Uutiset

Finland’s EU Presidency : Transcript of the first press conference for the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government

Dale Simmmons Uutiset 8 heinäkuun, 2007

Presenter: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the press conference of the informal meeting of Heads of State or Government. Present President of the European Council, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso, and Secretary-General / High Representative, Mr Javier Solana. Prime Minister Vanhanen, please.

Vanhanen: Thank you. Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. As you all know, one of the main themes of the meeting was innovation policy as a source of European growth. I would like to start drawing some conclusions on this item.

It was very clear in the discussions that we need a comprehensive strategy on intellectual property rights in the EU. This is an important part for an effective innovation policy. The strategy should be, above all, of high quality. By placing importance – for instance – on the quality of patents, the EU could also put pressure on our competitors. We welcome the Commission’s intention to prepare a comprehensive strategy on intellectual property rights in 2007.

Patents are an essential part of intellectual property rights. We look forward to the Commission’s proposals on how to develop the patent system in Europe.

We agreed that the European patent system must be made more cost-effective and more predictable. We must also improve the litigation system. Basically, we have three options:

First, we can leave things as they are. This would be by far the worst option.

Second, EU Member States could take a step forward through the London Agreement. The London Agreement relates to the simplification of the existing European Patent System.

The third option is that we seek: Community solutions in order to improve the patent system. This should be our ultimate goal.

Another central theme in our discussions was enhancing the co-operation between the private and public sectors. We agreed that we need to help companies in finding early seed money. European Technology Platforms and Joint Technology Initiatives are excellent examples of public-private partnerships. Companies are willing to invest in these initiatives. Public funding by the Member States and the EU is therefore a high priority for some of the projects that are ready to be launched.

The Finnish Government has made a commitment to allocate public research funding to one of the most advanced initiatives called Artemis. Its aim is to enhance Europe’s leading position in certain electronic systems. The Finnish Government’s total contribution will be 70 million euros over a seven-year period starting from next year. I am pleased that also the Commission gives its full support to this initiative and will take it forward as a Joint Technology Initiative and match funds coming from the private sector.

We also had a discussion on the proposal to create the European Institute of Technology, which was adopted by the Commission only two days ago. The Institute should have a real impact in filling Europe’s innovation gap. We are pleased that during our Presidency we will be able to start working on the details of this proposal in the Council. There are of course many open questions at this stage but the discussion we just had, it showed a real green light to the Commission’s initiative.

We also touched upon standardisation and agreed on its importance in supporting innovations. Our work on innovation policy will not stop here. I will keep this high on the agenda during the rest of our Presidency, too.

At the beginning of our meeting, we had a constructive lunch discussion concerning the Union’s external energy relations with important partners, especially with Russia. We had unity today.

On energy issues with Russia, the EU aims to build a close and legally binding partnership based on mutually balanced, long term benefits.

It’s in the Union’s interests to persuade Russia to commit more strongly to the principles which have already been defined in the Energy Charter Treaty and G8 declaration.

There is a complete understanding between the Member States on the principles to be applied. They should cover especially market-based rules, market opening, non-discriminatory access to transit networks and mutuality in two-way investment.

The EU will soon enter negotiations with Russia on a new comprehensive agreement to replace the 10-year-old Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. We agreed that the principles I just mentioned should be included into this post-PCA agreement.

We also agreed that it is very important to follow these principles in practice now, without waiting for a formal agreement.

We will also continue to develop our relations with other producer and transit countries around the EU. We aim to extend the internal energy market principles to our neighbourhood.

We also agreed that the European Union must show strong leadership in combating climate change. Improving energy efficiency is important in achieving this. During the Finnish Presidency climate and energy issues have been at top of the agenda in third country summits.

In order to enhance the security of energy supply, international financial institutions need to cooperate in a more effective way. In addition, energy security aspects should be taken into account when the European Investment Bank is granting new lending mandates to third countries. In order to implement a coherent energy policy and respond to energy crises, we agreed to improve the way we share and process energy information among the Member States. We shall move ahead with this before the end of the year.

My friends, my Spanish Colleague Prime Minister Zapatero was a key-note speaker on migration issues. He took up the importance of well-functioning border control and holistic approach to migration.

Illegal immigration is a problem that concerns the whole European Union. European solidarity was mentioned many times during our discussions.

We stressed the importance of concrete action and gave our full support to the European Border Management Agency.

We agreed that cooperation with Africa is essential, as it is with other countries of origin and transit. We need to be able to address the root causes of illegal immigration if we want to prevent these humanitarian crises in the coming years. Consistency between policy sectors is important.

I’m committed to take the work forward at the December European Council.

We also briefly discussed the alarming situation in Sudan. We are all deeply concerned at the security, humanitarian and human rights situation in Sudan/Darfur. We are working hard to convince the Government of Sudan that a UN operation is the only viable and realistic option for peacekeeping in Darfur.

Thank you.

Presenter: President Barroso please.

Barroso: Thank you, thank you very much. I endorse everything that Prime Minister Vanhanen has said. I will not need to repeat. Let me just underline one or two point that I think are more important. First of all, this informal European Council was in a real spirit of coherence and solidarity. And we have seen this idea of coherence and solidarity in discussion about external energy policy, on discussion on innovation, discussion on migration. First of all, external energy policy. I’m very happy that the Commission gave a contribution to this debate with a paper that we have presented and the broad lines were endorsed by the leaders of Europe. In fact, we have seen the need for having a real European energy policy following what we have already discussed at Hampton Court, the Green Paper that was presented some time ago. And now I believe today we have achieved a real convergence that will enable us to come in January with some concrete proposals in terms of energy package. Energy goes from climate change, the need to fight climate change, until energy efficiency and energy security. What we have been discussing today was more external energy policy. It is important for us to involve others around us. In fighting climate change the European Union is leading in the world. In terms of the fight against climate change it is considered by many of us maybe the most important challenge of the 21st century. But it is important that only we in the European Union do that but that we involve others and this of course is a topic with all our partners. A way of fighting climate change is through energy efficiency. And it was also addressed at this meeting and as you know, we have recently proposed some very ambitious targets for the European Union.

Another point that was central in our discussions today, was energy security and of course this will a topic in our meeting this evening with President Putin. I think it was a real message of convergence that came after this debate to have some sound principles like reciprocity, transparency, market opening as principles that all the partners should respect if they want to have energy security in the long term. So, I believe in that matter we really achieved some progress and that we have now a real political orientation for the next steps starting of course this evening with meeting with President of the Russia.

Innovation was of course considered the most important point for this Lahti Summit. And there we also received endorsement and backing to some of our proposals. The need to come with a strategy for intellectual property rights, the need to come with a solution for the long standing problem of patenting in European Union and also to move forward on standards in Europe. And of course the strong backing, the green light, as Prime Minister Vanhanen just said, for the European Institute for Technology. I was personally very happy with this strong backing that was given to this idea. This is indeed a future flagship for innovation in Europe based on that important idea of public-private partnerships and specifically on the linkage between university and research excellence with a business interest and an economic potential. This will of course complement the European Union’s present efforts to stimulate research for instance through Joint Technology Initiatives and I was happy to announce support of the European Commission to this Artemis joint technology project that so many Member States and so many important companies from Europe are wishing to fund and the Commission will of course match this funding as well. So, I really believe that we could have here an important political agreement. This is an informal summit, it was not a summit for formalised legal instruments. But it is a summit that sets a course and defines an orientation. And I believe that after this summit, we can say that there is coherence and solidarity and more ambition fulfilling some of these important goals like the ones I just mentioned in the field of security, energy security but also in terms of innovation. These were the most important points. I will not go in detail because of time constraints. Of course, full support to our common approach to migration, to the requests made by the Prime Minister of Spain and endorsed by so many Heads of State and Government. This is not just a problem for the southern European countries. It a problem for all Europe for a problem at European level we should also have solution at European level. Thank you.

Presenter: High Representative Solana please.

Solana: Thank you very much. Very briefly because everything important has been said, and well said. Let me only tell you only practical things. I was yesterday in Ukraine. As you know, Ukraine has a pipeline that is the most important pipeline to provide gas to Europe. More than 80% of the gas goes through that pipeline. Therefore good-working [relations] between Russia and Ukraine [are] fundamental in order to guarantee the supply in the coming months to the European countries. I can tell you that this coming week, an agreement will be signed between Ukraine and Russia, and I had already discussions with the leaders of Ukraine … yesterday and we will have the guarantee that the supply of gas will be for all the countries of Europe that have links to the pipeline, which, as I said, is the most important pipeline that supplies gas to Europe. So, what happened last year and the year before will not be repeated this year and let’s hope that the temperatures in the winter will not make this statement I just have made not correct. But in principle everything is guaranteed so the that supply will be appropriate for all the countries of the European Union. Well, as you know, energy security is a very important element of foreign policy. The countries which supply most energy are to a certain extent uncertain countries and countries which the pipelines cross are also uncertain countries. We have now in the Caucasus some problem around Georgia. A very important pipeline that comes from Baku crosses that country. If anything were to happen there, we would also have difficulties, or potential difficulties, with the pipeline that [run through] that country. Therefore energy security for Europe is pretty much linked to foreign policy. Therefore we have to adapt our own foreign policy, also to take into consideration the component of energy. In the same manner, we have to put into consideration in a much more dramatic manner the question of migration in our foreign policy. Migration is not only a question of how much money you give to countries or how much you handle the situation in our own countries but how much foreign policy we do in particular with those countries which are the ones which supply most of the migrants, meaning Africa, meaning other parts of the world. So a very important element in our foreign policy has to be also linked to [the question of] how to handle the policy on migration. Let me also tell you that, in the coming – let’s say – 20 years, in the world there are going to be probably more than 200 new nuclear power plants. And the significance of that, vis-à-vis, for instance, [in terms of ] the enrichment of uranium – enrichment of uranium that, as you know, [presents] problems, that may be linked to proliferation. And therefore, we have to really try to work collectively with other actors in the international community – the European Union – so that this probable increase in the number of nuclear power plants that there will be in the world in the coming years does not [lead to] a proliferation system, [that makes the world ] much more dangerous than it is already now. So to fight against proliferation, we will have to have as one of our priorities controlling that situation and [ensuring that] the nuclear power plants do not lead to larger proliferation in the world. All these things we’ll have to keep on [coming back to] and studying and analysing and putting in practice. Thank you.

Presenter: Please identify yourself and your media when asking questions and use our microphone. Our camera crew has also kindly asked you to stand up when asking questions. It’s easier for them to find you. The Guardian please.

Guardian: It’s a question for President Barroso. How can you can do business with a man, Vladimir Putin, whose commitment to human rights are so great that he has expressed admiration for the sexual habits of an alleged rapist, the President of Israel?

Barroso: We are going to meet President Putin. He’s our neighbour. Russia is a very important country. I believe it is our interests, and in the interests of our citizens, to have constructive relations with Russia. But in our constructive relations with Russia, we also include a very open, very frank dialogue, including on the most sensitive issues, for instance, human rights. And I’m sure that this evening, we are going to express our concerns on all the issues of that kind that we have… that you know are a matter of concern for our European citizens. And I’m sure this is going to be the case, as has already happened in the past.

Presenter: The gentleman in the second row, please.

Agence France Presse (through interpreter): A question in French. The European patent, for decades now, has become a sort of zombie which haunts the corridors of Europe. Are you going to have to unearth the text or are you going to bury it once and for all? If you are going to bury once and for all, what specific proposals would enable you to get round its absence?

Barroso: Well it’s true that for a while now, we’ve tried to get a European patent and we haven’t managed. If we haven’t managed, it’s not because the Community institutions haven’t done enough, but simply because people haven’t agreed, not least on the language arrangements. Some Member States have clear language objections. So what I want Member States to do today is see whether they can’t accept a pragmatic approach – a pragmatic approach which involves accepting a degree of communitarisation of things which happen already, in terms of litigation, for example, on European patents. And we will be coming forward with a number of proposals, which we hope can be usefully discussed by the spring Council. So we’ll have to see. I can’t really say exactly what the upshot of all this is going to be. We’ll just have to see whether it will be possible for us to make progress on this dossier. Certainly in the light of today’s discussion, no one has questioned the fact that there is a need to come up with a solution in Europe for patents, because it’s one of the areas where we fall well short, in particular of our American friends. We’re losing innovative opportunities, simply because it costs too much and it takes too much time to get a patent in Europe. So we’ll be coming forward with a number of proposals shortly, and we’ll see whether it might not be possible to win over Member States to these proposals. We’re certainly not abandoning the real objective, which was to have a European patent. Thank you.

Vanhanen: Yes, it is true that this has been too long a project without any result and the Finnish purpose, during our Presidency, is to strengthen the political will among the Member States. And I asked my colleagues in this meeting today that they should all – that we should all – in our countries, strengthen the political pressure to find a solution, have a little more flexibility to find a solution. As President Barroso said, the over-complicated European patent system is too expensive for European companies. If we compare similar companies in the USA, where they have, in an area of 300 million people, one simple patent system, we need something [along] the same [lines] here in the EU, where there are 25 Member States and quite soon 27.

Presenter: YLE please.

Finnish Broadcasting Company: This is a question for Prime Minister Vanhanen and Dr Solana. What did you [say] about Georgia? We all know that the situation and relations between Russia and Georgia have been deteriorating for a while now. Are you going to take this up with President Putin, and other human rights issues?

Vanhanen: Yes, as President Barroso already said, of course, we will do [as we] always do when we have summits with third countries. We have both positive questions and also difficult questions. There were several Member States during lunch, which asked the Presidency to take to the floor Georgia, and we will do it.

Solana: It will not be the first time that we talk with our Russian friends about Georgia. Since the very beginning, we have been in touch with the Georgian President and the Russian counterpart, the President, Mr Ivanov, the national security adviser. I have been talking to them practically daily, trying to cool down the situation and trying to make the possibility of contact between the leaders of both countries. For the moment that has not taken place. We continue working in that direction and I’m sure we will achieve that. But I can tell you that every day since the situation has started, we have been in touch with both the leaders of both Georgia and the leaders of the Russian Federation.

Presenter: Gentleman here in the middle row, please.

Anatolia News Agency: I’m addressing my question to Mr Vanhanen. My question is regarding Cyprus. You made some concrete proposals to parties. Are you hoping to get a conclusion before the December summit? How optimistic are you [about getting] a conclusions, or how close are you to a conclusion.

Vanhanen: I can only tell you that the Finnish Presidency… we have been very active on this issue. And we are negotiating with all partners. And let’s see. It will be closer during this autumn-time, to find a solution also to the Cyprus question, and we are working actively and our aim is to find a solution before December.

Presenter: We have time for two more questions. Here please.

Kosovo press: I have a question for Mr Vanhanen. Kosovo is one of the issues with which apparently the European Union doesn’t have the same position like Russia. Recently, Russia made it clear that they want negotiations to go on for next year, while President Ahtisaari wants to finish this year. And President Putin has made a comparison between the Kosovo issue and Ossetia in Georgia. So do you think that this Russian can endanger the mission of President Ahtisaari to find a solution for Kosovo?

Vanhanen: We will probably not discuss about this item this evening. President Ahtisaari is not working for the European Union. He’s now in the UN, the United Nations. And of course this possibility is now in the United Nations and the UN should find the solution to the Kosovo status question and I’m sure that the European Union, we will be ready then to support the arrangements and solutions which we can accept. And of course if we want to get a solution in the United Nations, it will most probably also need a decision in the UN Security Council, so of course there has to be also agreements which also the members of the Security Council can accept.

Presenter: And the last question goes to a gentleman in the third row.

Romanian press: I would like to ask President Barroso. You know, [there is much debate] on whether the Prime Minister or the President should propose a person to be the Romanian European Commissioner. I want ask you if you have received a proposal and, if yes, what your decision will be? Can you give us a name or a domain, or something?

Barroso: I will not make any comment on that issue before the decision is taken. Okay?

Presenter: Thank you very much.

******

Matti Vanhanen, Prime Minister of FinlandJosé Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission

Javier Solana, Secretary-General / High Representative

Finland’s EU Presidency : Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on the Presidential Elections in Venezuela

L’Union européenne félicite M. Hugo Chávez Frías pour sa réélection à la présidence de la République bolivarienne du Venezuela et rend hommage à la maturité électorale dont la population et les forces politiques du pays ont fait preuve.

L’UE note avec satisfaction que le scrutin du 3 décembre 2006 s’est déroulé d’une manière pacifique et dans la transparence, ce qui constitue une bonne base pour le renforcement des institutions démocratiques et du dialogue politique au Venezuela. L’UE est en outre sensible aux attentions que le Conseil national électoral a témoignées à l’égard de la mission d’observation électorale de l’UE.

L’UE réaffirme qu’elle est déterminée à appuyer la consolidation de la démocratie et de la bonne gestion des affaires publiques au Venezuela, ainsi que l’atténuation de la pauvreté, des inégalités et de l’exclusion. L’UE soutient également le combat que mène le gouvernement contre la corruption et en faveur de la tolérance. Ces éléments sont essentiels à la prospérité du Venezuela et au bien être de ses citoyens.

La Bulgarie et la Roumanie, pays en voie d’adhésion, la Turquie, la Croatie* et l’ancienne République yougoslave de Macédoine*, pays candidats, l’Albanie, la Bosnie-Herzégovine, le Monténégro et la Serbie, pays du processus de stabilisation et d’association et candidats potentiels, l’Islande et la Norvège, pays de l’AELE membres de l’Espace économique européen, ainsi que l’Ukraine et la République de Moldavie, se rallient à la présente déclaration.

* La Croatie et l’ancienne République yougoslave de Macédoine continuent à participer au processus de stabilisation et d’association.

Finland’s EU Presidency : EU Presidency statement on Sri Lanka

CFSP statement, General Affairs and External Relations

17 Aug 2006, 17:55 en fr fi sv

The Presidency of the European Union is gravely concerned about the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka which seriously puts the Ceasefire Agreement and the peace process at risk.

The Presidency urges the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to cease hostilities at once and to resume peace talks. The senseless violence will not resolve the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.

The Presidency reiterates the full support of the European Union to the peace process and to the important work of the Norwegian facilitator. The personnel of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission must be supported and their security guaranteed at all times.

The Presidency is deeply concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and the suffering of innocent people. There are 130 000 refugees since April 7 in the conflict ridden areas, and the number is growing by day. The Presidency calls on both parties to guarantee free access for the relief agencies to the affected people.

In the light of the killing of the 17 aid workers in Muthur, the presidency expresses its concern about the working conditions of the NGOs in Sri Lanka, and calls on the government to support their valuable work.

La Présidence de l’Union européenne est sérieusement préoccupée par les violences actuelles au Sri Lanka qui mettent gravement en danger l’Accord de cessez-le-feu et le processus de paix.

La Présidence demande instamment au Gouvernement du Sri Lanka et aux Tigres de Libération de l’Eelam (LTTE) de cesser immédiatement les hostilités et de reprendre les négociations de paix. La violence insensée ne pourra pas résoudre le conflit ethnique qui fait rage au Sri Lanka.

La Présidence renouvelle le soutien sans faille de l’Union européenne au processus de paix et aux travaux importants du facilitateur norvégien. Les Personnels de la Mission de surveillance au Sri Lanka doivent être soutenus et leur sécurité doit être garantie à tout moment.

La Présidence est profondément préoccupée par la crise humanitaire croissante au Sri Lanka et par la souffrance d’innocents. On compte 130 000 réfugiés depuis le 7 avril dans les zones touchées par le conflit et ce nombre croit chaque jour. La Présidence en appelle aux deux parties pour garantir aux victimes des combats un accès libre aux organismes d’assistance.

A la lumière de l’assassinat des 17 collaborateurs d’une ONG à Muthur, la Présidence exprime son inquiétude s’agissant des conditions de travail des ONG au Sri Lanka et demande au gouvernement de leur apporter son soutien dans leurs travaux d’une utilité considérable.

EU:n puheenjohtajavaltio on erittäin huolissaan Sri Lankan jatkuvasta väkivallasta, joka vaarantaa vakavasti tulitaukosopimuksen ja rauhanprosessin.

Puheenjohtajavaltio vaatii Sri Lankan hallitusta ja tamilitiikerien vapautusjärjestöä LTTE:tä lopettamaan heti vihollisuudet ja aloittamaan rauhanneuvottelut. Järjetön väkivalta ei ratkaise Sri Lankan etnistä konfliktia.

Puheenjohtajavaltio vahvistaa Euroopan unionin täyden tuen rauhanprosessille ja norjalaisen välittäjän tärkeälle työlle. Sri Lankan tarkkailutehtävään osallistuvaa henkilöstöä on tuettava, ja heidän turvallisuutensa on taattava kaikkina aikoina.

Puheenjohtajavaltio on syvästi huolissaan Sri Lankan kasvavasta humanitaarisesta kriisistä ja viattomien ihmisten kärsimyksestä. Huhtikuun 7:nnen jälkeen pakolaisia on konfliktin vaivaamilla alueilla 130 000, ja määrä kasvaa päivittäin. Puheenjohtajavaltio kehottaa molempia osapuolia takaamaan avustusjärjestöille vapaan pääsyn autettavien luo.

Muthurin 17 avustustyöntekijän surman johdosta puheenjohtavaltio on huolissaan kansalaisjärjestöjen työskentelyoloista Sri Lankassa ja kehottaa hallitusta tukemaan niiden arvokasta työtä.

Europeiska unionens ordförandeskap är allvarligt bekymrat över de pågående våldsamheterna i Sri Lanka och den allvarliga risk de utgör för eldupphöravtalet och fredsprocessen.

Ordförandeskapet uppmanar Sri Lankas regering och Tamilska Eelams befrielsetigrar LTTE att omedelbart upphöra med fientligheterna och återuppta fredsförhandlingarna. Det meningslösa våldet löser inte de etniska konflikterna i Sri Lanka.

Ordförandeskapet upprepar Europeiska unionens fulla stöd för fredsprocessen och den norska medlarens viktiga arbete. Observatörsmissionens personal i Sri Lanka måste stödas och deras säkerhet garanteras under alla omständigheter.

Ordförandeskapet är djupt bekymrat över den växande humanitära krisen i Sri Lanka och det lidande oskyldiga människor får utstå. Sedan den 7 april finns det 130 000 flyktingar i de konfliktdrabbade områdena, och antalet ökar varje dag. Ordförandeskapet uppmanar båda parterna att garantera hjälporganisationerna fritt tillträde till de berörda människorna.

Med anledning av de 17 dödade hjälparbetarna i Muthur uttrycker ordförandeskapet sin oro över frivilligorganisationernas arbetsförhållanden i Sri Lanka och uppmanar regeringen att stöda deras värdefulla arbete.

Finnische EU-Präsidentschaft : Enlargement and justice and home affairs to be the main themes at the December European Council

Preliminary agenda for the European Council meeting

Pressemitteilung, Allgemeine Angelegenheiten und Außenbeziehungen, Justiz und Inneres

04 Dec 2006, 12:02 en fr de

The European Council meeting during Finland’s EU Presidency will be held in Brussels on 14 and 15 December. It 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 EU’s immigration policy is also on the agenda for the European Council. The aim here is to strengthen the overall approach to immigration and agree on concrete measures to be taken in 2007. The Presidency will present its assessment of the discussions which the Presidency held this autumn with the Member States concerning the future of the Constitutional Treaty. The European Council will take stock of EU-accession negotiations with Turkey and Croatia, on the basis of the outcome of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 11 December. Other items on the agenda for the meeting include policies on innovation and energy, climate change and key external relations issues. In addition, the Heads of State or Government will welcome Romania and Bulgaria to the EU as new members with effect from 1 January 2007. Their accession will conclude the Union’s fifth round of enlargement. Further information: Jari Luoto, State Secretary for EU Affairs, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2180, Laura Aho, Adviser, EU Affairs, tel. +358 9 1602 2150, Government Secretariat for EU Affairs and Sanna Kangasharju, Deputy Head of Information, Government Communications Unit, tel. +358 9 1602 2175 or +358 40 731 9915

Le Conseil européen de la Présidence finlandaise de l’Union européenne se tiendra les 14 et 15 décembre à Bruxelles. Il sera présidé par le Premier ministre de la Finlande, Matti Vanhanen. Le thème principal de ce Conseil européen sera l’élargissement. Le débat s’appuiera sur la stratégie d’élargissement présentée le 8 novembre par la Commission européenne, avec en annexe un rapport spécial sur la capacité de l’Union à intégrer de nouveaux membres. L’objectif des Chefs d’État et de gouvernement est de confirmer l’orientation commune des États membres concernant la poursuite du processus d’élargissement. L’autre grand thème de ce Conseil européen portera sur le volet justice et affaires intérieures. Les Chefs d’État et de gouvernement examineront les possibilités d’améliorer les mécanismes décisionnels et le fonctionnement de l’Union dans le domaine de la justice, de la liberté et de la sécurité. L’objectif est de confirmer l’engagement des États membres à améliorer les mécanismes décisionnels en matière de justice et affaires intérieures. Le Conseil européen se penchera également sur la politique d’immigration de l’Union. L’objectif est de consolider l’approche globale de l’Union sur l’immigration et de convenir des nouvelles mesures concrètes à prendre pour l’année 2007. La Présidence fera part aux États membres de l’appréciation qu’elle porte sur les entretiens qu’elle a eus cet automne avec les États membres sur l’avenir du traité établissant une constitution pour l’Europe. Le Conseil européen prendra note de l’état des négociations d’adhésion de la Turquie et la Croatie sur la base des résultats du Conseil Affaires générales et Relations extérieures qui se tiendra le 11 décembre. Les débats porteront également sur la politique d’innovation, la politique énergétique, le changement climatique et les sujets d’actualité touchant aux relations extérieures. Les chefs d’État et de gouvernement accueilleront également la Roumanie et la Bulgarie qui rejoignent l’Union européenne le 1er janvier 2007. L’entrée de la Roumanie et de la Bulgarie dans l’Union complète le cinquième élargissement. Pour plus d’informations : Jari Luoto, secrétaire aux Affaires européennes, secrétariat général du Gouvernement, +358 9 1602 2180 et Sanna Kangasharju, chef adjoint de la communication du Gouvernement, tél. +358 9 1602 2175 ou +358 40 731 9915

Ordre du jour provisoire du Conseil européen

Der Europäische Rat des finnischen Präsidentschaftshalbjahres findet am 14. und 15. Dezember in Brüssel statt. Den Vorsitz führt Finnlands Ministerpräsident Matti Vanhanen. Eines der Hauptthemen des Gipfels ist die Erweiterung der Union. Der Debatte wird das am 8. November veröffentlichte Strategiepapier der Kommission zur EU-Erweiterung zugrunde liegen, das als Anlage einen Sonderbericht über die Aufnahmefähigkeit der Union einschließt. Angestrebt wird eine Vertiefung des Konsenses der Mitgliedsstaaten über die Fortführung des Erweiterungsprozesses. Das zweite Hauptthema sind Fragen der Bereiche Justiz und Inneres. Die Staats- und Regierungschefs werden über Wege diskutieren, die Beschlussfassung und das Handeln der Union im Raum der Freiheit, Sicherheit und des Rechts zu verbessern. Ziel ist eine verstärkte Verpflichtung der Mitgliedstaaten auf eine effektivere Beschlussfassung in der polizeilichen und justiziellen Zusammenarbeit. Auf der Agenda des Europäischen Rats steht auch die Einwanderungspolitik der Union. Es ist beabsichtigt, den Gesamtansatz zur Migrationsfrage zu vertiefen und konkrete Anschlussmaßnahmen für das Jahr 2007 zu vereinbaren. Der Ratspräsident wird die Mitgliedsstaaten über die Gespräche zur Zukunft des Verfassungsvertrags unterrichten, die die Präsidentschaft im Laufe des Herbsts mit den Mitgliedsstaaten geführt hat. Auf der Grundlage der Ergebnisse des am 11. Dezember zusammentretenden Rats »Allgemeine Angelegenheiten und Außenbeziehungen« wird der Europäische Rat die Fortschritte der Beitrittsverhandlungen mit der Türkei und Kroatien prüfen. Weitere Gesprächsthemen sind u.a. die Innovations- und Energiepolitik, der Klimawandel und aktuelle Fragen der auswärtigen Beziehungen. Außerdem heißen die Staats- und Regierungschefs die neue Mitglieder Rumänien und Bulgarien in der Union willkommen. Mit dem Beitritt der beiden Länder am 1. Januar 2007 kommt die fünfte Erweiterung der Union zum Abschluss. Nähere Information: Jari Luoto, Unterstaatssekretär für EU-Angelegenheiten, Sekretariat für die finnische EU-Präsidentschaft, Tel. +358 9 1602 2180, Laura Aho, Laura Aho, Sachverständige für EU-Angelegenheiten, Sekretariat für die finnische EU-Präsidentschaft, Tel. +358 9 1602 2150 sowie Sanna Kangasharju, Leitende Referentin, Information und Kommunikation, Referat für Regierungskommunikation, Tel. +358 9 1602 2175 oder +358 40 731 9915

Vorläufige Agenda des Europäischen Rats

Zurück zur Navigation

Présidence finlandaise de l’UE : Conseil européen

Accréditation des médias aux session du Conseil européen, les 14-15 decembre 2006

Date:

14.12.2006

Date finale: Date: 14 Dec 2006 – 15 Dec 2006 Lieu:

Bruxelles

Type d’événement: Réunions du Conseil éuropeen
Domaine politique: Affaires générales et relations extérieures

Le Conseil européen désigne les réunions régulières des chefs d’État ou de gouvernement des États membres de l’Union européenne. Le président de la Commission européenne prend également part à ces réunions. Il définit les orientations politiques favorisant le développement de l’Union et approuve les conclusions de la Présidence tournante du moment. Pendant la Présidence finlandaise, le Conseil européen sera présidé par le Premier ministre Matti Vanhanen.

Accréditation

L’accréditation aux sessions du Conseil européen doit être demandée via le site web du Secrétariat général du Conseil de l’Union européenne. La demande peut être déposée six semaines environ avant la date de la session.

Invitations au Conseil

Pour en savoir plus

Autre document, 22 Dec 2006, 16:15 en fr de fi sv
Les résultats de la Présidence finlandaise de l’UE
Conclusion, 15 Dec 2006, 15:56 en fr de fi sv cs da et el es it lv lt hu mt nl pl pt sk sl
Conclusions de la présidence, Conseil européen de Bruxelles, 14-15 décembre 2006
Communiqué de presse, 15 Dec 2006, 15:05 en fr de fi sv
Thème principal du Conseil européen : les principes de l’élargissement de l’UE
Communiqué de presse, 15 Dec 2006, 11:59 en fr de fi sv
La Finlande a atteint les principaux objectifs de sa Présidence de l’UE
Autre document, 14 Dec 2006, 19:05 en
Menu for the working dinner of the European Council (Heads of State or Government), 14 December 2006
Autre document, 05 Dec 2006, 13:26 en
Last-minute accreditation, European Council, Brussels, 14-15 December 2006
Communiqué de presse, 04 Dec 2006, 12:02 en fr de
Le thème de l’élargissement et celui de la justice et des affaires intérieures domineront le Conseil européen de décembre
Autre document, 29 Nov 2006, 17:25 en
Media Programme, European Council, 14 and 15 December 2006
Ordre du jour du Conseil, 07 Nov 2006, 11:22 en
Annotated draft agenda, European Council, 14 and 15 December 2006
Autre document, 30 Oct 2006, 13:51 en
Information for the press: European Council, Brussels, Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December 2006

Plus sur ce site

Liens:

Le Conseil de l’Union Européenne : Conseil européen

Retour

Retour à navigation

Finland’s EU Presidency : European Council

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

Date:

14.12.2006

End date: Date: 14 Dec 2006 – 15 Dec 2006 Venue:

Brussels

Type of event: European Council
Policy area: General Affairs and External Relations

The European Council brings together the Heads of State or Government of the European Union. The President of the Commission also attends its meetings. The European Council lays down general political guidelines for the EU’s development, and approves Presidency Conclusions. During Finland’s EU Presidency, the European Council will be chaired by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.

Accreditation

Accreditation for European Council meetings is necessary and takes place via the website of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union as of six weeks before a meeting.

Letters of invitation
Further information

Other document, 22 Dec 2006, 16:15 en fr de fi sv
Finland’s Presidency of the EU – results
Conclusion, 15 Dec 2006, 15:56 en fr de fi sv cs da et el es it lv lt hu mt nl pl pt sk sl
Presidency Conclusions, European Council in Brussels, 14-15 December 2006
Press release, 15 Dec 2006, 15:05 en fr de fi sv
The European Council focused on the principles for EU enlargement
Press release, 15 Dec 2006, 11:59 en fr de fi sv
Finland has met its main Presidency objectives
Other document, 14 Dec 2006, 19:05 en
Menu for the working dinner of the European Council (Heads of State or Government), 14 December 2006
Other document, 05 Dec 2006, 13:26 en
Last-minute accreditation, European Council, Brussels, 14-15 December 2006
Press release, 04 Dec 2006, 12:02 en fr de
Enlargement and justice and home affairs to be the main themes at the December European Council
Other document, 29 Nov 2006, 17:25 en
Media Programme, European Council, 14 and 15 December 2006
Council agenda, 07 Nov 2006, 11:22 en
Annotated draft agenda, European Council, 14 and 15 December 2006
Other document, 30 Oct 2006, 13:51 en
Information for the press: European Council, Brussels, Thursday 14 and Friday 15 December 2006

More on this website

Webcasts

Photos

Policy area: General Affairs and External Relations

Links:

The Council of the European Union: European Council

Finland’s EU Presidency : Expert Conference on Health in All Policies (HIAP)

Date:

20.9.2006

End date: Date: 20 Sep 2006 – 21 Sep 2006 Venue:

Kuopio

Type of event: Other meetings
Policy area: Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs

The purpose of the conference is to highlight ways in which population health can be improved through coherent action in sectors other than health sector. In practice this means that health arguments are taken into account in decision making with relevance to the determinants of health.

The meeting will serve as an opportunity to pool and exchange information, experiences and expertise on the principle of Health in All Policies. The best knowledge available at the current time will be presented – together with practical examples of good practices, including impact assessments.

More on this website

Links:

Finland’s EU Presidency : EU-India Summit in Helsinki on 13 October

Press release, General Affairs and External Relations

03 Oct 2006, 13:23 en fr de fi sv

Finland, the current holder of the EU Presidency, will organise the EU-India Summit in Helsinki on Friday, 13 October. The EU delegation will be lead by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and the Indian delegation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The EU will be represented also by the President of the European Commission, Jos Manuel Barroso; High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana; Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Erkki Tuomioja; Finnish Minister for Trade and Development, Paula Lehtomäki; and Members of the European Commission, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Peter Mandelson. In addition to Prime Minister Singh, Minister for Commerce and Industry, Kamal Nath, will represent India during the Summit. The central aim of the Helsinki Summit is to strengthen strategic partnership between the European Union and India in line with the joint action plan adopted in September 2005 in New Delhi. The summit agenda includes trade policy issues, climate and energy issues and cooperation in the field of science and technology. Key international and regional issues, such as cooperation in the fight against terrorism and the situation in the Middle East, will also be discussed. Cooperation between the EU and India has been fostered since the 1960s. The EU-India relations have developed quite favourably in recent years. Indias stronger international role and fast economic growth provide a new foundation for cooperation with the EU. The Finnish and Indian Prime Ministers will also attend the EU-India Business Summit organised on Thursday, 12 October. Attendants will include also the EU Commissioner for Trade, Peter Mandelson. Further information: Johan Schalin, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, Prime Ministers Office, tel. +358 9 1602 2068; Rauli Suikkanen, Counsellor, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5523; Sanna Kangasharju, Deputy Head of Information, Government Communications Unit, tel. +358 9 1602 2175 or +358 40 731 9915; and on media arrangements Mika Häkkinen, Press Attache, Secretariat for Finlands EU Presidency, tel. +358 9 1602 2609 or +358 40 772 6424 La Prsidence finlandaise de lUE organisera un sommet UE-Inde le vendredi 13 octobre Helsinki. La dlgation finlandaise sera dirige par le Premier ministre Matti Vanhanen et la dlgation indienne par le Premier ministre Manmohan Singh. Du ct europen participeront en outre ce sommet le prsident de la Commission europenne, Jos Manuel Barroso, le Haut reprsentant de lUE pour la PESC, Javier Solana, le ministre finlandais des Affaires trangres, Erkki Tuomioja, la ministre finlandaise du Commerce extrieur et du Dveloppement, Paula Lehtomäki, et les commissaires europens Benita Ferrero-Waldner et Peter Mandelson. Outre le Premier ministre Singh, lInde sera reprsente par le ministre du Commerce et de lIndustrie Kamal Nath. Le premier objectif de ce sommet est de renforcer le partenariat stratgique entre lUnion et lInde conformment au plan daction adopt New Delhi en septembre 2005. Les principaux thmes de rflexion seront la politique commerciale, les questions climatiques et nergtiques ainsi que la coopration scientifique et technologique. Seront galement abordes les questions internationales et rgionales, telles que la coopration antiterroriste et la situation au Moyen-Orient. LEurope et lInde ont commenc dvelopper leur coopration dans les annes 1960. Lvolution des relations a t particulirement favorable ces dernires annes. Le renforcement du statut international et la croissance conomique soutenue de lInde ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives de coopration entre lUE et ce pays. En marge de ce sommet sera organis le jeudi 12 octobre un forum conomique UE-Inde auquel prendront part, en plus des premiers ministres finlandais et indien le commissaire europen pour le Commerce, Peter Mandelson. Pour en savoir plus : Johan Schalin, conseiller des affaires internationales auprs du Premier ministre, tl. +358 9 1602 2068, Rauli Suikkanen, conseiller dambassade, ministre des Affaires trangres, tl. +358 9 1605 5523 et Sanna Kangasharju, chef adjoint de la Communication auprs du gouvernement, tl. +358 9 1602 2175 ou +358 40 731 9915 ; Arrangements mdias : Mikä Häkkinen, attach de presse au secrtariat pour la Prsidence finlandaise, +358 9 1602 2609 ou +358 40 849 6424. Der EU-Ratspräsident Finnland organisiert am Freitag dem 13. Oktober in Helsinki ein Gipfeltreffen zwischen der Europäischen Union und Indien. Die EU-Delegation wird geleitet von Finnlands Ministerpräsident Matti Vanhanen, die Delegation Indiens von Ministerpräsident Manmohan Singh. Des weiteren nehmen von Seiten der Europäischen Union der Vorsitzende der Europäischen Kommission Jos Manuel Barroso, der auenpolitische Repräsentant der EU Javier Solana, Auenminister Erkki Tuomioja, die Ministerin fr Auenhandel und Entwicklung Paula Lehtomäki sowie die Kommissionsmitglieder Benita Ferrero-Waldner und Peter Mandelson teil. Indien wird auer von Ministerpräsident Singh auch von Kamal Nath, Minister fr Handel und Industrie, vertreten. Ein zentrales Ziel des Helsinkier Treffens ist die Festigung der strategischen Partnerschaft gemä einem im September 2005 in New Delhi genehmigten Aktionsprogramm. Gesprächsthemen sind unter anderem Handelspolitik, Klima- und Energiefragen sowie die wissenschaftliche und technologische Zusammenarbeit. Zur Sprache kommen auch aktuelle internationale und regionale Fragen wie die Zusammenarbeit zur Bekämpfung des Terrorismus und die Lage im Nahen Osten. Die Bemhungen um die Entwicklung der Zusammenarbeit zwischen der Gemeinschaft und Indien begannen bereits in den 1960er Jahren. In letzter Zeit haben sich die Beziehungen vorteilhaft entwickelt. Aufgrund seiner gewachsenen internationalen Rolle und seines schnellen Wirtschaftswachstums hat die Zusammenarbeit Indiens mit der EU neue Dimensionen erhalten. Am Donnerstag dem 12. Oktober wird auerdem ein Wirtschaftsforum EU-Indien veranstaltet, an dem neben den Ministerpräsidenten Finnlands und Indiens unter anderem das fr die Handelspolitik zuständige Kommissionsmitglied Peter Mandelson teilnehmen. Nähere Auskunft erteilen: Johan Schalin, persönlicher Referent fr internatonale Angelegenheiten, Staatskanzlei, Tel. +358 9 1602 2068, Botschaftsrat Rauli Suikkanen, Ministerium fr auswärtige Angelegenheiten, Tel. +358 9 1605 5523 und Sanna Kangasharju, Leitende Referentin, Information und Kommunikation, Referat fr Regierungskommunikation, Tel. +358 9 1602 2175 oder +358 40 731 9915, sowie zu Pressearrangements Presseassistent Mika Häkkinen, Sekretariat fr die finnische EU-Präsidentschaft, Tel. +358 9 1602 2609 oder +358 40 772 6424 EU-puheenjohtajamaa Suomi järjestää Helsingissä perjantaina 13. lokakuuta Euroopan unionin ja Intian välisen huippukokouksen. EU:n valtuuskuntaa johtaa pääministeri Matti Vanhanen ja Intian valtuuskuntaa pääministeri Manmohan Singh. Huippukokoukseen osallistuvat EU:n puolelta myös Euroopan komission puheenjohtaja Jos Manuel Barroso, EU:n ulkopoliittinen edustaja Javier Solana, ulkoministeri Erkki Tuomioja, ulkomaankauppa- ja kehitysministeri Paula Lehtomäki sekä komission jäsenet Benita Ferrero-Waldner ja Peter Mandelson. Intiaa edustaa pääministeri Singhin lisäksi kauppa- ja teollisuusministeri Kamal Nath. Helsingin kokouksen keskeisenä tavoitteena on vahvistaa unionin ja Intian välistä strategista kumppanuutta New Delhissä syyskuussa 2005 hyväksytyn toimintaohjelman mukaisesti. Keskustelunaiheita ovat muun muassa kauppapolitiikka, ilmasto- ja energiakysymykset sekä tiede- ja teknologiayhteistyö. Esillä ovat myös ajankohtaiset kansainväliset ja alueelliset kysymykset, kuten terrorismin vastainen yhteistyö ja Lähi-idän tilanne. EU:n ja Intian välistä yhteistyötä on kehitetty 1960-luvulta asti. Viime vuosina suhteet ovat kehittyneet hyvin myönteisesti. Intian kansainvälisen aseman vahvistuminen ja nopea talouskasvu ovat antaneet uusia lähtökohtia yhteistyölle EU:n kanssa. Torstaina 12. lokakuuta järjestetään lisäksi EU-Intia-talousfoorumi, johon osallistuvat Suomen ja Intian pääministerien lisäksi muun muassa komission kauppapolitiikasta vastaava komission jäsen Peter Mandelson. Lisätietoja: kansainvälisten asioiden erityisavustaja Johan Schalin, valtioneuvoston kanslia, p. (09) 1602 2068, lähetystöneuvos Rauli Suikkanen, ulkoasiainministeriö, p. (09) 1605 5523 ja apulaistiedotuspäällikkö Sanna Kangasharju, valtioneuvoston viestintäyksikkö, p. (09) 1602 2175 tai 040 731 9915 sekä mediajärjestelyistä lehdistöavustaja Mika Häkkinen, EU-puheenjohtajuussihteeristö, p. (09) 1602 2609 tai 040 772 6424 EU-ordförandelandet Finland arrangerar ett toppmöte mellan Europeiska unionen och Indien i Helsingfors lördagen den 13 oktober. EU:s delegation leds av statsminister Matti Vanhanen och den indiska delegationen av premiärminister Manmohan Singh. I toppmötet deltar också Europeiska kommissionens ordförande Jos Manuel Barroso, EU:s utrikespolitiske talesman Javier Solana samt utrikesminister Erkki Tuomioja, utrikeshandels- och utvecklingsminister Paula Lehtomäki och kommissionsledamöterna Benita Ferrero-Waldner och Peter Mandelson. Indien företräds av premiärminister Singh och handels- och industriminister Kamal Nath. Det centrala syftet med mötet i Helsingfors är att stärka det strategiska partnerskapet mellan unionen och Indien i enlighet med det handlingsprogram som godkändes i New Delhi i september 2005. Diskussionsämnen är bl.a. handelspolitik, klimat- och energifrågor samt vetenskaps- och teknologisamarbete. Andra ämnen som behandlas är aktuella internationella och regionala frågor, t.ex. samarbetet när det gäller att bekämpa terrorism och situationen i Mellanöstern. Man har utvecklat samarbetet mellan EU och Indien ända sedan 1960-talet. Under de senaste åren har utvecklingen av relationerna varit mycket positiv. Indiens stärkta internationella ställning och den snabba ekonomiska tillväxten har medfört nya utgångspunkter för samarbetet med EU. Torsdagen den 12 oktober arrangeras dessutom ett ekonomiskt forum mellan EU och Indien. I mötet deltar förutom Finlands statsminister och Indiens premiärminister bl.a. kommissionens kommissionsledamoten med ansvar för handelspolitiken Peter Mandelson. Ytterligare information: specialmedarbetaren i internationella frågor Johan Schalin, statsrådets kansli, tfn (09) 1602 2068, ambassadrådet Rauli Suikkanen, utrikesministeriet, tfn (09) 1605 5523, och biträdande informationschef Sanna Kangasharju, statsrådets kommunikationsenhet, tfn (09) 1602 2175 eller 040 731 9915, samt när det gäller mediearrangemangen pressattach Mika Häkkinen, sekretariatet för EU-ordförandeskapet, tfn (09) 1602 2609 eller 040 772 6424 Back

Finland’s EU Presidency : Joint Statement of the Ninth EU-China Summit, Helsinki 9 September 2006