Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša will attend European Council meeting
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, will attend, and chair, the European Council meeting held in Brussels on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March 2008. Traditionally, the spring European Council meetings are devoted to economic issues. On this occasion, the Heads of State and Government will focus particularly on the launch of the new cycle of the renewed Lisbon Strategy for the period 2008–2010, climate change, energy and stability on the financial markets.
At the beginning of the next three-year phase of the Lisbon Strategy, the European Council has an opportunity to keep up the momentum so far created by the Strategy, while also speeding up its development and adapting its existing four-pillar structure to contemporary challenges. In the new cycle of the Lisbon Strategy, the European Union will thus strive to improve the operation of the internal market, taking account of examples of best practices, which can provide an additional incentive to undertake structural reforms.
Efforts in the area of economic and social affairs can be fully implemented and refined only when they are complemented by a sustainable and healthy environment. The European Commission has therefore drawn up a coordinated package of proposals with ambitious goals, which should enable the European Union to retain its leading role in energy and climate issues. One of the issues discussed at the European Council meeting will be securing sustainable and reliable energy supplies, in which the internal energy market has a role. The Heads of State and Government will also examine the impact of climate change on security and external aspects of energy security.
Considering the developments of recent months, Europe will also have to find appropriate ways to manage unpredictable financial situations on the global scale. The financial stability framework will need to be strengthened by means of appropriate measures to control and manage financial crises. The Members of the European Council will therefore discuss financial stability and macro-economic aspects of human capital development.
Before the opening of the spring European Council meeting, the traditional Tripartite Social Summit will be held in Brussels on Thursday morning, an opportunity for high-level discussions with European social partners. The Summit will also be attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša. The main focus will be on the Lisbon Strategy and energy and climate issues. The social partners will report on their activities, particularly regarding the start of negotiations on the autonomous framework agreement and progress in reconciling professional, family and private life.
On Wednesday afternoon, PM Janez Janša will also attend the 50th Anniversary Session of the European Parliament, where he will give an address. In the evening, he will attend a concert of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra in Brussels, an event which will serve as a preamble to the European Council meeting.
PROGRAMME
Wednesday 12 March 2008
12.55
Arrival of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, at the European Parliament
Venue: European Parliament, VIP entrance of Louise Weiss Building, Strasbourg
15.00
Participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša at the 50th Anniversary Session of the European Parliament
Speakers: - President of the European Parliament, Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering - Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša - President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso
Attendance of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, at the concert by the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra
Venue: BOZAR Palais des Beaux-Arts, Henry Le Boeuf Hall, Brussels
Thursday 13 March 2008
10.30
Participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, at the Tripartite Social Summit
Press Conference given by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso, and representatives of the social partners
Venue: Justus Lipsius Building, EU Council Press Centre, Brussels
Participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, in the European People’s Party Summit
Meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, and the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso
Meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, and the General Secretariat of the Council
Arrival of delegations at the Justus Lipsius Building, welcomed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Dimitrij Rupel, and the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Andrej Bajuk
17.30
Meeting between the European Council members and the President of the European Parliament, Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering
Photo opportunity of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, next to the Plečnik long-case clock
Press conference of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, and the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso
Venue: Justus Lipsius Building, EU Council Press Centre, Brussels
The President of the Committee of the Regions, Mr Luc Van den Brande, will hand over to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, the Resolution of the Committee of the Regions for the 2008 Spring European Council
Concluding press conference of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, and the President of the European Commission, Mr José Manuel Barroso
Venue: Justus Lipsius Building, EU Council Press Centre, Brussels
