Author: Dale Simmmons

Finland’s EU Presidency : EU in brief

Dale Simmmons Uutiset

The European Union consists of 25 democratic states that have come together and committed themselves to working together to promote peace and prosperity. The Member States have conferred some of their powers on the institutions of the European Union, which makes it possible to take democratic decisions that apply to all members.

To date, the Union has undergone five enlargement rounds and grown from a six-member Community to a Union of 25 members. Currently, there are almost 450 million EU citizens.

 

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Finland’s EU Presidency : Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Dale Simmmons Uutiset

The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) meets once every two months. Meetings are attended by the ministers responsible for the area under discussion: transport, telecommunications or energy. During its Presidency, Finland will hold three meetings of the TTE Council and they will be chaired by Minister of Transport and Communications, Susanna Huovinen, or Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen.

Main issues

Transport
During Finland’s Presidency, the focus will be on transport logistics. The communication on the issue, submitted by the Commission at the end of June, will be discussed during Finland’s Presidency. The communication will address the requirements laid down in the Lisbon Strategy by introducing ways to improve the efficiency of logistics within the Union. The communication emphasises intermodality which enables the integration of different transport modes. Smoothly running, integrated transport systems are essential for the Union’s industries and competitiveness. Other priorities include road safety and short sea shipping.

Telecommunications
The main focus will be on network and data security and the Council is to discuss two proposals submitted by the Commission. One of the proposals will be on spam and malware while the other will concern the development of a European data security strategy. Consideration will also be given to the e-communications legislative package, frequency policy and the i2010 Information Society Strategy, and the Regulation on roaming charges.

Energy policy
Discussion on the development of the EU’s energy policy will continue during Finland’s EU Presidency. The development project was launched on 8 March when the Commission published a green paper entitled “A European Strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy”.

Preparatory work for the adoption of a prioritised action plan on energy policy in spring 2007 will continue during Finland’s EU Presidency. The Council’s aim is to contribute to the development of the EU energy policy when the Commission will publish its first annual strategic energy review at the end of Finland’s Presidency.

In relation to energy policy, the focus will be on external relations, energy efficiency, renewable energy resources, and the internal markets in electricity and gas. With regard to energy and external relations, Finland considers it particularly important to develop cooperation between the EU and Russia.

Meetings
The Council meeting to be held in Luxembourg in October will concentrate on transport issues. The meeting of EU ministers responsible for energy will take place in Brussels in November. Energy will also be on the agenda for meetings between the Union and its outside partners. The Council meeting in Brussels in December will discuss transport and telecommunications issues. The meeting will be preceded by an informal dinner for Telecoms Ministers. In addition, Italy will host a Road Safety Conference in Verona in November.

Civil servants and experts will hold a seminar on short sea shipping in Brussels and EU Transport Attachés will meet in Oulu. An expert seminar on the i2010 Strategy and the information society will take place in Espoo, Finland, and Greece will host a meeting on the governance of the Internet.

More on this website:

Events:

Events: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Links:

Ministry of Transport and Communications

Ministry of Trade and Industry: Energy

i2010 Conference

Council of the European Union: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Finland’s EU Presidency : Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Dale Simmmons Uutiset

The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) meets once every two months. Meetings are attended by the ministers responsible for the area under discussion: transport, telecommunications or energy. During its Presidency, Finland will hold three meetings of the TTE Council and they will be chaired by Minister of Transport and Communications, Susanna Huovinen, or Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen.

Main issues

Transport
During Finland’s Presidency, the focus will be on transport logistics. The communication on the issue, submitted by the Commission at the end of June, will be discussed during Finland’s Presidency. The communication will address the requirements laid down in the Lisbon Strategy by introducing ways to improve the efficiency of logistics within the Union. The communication emphasises intermodality which enables the integration of different transport modes. Smoothly running, integrated transport systems are essential for the Union’s industries and competitiveness. Other priorities include road safety and short sea shipping.

Telecommunications
The main focus will be on network and data security and the Council is to discuss two proposals submitted by the Commission. One of the proposals will be on spam and malware while the other will concern the development of a European data security strategy. Consideration will also be given to the e-communications legislative package, frequency policy and the i2010 Information Society Strategy, and the Regulation on roaming charges.

Energy policy
Discussion on the development of the EU’s energy policy will continue during Finland’s EU Presidency. The development project was launched on 8 March when the Commission published a green paper entitled “A European Strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy”.

Preparatory work for the adoption of a prioritised action plan on energy policy in spring 2007 will continue during Finland’s EU Presidency. The Council’s aim is to contribute to the development of the EU energy policy when the Commission will publish its first annual strategic energy review at the end of Finland’s Presidency.

In relation to energy policy, the focus will be on external relations, energy efficiency, renewable energy resources, and the internal markets in electricity and gas. With regard to energy and external relations, Finland considers it particularly important to develop cooperation between the EU and Russia.

Meetings
The Council meeting to be held in Luxembourg in October will concentrate on transport issues. The meeting of EU ministers responsible for energy will take place in Brussels in November. Energy will also be on the agenda for meetings between the Union and its outside partners. The Council meeting in Brussels in December will discuss transport and telecommunications issues. The meeting will be preceded by an informal dinner for Telecoms Ministers. In addition, Italy will host a Road Safety Conference in Verona in November.

Civil servants and experts will hold a seminar on short sea shipping in Brussels and EU Transport Attachés will meet in Oulu. An expert seminar on the i2010 Strategy and the information society will take place in Espoo, Finland, and Greece will host a meeting on the governance of the Internet.

More on this website:

Events:

Events: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Links:

Ministry of Transport and Communications

Ministry of Trade and Industry: Energy

i2010 Conference

Council of the European Union: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Finland’s EU Presidency : Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Dale Simmmons Uutiset

The Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council (TTE) meets once every two months. Meetings are attended by the ministers responsible for the area under discussion: transport, telecommunications or energy. During its Presidency, Finland will hold three meetings of the TTE Council and they will be chaired by Minister of Transport and Communications, Susanna Huovinen, or Minister of Trade and Industry, Mauri Pekkarinen.

Main issues

Transport
During Finland’s Presidency, the focus will be on transport logistics. The communication on the issue, submitted by the Commission at the end of June, will be discussed during Finland’s Presidency. The communication will address the requirements laid down in the Lisbon Strategy by introducing ways to improve the efficiency of logistics within the Union. The communication emphasises intermodality which enables the integration of different transport modes. Smoothly running, integrated transport systems are essential for the Union’s industries and competitiveness. Other priorities include road safety and short sea shipping.

Telecommunications
The main focus will be on network and data security and the Council is to discuss two proposals submitted by the Commission. One of the proposals will be on spam and malware while the other will concern the development of a European data security strategy. Consideration will also be given to the e-communications legislative package, frequency policy and the i2010 Information Society Strategy, and the Regulation on roaming charges.

Energy policy
Discussion on the development of the EU’s energy policy will continue during Finland’s EU Presidency. The development project was launched on 8 March when the Commission published a green paper entitled “A European Strategy for sustainable, competitive and secure energy”.

Preparatory work for the adoption of a prioritised action plan on energy policy in spring 2007 will continue during Finland’s EU Presidency. The Council’s aim is to contribute to the development of the EU energy policy when the Commission will publish its first annual strategic energy review at the end of Finland’s Presidency.

In relation to energy policy, the focus will be on external relations, energy efficiency, renewable energy resources, and the internal markets in electricity and gas. With regard to energy and external relations, Finland considers it particularly important to develop cooperation between the EU and Russia.

Meetings
The Council meeting to be held in Luxembourg in October will concentrate on transport issues. The meeting of EU ministers responsible for energy will take place in Brussels in November. Energy will also be on the agenda for meetings between the Union and its outside partners. The Council meeting in Brussels in December will discuss transport and telecommunications issues. The meeting will be preceded by an informal dinner for Telecoms Ministers. In addition, Italy will host a Road Safety Conference in Verona in November.

Civil servants and experts will hold a seminar on short sea shipping in Brussels and EU Transport Attachés will meet in Oulu. An expert seminar on the i2010 Strategy and the information society will take place in Espoo, Finland, and Greece will host a meeting on the governance of the Internet.

More on this website:

Events:

Events: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Links:

Ministry of Transport and Communications

Ministry of Trade and Industry: Energy

i2010 Conference

Council of the European Union: Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

Finland’s EU Presidency : Justice and Home Affairs

Dale Simmmons Uutiset

The Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council usually meets every two months and brings together Ministers of Justice and Ministers of the Interior. During its Presidency, Finland will hold three meetings of the JHA Council. They shall be chaired by Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Justice, and Kari Rajamäki, Minister of the Interior.

The implementation of the Hague Programme will be assessed during Finland’s EU Presidency. The multiannual programme aims at strengthening the area of freedom, security and justice within the European Union. The Hague Programme is based on the programme adopted at the Tampere European Council in 1999.

During Finland’s EU Presidency, the intention is to formulate and define political guidelines on future cooperation in the fields of Justice and Home Affairs. The progress achieved in the implementation of the Hague Programme will be evaluated to identify areas requiring further action. At the same time, consideration will also be given to improving the way in which decisions are made on police and judicial cooperation.

Main issues

Justice
Objectives in relation to justice issues include effective implementation of adopted decisions and better cooperation among the authorities of Member States. All in all, judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters within the EU is to be deepened. Attention will also be focused on respect for human and fundamental rights in connection with anti-terrorist measures. 

Priority will be given to projects promoting the principle of mutual recognition. This means that judgments and other judicial decisions made in one Member State should be enforced as such in an implementing Member State.

Home affairs
In home issues, priority will be given to projects promoting the establishment of a common European asylum system and political guidelines on the control of the EU’s external border. Preparations will be made for Schengen enlargement during Finland’s Presidency on the basis of various evaluations and reports.

Discussions will be opened during Finland’s Presidency on comprehensive joint action and responsibility for the EU’s immigration, asylum and border security policies. The discussions will cover the granting of international protection to those entitled to it, more concrete burden sharing on issues relating to illegal immigration and asylum, and verifiable adherence to commonly agreed rules.

Meetings
The informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for justice and home affairs, to be held in Tampere in September, will discuss the Hague Programme.

Finland will also host several civil servant meetings with a focus on justice and home affairs. The Best Practices Conference of the European Crime Prevention Network will take place in Hämeenlinna and the European Judicial Network will convene in Rovaniemi.

The Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA) will meet in Kuusamo and Directors-General for Civil Protection in Lahti. The meeting of ASEM Directors-General for the Management of migratory flows between Europe and Asia will take place in Kuopio.

Organised crime, terrorism, corruption and strengthening of the rule of law are among the issues to be discussed at the ASEM 6 Summit to be held in Helsinki in September.

More on this website:

Events:

Events: Justice and Home Affairs

Links:

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of the Interior

The Hague Programme (pdf)

Council of the European Union: Justice and Home Affairs

European Commission: Justice and Home Affairs

European Commission: Area of freedom, security and justice

European Crime Prevention Network

European Judicial Network

European Police Office (EUROPOL)

Europa: Frontex, the EU’s external-border management agency

European Parliament: Committee of Legal Affairs (JURI)

European Parliament: Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

Finland’s EU Presidency : Justice and Home Affairs

Dale Simmmons Uutiset

The Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council usually meets every two months and brings together Ministers of Justice and Ministers of the Interior. During its Presidency, Finland will hold three meetings of the JHA Council. They shall be chaired by Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Justice, and Kari Rajamäki, Minister of the Interior.

The implementation of the Hague Programme will be assessed during Finland’s EU Presidency. The multiannual programme aims at strengthening the area of freedom, security and justice within the European Union. The Hague Programme is based on the programme adopted at the Tampere European Council in 1999.

During Finland’s EU Presidency, the intention is to formulate and define political guidelines on future cooperation in the fields of Justice and Home Affairs. The progress achieved in the implementation of the Hague Programme will be evaluated to identify areas requiring further action. At the same time, consideration will also be given to improving the way in which decisions are made on police and judicial cooperation.

Main issues

Justice
Objectives in relation to justice issues include effective implementation of adopted decisions and better cooperation among the authorities of Member States. All in all, judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters within the EU is to be deepened. Attention will also be focused on respect for human and fundamental rights in connection with anti-terrorist measures. 

Priority will be given to projects promoting the principle of mutual recognition. This means that judgments and other judicial decisions made in one Member State should be enforced as such in an implementing Member State.

Home affairs
In home issues, priority will be given to projects promoting the establishment of a common European asylum system and political guidelines on the control of the EU’s external border. Preparations will be made for Schengen enlargement during Finland’s Presidency on the basis of various evaluations and reports.

Discussions will be opened during Finland’s Presidency on comprehensive joint action and responsibility for the EU’s immigration, asylum and border security policies. The discussions will cover the granting of international protection to those entitled to it, more concrete burden sharing on issues relating to illegal immigration and asylum, and verifiable adherence to commonly agreed rules.

Meetings
The informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for justice and home affairs, to be held in Tampere in September, will discuss the Hague Programme.

Finland will also host several civil servant meetings with a focus on justice and home affairs. The Best Practices Conference of the European Crime Prevention Network will take place in Hämeenlinna and the European Judicial Network will convene in Rovaniemi.

The Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA) will meet in Kuusamo and Directors-General for Civil Protection in Lahti. The meeting of ASEM Directors-General for the Management of migratory flows between Europe and Asia will take place in Kuopio.

Organised crime, terrorism, corruption and strengthening of the rule of law are among the issues to be discussed at the ASEM 6 Summit to be held in Helsinki in September.

More on this website:

Events:

Events: Justice and Home Affairs

Links:

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of the Interior

The Hague Programme (pdf)

Council of the European Union: Justice and Home Affairs

European Commission: Justice and Home Affairs

European Commission: Area of freedom, security and justice

European Crime Prevention Network

European Judicial Network

European Police Office (EUROPOL)

Europa: Frontex, the EU’s external-border management agency

European Parliament: Committee of Legal Affairs (JURI)

European Parliament: Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)

Finland’s EU Presidency : Justice and Home Affairs

Dale Simmmons Uutiset

The Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council usually meets every two months and brings together Ministers of Justice and Ministers of the Interior. During its Presidency, Finland will hold three meetings of the JHA Council. They shall be chaired by Leena Luhtanen, Minister of Justice, and Kari Rajamäki, Minister of the Interior.

The implementation of the Hague Programme will be assessed during Finland’s EU Presidency. The multiannual programme aims at strengthening the area of freedom, security and justice within the European Union. The Hague Programme is based on the programme adopted at the Tampere European Council in 1999.

During Finland’s EU Presidency, the intention is to formulate and define political guidelines on future cooperation in the fields of Justice and Home Affairs. The progress achieved in the implementation of the Hague Programme will be evaluated to identify areas requiring further action. At the same time, consideration will also be given to improving the way in which decisions are made on police and judicial cooperation.

Main issues

Justice
Objectives in relation to justice issues include effective implementation of adopted decisions and better cooperation among the authorities of Member States. All in all, judicial cooperation in civil and criminal matters within the EU is to be deepened. Attention will also be focused on respect for human and fundamental rights in connection with anti-terrorist measures. 

Priority will be given to projects promoting the principle of mutual recognition. This means that judgments and other judicial decisions made in one Member State should be enforced as such in an implementing Member State.

Home affairs
In home issues, priority will be given to projects promoting the establishment of a common European asylum system and political guidelines on the control of the EU’s external border. Preparations will be made for Schengen enlargement during Finland’s Presidency on the basis of various evaluations and reports.

Discussions will be opened during Finland’s Presidency on comprehensive joint action and responsibility for the EU’s immigration, asylum and border security policies. The discussions will cover the granting of international protection to those entitled to it, more concrete burden sharing on issues relating to illegal immigration and asylum, and verifiable adherence to commonly agreed rules.

Meetings
The informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for justice and home affairs, to be held in Tampere in September, will discuss the Hague Programme.

Finland will also host several civil servant meetings with a focus on justice and home affairs. The Best Practices Conference of the European Crime Prevention Network will take place in Hämeenlinna and the European Judicial Network will convene in Rovaniemi.

The Strategic Committee on Immigration, Frontiers and Asylum (SCIFA) will meet in Kuusamo and Directors-General for Civil Protection in Lahti. The meeting of ASEM Directors-General for the Management of migratory flows between Europe and Asia will take place in Kuopio.

Organised crime, terrorism, corruption and strengthening of the rule of law are among the issues to be discussed at the ASEM 6 Summit to be held in Helsinki in September.

More on this website:

Events:

Events: Justice and Home Affairs

Links:

Ministry of Justice

Ministry of the Interior

The Hague Programme (pdf)

Council of the European Union: Justice and Home Affairs

European Commission: Justice and Home Affairs

European Commission: Area of freedom, security and justice

European Crime Prevention Network

European Judicial Network

European Police Office (EUROPOL)

Europa: Frontex, the EU’s external-border management agency

European Parliament: Committee of Legal Affairs (JURI)

European Parliament: Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE)