Finland's EU Presidency: Newsletter 21/2006
18 Dec 2006, 08:51
PRIME MINISTER VANHANEN TO VISIT THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON 18 DECEMBER
The President of the European Council, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen will visit Brussels on Monday, 18 December. Prime Minister Vanhanen will hold a speech on the results of the December European Council and Finland's EU Presidency at the plenary session of the European Parliament. He will also have a meeting with the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament.
Prime Minister Vanhanen will be accompanied by Minister of European Affairs Paula Lehtomäki.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko51/en_GB/1165845966037/
ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, 18 DECEMBER IN BRUSSELS
The EU Environment Ministers will get together on 18 December for a Council meeting in Brussels. The most important aim of this meeting will be reaching a political consensus on the draft Marine Environment Directive of the EU. In addition, the Council will strive to achieve resolutions on halting biodiversity loss and climate issues in the light of the results of the Nairobi Climate Change Conferences.
The Council meeting will be chaired by the Minister of the Environment Jan-Erik Enestam.
The open sessions, scheduled to begin at 9.30 (GMT+1), and the press conference, to be held at 15.00 (GMT+1), will be webcast and can be viewed live or as recordings.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko51/en_GB/1147777912518/
GERMAN FEDERAL CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL TO FINLAND ON 19 DECEMBER
The Federal Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, will visit Helsinki on Tuesday, 19 December on the invitation of Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen. The discussions between Prime Minister Vanhanen and Federal Chancellor Merkel will focus on handing over the rotating EU Presidency to Germany at the year-end.
Federal Chancellor Merkel will also meet President of the Republic Tarja Halonen.
The press conference, to be held at 19.10 (GMT+2) will be webcast and can be viewed live or as recording at www.eu2006.fi.
AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES COUNCIL, 19-21 DECEMBER IN BRUSSELS
In the last Agriculture and Fisheries Council of Finland's EU Presidency on 19-21 December, the Agricultural Ministers will discuss the draft Regulation on Organic Production. The Council intends to adopt a general approach in this matter. This meeting will also confirm the Union's fishing possibilities in the North Sea and the Atlantic for 2007. The meeting will be chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Juha Korkeaoja.
The open session (concerning plant protection products), scheduled to begin at 11.00 (GMT+1) on Tuesday 19 December, and the press conferences, times to be announced later, will be webcast and can be viewed live or as recordings.
http://www.eu2006.fi/calendar/vko51/en_GB/1147789453458/
NEWSLETTERS
This is the last newsletter of Finland's EU Presidency. The final issue of the Latin news-in-brief Conspectus Rerum Latinus will come out on Wednesday 27 December.
Finland's EU Presidency Web Team wishes our readers a Merry Christmas and an excellent New Year in 2007!
