dialogue on climate change, clean energy and sustainable development in Helsinki, Finland, on 24-25 October. The objective of the talks is to build on existing transatlantic initiatives and further advance the G-8 Gleneagles Plan of Action for climate change, clean energy and sustainable development.

Finland’s Environment Minister, Jan-Erik Enestam, and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen, will host the meeting for the EU Presidency, along with the European Commission.

The press conference for the meeting at 11.15 (GMT+3) on Wednesday, 25 October will be webcast and can be viewed after the event as a recording from the archive at eu2006.fi

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko43/en_GB/1160031288661/

EU-UKRAINE SUMMIT IN HELSINKI ON 27 OCTOBER

Finland will host the EU-Ukraine Summit in Helsinki on Friday, 27 October. The EU delegation will be led by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and the Ukrainian delegation by President Victor Yushchenko. The EU will also be represented by the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, Member of the European Commission, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and, as representatives of the Presidency, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja, and Finnish Minister for Trade and Development, Paula Lehtomäki.

The aim of the meeting in Helsinki is to strengthen political and economic relations between the European Union and Ukraine. The summit will focus on bilateral relations, including energy issues and the European Neighbourhood Policy, as well as key international issues. Another central aim is to assess how the initiatives launched at the EU-Ukraine Summit in 2005 have progressed.

The press conference for the meeting at 14.00 (GMT+3) will be webcast and can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko43/en_GB/1159961562645/

MEETING OF THE EU-RUSSIA PERMANENT PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL (PPC) IN HELSINKI ON 29-30 OCTOBER

The fifth meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council in the Justice and Home Affairs format (PPC JHA) will take place in Helsinki on 29 and 30 October. The objective of the meeting is to further strengthen and develop cooperation between the EU and Russia with regard to freedom, security and justice and to examine rigorously the implementation of the road map for the common space of freedom, security and justice between the EU and Russia. The meeting will discuss issues relating to the movement of persons, terrorism, organised crime and judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters.

The press conference at 15.00 (GMT+3) on Monday, 30 October will be webcast and can be viewed after the event as a recording from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko43/en_GB/1160648455975/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUSThe next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 25 October.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

NEWSLETTERSThe next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 30 October.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

INFORMAL MINISTERIAL MEETING ON AGRICULTURE, 24 TO 26 SEPTEMBER

The informal ministerial meeting on agriculture began on Sunday 24 September in Oulu, Finland. During the meeting ministers will discuss and assess the European agricultural model, with special focus on future challenges facing the sector. The aim is to enhance the policy adopted and examine the challenges that European agriculture will face. This topic is one of the Presidency’s priorities. The meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Juha Korkeaoja. 

The Presidency press conference by Minister Juha Korkeaoja and by Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel at 12.30 (GMT+3) on Tuesday 26 September, can be viewed as a live webcast or as recording from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko38/1129710316891/

COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL TO DISCUSS INNOVATION POLICY, 25 SEPTEMBER

A meeting of the Competitiveness Council will be held in Brussels on Monday, 25 September. At the meeting, the ministers will exchange views on the EU’s innovation policy and its competitiveness. In addition, the Commission will present a Communication on innovation policy, and Finland, as holder of the Presidency, will set out its plans for discussions on innovation over the coming months. It is also hoped that political agreement will be reached on the Pre-packaged Goods Directive and the Consumer Policy Programme. In addition, the ministers will discuss development of internal market policy and other matters.

The open sessions of the Council meeting, scheduled to begin at approximately 10.00 (GMT+2), and the press conference at approximately 13.00 (GMT+2), can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko39/1147785421623/

EU-NEW ZEALAND MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS, 25 SEPTEMBER

The Foreign Minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters, will attend the EU-New Zealand meeting of Foreign Ministers on 25 September. The agenda for the meeting will include cooperation between the EU and New Zealand and issues relating to the Asia-Pacific region. As is customary, the EU will be represented at the meeting by the Troika, i.e. the Presidency country, the Council Secretariat and the Commission.

The press conference for the meeting at 14.00 (GMT+3) can be viewed as recording from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko39/1152794148416/

EU-AUSTRALIA MEETING OF FOREIGN MINISTERS, 26 SEPTEMBER

The Australian Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer will attend the EU-Australia meeting of Foreign Ministers, led by the Finnish Foreign Minister, Erkki Tuomioja, on 26 September. The agenda for the meeting will include cooperation between the EU and Australia, security questions relating to the Asian region and topical international issues. As is customary, the EU will be represented at the meeting by the Troika, i.e. the Presidency country, the Council Secretariat and the Commission.

The press conference of the meeting at 14.00 (GMT+3) can be viewed as recording from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko39/1152793848503/

INFORMAL MEETING OF HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT IN LAHTI, 20 OCTOBER

An informal meeting of Heads of State or Government will take place in Lahti on 20 October. The accreditation deadline for the meeting is 6 October. A media guide containing preliminary information on media arrangements, e.g. accommodation and transportation, is available at eu2006.fi

Press conferences for the meeting on Friday 20 October (times subject to changes): 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 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/

MEDIA HOTELS AVAILABLE – REMEMBER TO QUOTE THE RESERVATION CODE FIN06 

Rooms for media representatives are still available in all meeting towns. Reservations should be made directly with hotels in the towns where meetings are to take place. Remember to quote the reservation code FIN06 to be given a room from the media quota with a pre-negotiated price.

Journalists attending the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government in Lahti can also find accommodation in Helsinki by using the hotel list on the web site of the Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau at www.hel.fi/tourism. The list is under the ”plan your visit” sub-section. Helsinki is one hour by train or express bus from Lahti. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) is also the closest airport to Lahti.

www.eu2006.fi/accommodation/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS

The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 27 September.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

NEWSLETTERS

The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 2 October.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

MEETING OF THE EU-RUSSIA PERMANENT PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL (PPC) IN HELSINKI ON 29-30 OCTOBER     

The fifth meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council in the Justice and Home Affairs format (PPC JHA) will end in Helsinki on Monday 30 October. The objective of the meeting is to further strengthen and develop cooperation between the EU and Russia with regard to freedom, security and justice and to examine implementation of the road map for the EU-Russia common space of freedom, security and justice. The meeting will discuss issues relating to the movement of persons, terrorism, organised crime and judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters.

The press conference at 15.00 (GMT+2) on Monday, 30 October will be webcast and can be viewed after the event as a recording from the archive at eu2006.fi. Please note that daylight-saving time ended in the EU last Sunday. Brussels time is now GMT+1 and Helsinki time GMT+2.

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko43/1160648455975/

VERONA IV – ROAD SAFETY CONFERENCE ON 3-4 NOVEMBER

The EU Transport Ministers will hold their fourth road safety conference in Verona on 3-4 November. The purpose of the conference is to support the EU’s work on road safety and create new measures with which to address problems. Finland, in cooperation with Italy and the European Commission, will be responsible for the agenda of the conference. The theme will be ”Innovative Approaches to Road Safety”. Participants will come from the EU member states, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, the United States, Russia and India.

The meeting will be chaired by Susanna Huovinen, the Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications, and Cesare de Piccoli, the Italian Vice-Minister of Transport.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko44/1147249528163/

CONFERENCE OF PARTIES TO THE CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTION AND MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL, NAIROBI, KENYA 6-17 NOVEMBER

The largest and most important international environmental conference during the Finnish EU Presidency will be the 12th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 2nd Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

During the sessions, attention will be given to the processes set in motion in Montreal in December 2005 (Montreal Action Plan, COP 11 and COP/MOP 1). The topics covered by the Montreal Action Plan include: review of the Kyoto process; further commitments on the part of developed countries to the Kyoto Protocol; and dialogue on long-term cooperative action among all parties involved.

The EU Council delegation for the Nairobi meeting will be led by Jan-Erik Enestam, Minster of the Environment, who will also present the EU’s viewpoints to the conference. The event will be attended by delegations representing approximately 180 parties.

During COP 12 and COP/MOP 2, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will provide webcast coverage of all plenary sessions, official meetings and press conferences via an on-demand streaming service. A link to the UNFCCC webcasts is available at www.eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko45/1148716606113/

ECOFIN COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS ON 7 NOVEMBER

The Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) will be held in Brussels on 7 November, at 10.45 (GMT+1). The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Finance, Eero Heinäluoma. The meeting will discuss the sustainability of public finances, minimum excise duties on alcoholic beverages and travellers’ allowances.  The ministerial meeting with the EFTA countries will take place at 10.00 (GMT+1). A Eurogroup meeting will be held prior to the Council meeting on 6 November. 

The open session of the Council meeting, to be held at approximately 11.00 (GMT+1), and the press conference, scheduled to start at approximately 13.10  (GMT+1), can be viewed live at www.eu2006.fi. Please note that daylight-saving time ended in the EU last Sunday. Brussels time is currently GMT+1 and Helsinki time GMT+2.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko45/1147784846727/

EXTRAORDINARY EMPLOYMENT, SOCIAL POLICY, HEALTH AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COUNCIL (EPSCO) IN BRUSSELS ON 7 NOVEMBER On 7 November, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will hold an extraordinary meeting in Brussels, devoted entirely to the Working Time Directive. As the Presidency country, Finland will strive to achieve agreement on the amending of the Working Time Directive. The meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Labour, Tarja Filatov. Time of press conference and availability of live or recorded webcasts to be confirmed. 

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko45/1147792042580/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS

The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 1 November.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

NEWSLETTERS

The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 6 November.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/
 

INFORMAL MINISTERIAL MEETING: EUROPEAN COOPERATION IN VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING, 4-5 DECEMBER IN HELSINKI

The Ministers in charge of vocational education and training in the European Union will convene in Helsinki on 4-5 December for an informal ministerial meeting led by the Finnish Minister of Education and Science, Antti Kalliomäki.

At the meeting, the ministers will adopt a Helsinki Communiqué, outlining the common vocational education and training policy for the coming years. The meeting will discuss the position of vocational education and training in Europe and is to adopt objectives for European cooperation in that field over the next two years. Cooperation on vocational education and training is pursued as part of the Copenhagen Process, the counterpart of the Bologna Process in higher education.

In connection with the meeting, Minister Antti Kalliomäki and Commissioner Ján Figel will present awards to ten successful projects that have supported the aims of the Copenhagen Process, with funding from the EU’s Leonardo da Vinci Programme.

All the sessions of the meeting on Tuesday, 5 December, are open and scheduled to take place at approximately 9.30-14.00 (GMT+2). The press conference will be held at approximately 14.00 (GMT+2). Both the open sessions and the press conference can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko49/1129705891255/

COMPETITIVENESS COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS ON 4 DECEMBER

The Competitiveness Council will convene in Brussels on 4 December. The meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen. 

At the meeting, the ministers will exchange views on a broad-based innovation strategy and adopt conclusions on strategic priorities for innovation action at EU level. The Council will also hold a debate on a proposal for modernizing the Community Customs Code. The ministers will also exchange views on the progress made on Better Regulation and on the priorities for future work.

The open sessions of the Council meeting, scheduled to begin at approximately 9.45 (GMT+1), and the press conference at approximately 15.30 (GMT+1) can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko49/en_GB/1147785421623/

JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL (JHA) IN BRUSSELS ON 4-5 DECEMBER 2006

The EU ministers responsible for justice and home affairs will convene in Brussels on Monday, 4 December, and Tuesday, 5 December, for a meeting of the Council of Ministers. The Council is to adopt conclusions on the implementation of the Hague Programme. 

On Monday, the meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Justice, Leena Luhtanen, and the intention is to agree on a general approach for the Framework Decision on taking account of convictions in the Member States in the course of new criminal proceedings. In addition, the Ministers will try to reach a general approach on the Framework Decision concerning the possibility of transferring prisoners inside the EU and a political agreement on the establishment of an EU agency for Fundamental Rights.

On Tuesday, the meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council, chaired by Finnish Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki, will set a timetable for the enlargement of the Schengen area and carry out a mid-term review of all the Schengen evaluations completed during the Austrian and Finnish Presidencies. The meeting will also aim to adopt the EU border management strategy, conclusions on the future of Europol, progress reports on the JHA External Relations Strategy, and reports on the implementation of the Counter-Terrorism Strategy and of the Action Plan on combating radicalisation and recruitment into terrorism. Furthermore, the meeting will strive to achieve political agreement on the content of the proposed financial instrument for civil protection.

The open sessions of the Council meeting, scheduled to begin at approximately 10.30 (GMT+1) on Monday and 10.00 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, and the press conferences, at approximately 17.00 (GMT+1) on Monday and 14.30 (GMT+1) on Tuesday, can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko49/1147766959515/

PRESIDENCY MEETS THE PRESS ON 8 DECEMBER 

On 8 December at 14.15 (GMT+1), 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, can be viewed by anyone with access to the web or EbS satellite transmission.

www.eu2006.fi/pmp/

EUROPEAN COUNCIL MEETING ON 14-15 DECEMBER 2006

Accreditation is required for the meeting of the European Council and takes place via the website of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union. Accreditation ends at 12.00 on Tuesday, 5 December 2006.

Media accreditation for the European Council meeting on 14-15 December 2006:

www.consilium.europa.eu/showPage.asp?lang=en&id=661&mode=g&name

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko50/1136456998803/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS

The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Monday, 4 December.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

NEWSLETTERS

The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 11 December.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

THE ASEM 6 SUMMIT CONTINUES IN HELSINKI

The leaders of 38 Asian and European countries and the President of the European Commission have convened for the ASEM 6 Summit in Helsinki. The two-day meeting will end on Monday. The Heads of Delegation will hold four working sessions with the following topics: ”Dialogue among cultures and civilisations”, ”Sustainable energy including environment and energy security”, ”Globalisation and competitiveness” and ”The Future of ASEM”. The closing ceremony and a Coordinators’ press conference will take place on Monday evening.

The closing ceremony at 17.00 (GMT+3) and the subsequent Coordinators’ press conference at 17.30 (GMT+3) will be webcast and can be viewed live at asem6.fi.

ASEM 6 Summit (Asia-Europe Meeting): www.asem6.fi

GENERAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COUNCIL (GAERC) IN BRUSSELS ON 14 AND 15 SEPTEMBER

The EU Foreign Ministers will hold a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 September. Discussions will focus on the Western Balkans, Darfur, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Middle East and Iraq. The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja.

The press conference after the Council meeting, the time of which will be announced later, will be webcast and can be viewed live at www.eu2006.fi.

MAIN EVENTS NEXT WEEK

18 September in BrusselsAgriculture and Fisheries Council

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko38/en_GB/1147702436222/?u4.highlight=

20-22 September in Tampere:Informal ministerial meeting: Justice and Home Affairshttp://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko38/en_GB/1129710063210/?calYear=2006&calMonth=824-26 September in Oulu:Informal ministerial meeting: Agriculture

http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko38/en_GB/1129710316891/?calYear=2006&calMonth=8

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MEDIA HOTELS AVAILABLE – REMEMBER TO QUOTE THE RESERVATION CODE FIN06 

Rooms for media representatives are still available in all meeting towns. Reservations should be made directly with hotels in the towns where meetings are to take place. Remember to quote the reservation code FIN06 to be given a room from the media quota with a pre-negotiated price.

Media hotels: www.eu2006.fi/accommodation/

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/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS

The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 13 September.
Conspectus rerum latinus: www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

NEWSLETTERS

The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 18 September.Newsletters: www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

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• 08 Dec 2006, 20:41 en
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GENERAL AFFAIRS AND EXTERNAL RELATIONS COUNCIL (GAERC) ON 13 AND 14 NOVEMBER The EU Foreign Ministers will hold a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on Monday, 13 and Tuesday, 14 November. The Ministers of Defence will also meet as part of the Council. In addition, there will also be a joint session of the Foreign and Defence Ministers. The general affairs discussion will focus on enlargement and preparations for the European Council meeting in December. The Ministers of Defence will deal with issues relating to European defence and security policy. In the field of external relations, the Ministers will discuss the Western Balkans, the People’s Democratic Republic of Congo, the Middle East Peace Process and Iran. The Council will be chaired by the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paula Lehtomäki, and the Minister of Defence, Seppo Kääriäinen, will also attend. A lunch for Ministers of European Affairs will also be organised as part of the Council. The Ministers will discuss EU communication policy on the basis of the Commission’s White Paper, and events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome in 2007. 

Open session of the Council and press conferences will be webcast and can be viewed live or later as recordings at www.eu2006.fi. Press conferences are scheduled to begin at 15.45 (Foreign Ministers), 16.15 (Ministers of Defence) and 20.30 (EU-Armenia, EU-Azerbaijan and EU-Georgia) on Monday, 13 November, and at 11.30 (EU-South Africa) and 15.30 (EU-Jordan) on Tuesday, 14 November. Open session of the Council is scheduled to begin at 10.30 on Monday. All times are provisional, GMT+1, Brussels time.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko46/1147786581494/

EDUCATION, YOUTH AND CULTURE (EYC) COUNCIL ON 13 AND 14 NOVEMBER 

The Education, Youth and Culture (EYC) Council convenes in Brussels on 13 and 14 November and brings together ministers from all three areas. The Council will be chaired by Minister of Education Antti Kalliomäki, Minister of Culture Tanja Saarela, and Minister of Transport and Communications Susanna Huovinen.

The Council is due to decide on the general approach to be used for the draft directive amending the ”Television Without Frontiers” Directive. It will also adopt conclusions on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and on digital preservation, as well as a decision on the European Capital of Culture event for 2010.

The Council will hold an exchange of views on better understanding and knowledge of youth. In the educational field, it will adopt conclusions on future priorities for European cooperation on vocational education and training (VET), and on efficiency and equity in education and training. It will also hold an exchange of views on modernising higher education in Europe.

Open sessions of the Council and press conferences will be webcast and can be viewed live or later as recordings at www.eu2006.fi. Press conferences are scheduled to begin at 14.30 and 18.00 on Monday, 13 November, and at 13.15 on Tuesday, 14 November. Open sessions are scheduled to begin at 11.30 on Monday 13 November and at 9.30 on Tuesday. All times are provisional, GMT+1, Brussels time.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko46/en_GB/1147787126723/

EU-WESTERN BALKANS MINISTERIAL FORUM IN TIRANA, ALBANIA, ON 17 NOVEMBER

The EU-Western Balkans Ministerial Forum will be held in Tirana, Albania, on 17 November 2006. This will be the first time that the JHA EU-Western Balkans Forum, agreed on in the Thessalonica agenda, will be held in the Western Balkan region. The decision was taken to hold the Forum in Albania with the intention of increasing the EU’s visibility in the field of justice and home affairs in the region and strengthening cooperation between the EU and the Western Balkans. As the Presidency country, Finland will organise the Forum in cooperation with Albania.

From the West Balkans, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia will be represented at the Forum. Kosovo will be represented by UNMIK (the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo) but Kosovo’s new Interior and Justice Ministers have also been invited. The Forum will be chaired by Finnish Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki and Minister of Justice Leena Luhtanen. For the Commission, Vice-President Franco Fratini, responsible for justice, freedom and security, will attend.

Topics on the agenda will include the annual assessment of the Specific Action Oriented Measures against Organised Crime. Effective protection of witnesses will also be among the topics to be raised for discussion.

www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko46/en_GB/1162284923521/

CONSPECTUS RERUM LATINUS

The next Latin news-in-brief will be issued on Wednesday, 15 November.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/

NEWSLETTERS

The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 20 November.

www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/