Finland's EU Presidency: Newsletter 10/2006
02 Oct 2006, 08:30
EU DEFENCE MINISTERS TO DISCUSS THE EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENCE POLICY (ESDP) ON 2-3 OCTOBER
The EU Defence Ministers will gather for an informal two-day meeting in Levi, Finland, on 2-3 October. The Ministers will discuss the ongoing EU operations and missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sudan/Darfur and Democratic Republic of Congo. On 2 October, President Martti Ahtisaari will, during dinner, give a briefing on the situation of the Kosovo status negotiations.
The Ministers will also discuss the development of military capabilities for crisis management purposes and Civil-Military Coordination (CMCO) in crisis management. EU High Representative Javier Solana and NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will also attend the meeting. The meeting will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of Defence, Seppo Kääriäinen. During the second day, the European Defence Agency will hold a meeting of its Steering Board at Ministerial level.
The press conferences for the meeting, at 18.45 (GMT+3) on Monday, 2 October, and at 13.15 (GMT+3) on Tuesday, 3 October, can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko40/en_GB/1129710123200/?calYear=2006&calMonth=9
JUSTICE AND HOME AFFAIRS COUNCIL IN BRUSSELS ON 5 AND 6 OCTOBER
EU ministers responsible for justice and home affairs will convene in Brussels on 5-6 October for a meeting of the Council of Ministers. The meeting will be chaired by Finnish Minister of Justice Leena Luhtanen and Minister of the Interior Kari Rajamäki.
On Thursday, the Ministers will hold a public debate on the review of the Hague Programme and the President will inform the Council about the follow-up to the informal ministerial meeting in Tampere. The intention is also to submit conclusions on the strengthening of the surveillance of the EU's southern sea borders and set a new timetable for the technical development of the Schengen Information System (SIS II).
On Friday, the Ministers will try to reach consensus on a framework agreement on the recognition of judgements among the EU Member States in new criminal proceedings. The reform would contribute to the equal treatment of offenders. The Council is also to discuss the key issues relating to the framework decision on the transfer of criminals.
The open sessions of the Council meeting and the press conference, times to be confirmed later, can be viewed as live webcasts or as recordings from the archive at eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko40/en_GB/1147692224635/?calYear=2006&calMonth=9
INFORMAL MEETING OF EU MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR GENDER EQUALITY ISSUES IN HELSINKI ON 6-7 OCTOBER
Informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for gender equality issues will take place at the Parliament Annex Building in Helsinki on 6-7 October On Saturday, the meeting will focus on the topic of "Women and power" and the Ministers will discuss women's participation in political and economic decision making. The meeting is to be attended by 25 EU Ministers and Ministers representing the Presidency country of EFTA, Norway, and the EU applicant countries.
The Ministers will also have the opportunity to attend the final session of the conference on Men and Equality that will precede the ministerial meeting, The objective of the conference is to increase discussion on issues concerning men and equality as part of EU’s gender equality policy as it is a new theme the importance of which is continuously growing.
The press conference of the meeting on Saturday 7 October, at 12.45 (GMT+3) will be webcast and can be viewed as live webcast or as recording from the archive at eu2006.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko40/en_GB/1147183733332/?calYear=2006&calMonth=9
EU-RUSSIA PERMANENT PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL (PPC) (ENVIRONMENT) ON 9-10 OCTOBER
Environmental co-operation between the EU and Russia will be launched on a new footing at the first meeting of the EU-Russia Permanent Partnership Council, which will take place in Helsinki on 9-10 October 2006. Participants in this meeting, which will be chaired by the Finnish Minister of the Environment, Jan-Erik Enestam, will include the Russian Minister of Natural Resources Yuri Trutnev, EU Commissioner for Environment Stavros Dimas and Secretary of State Matthias Machnig from the German Ministry of the Environment.
The purpose of the meeting is to adopt and sign the Terms of Reference for the environmental protection and nature conservation co-operation between the EU and Russia.
The media representatives are requested to accredit for the meeting with the Ministry of the Environment by 5 October. E-mail: irina.toikkanen@ymparisto.fi.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko41/en_GB/1152171586435/?calYear=2006&calMonth=9
eu2006.fi AT THE SERVICE OF THE MEDIA
INFORMAL MEETING OF HEADS OF STATE OR GOVERNMENT IN LAHTI
An informal meeting of Heads of State or Government will take place in Lahti on 20 October. Please note that accreditation for the meeting ends on 6 October.
Media representatives 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, 4 October.
Conspectus rerum latinus: www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/
NEWSLETTERS
The next newsletter will be issued on Monday, 9 October.
Newsletters: www.eu2006.fi/newsletters/
