Slovenian Premier Janez Janša at the Fifth EU-LAC Summit in Lima

From 15 to 17 May 2008, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and current President of the European Council, Mr Janez Janša, will attend the Fifth EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit to be held in the Peruvian capital, Lima. This, the largest EU summit with non-EU countries to be held during the Slovenian EU Presidency will bring together 60 leaders from both sides. On his visit to Lima, the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša will be accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Dimitrij Rupel, and the Minister for the Economy, Mr Andrej Vizjak.

Before the Summit itself, the Second EU-LAC Business Summit will commence on Thursday 15 May. At the opening of the Business Summit, in his capacity as President of the European Council, PM Janez Janša will address an audience of over 400 representatives of the economies of the two regions, including a 25-member economic delegation from Slovenia.

A bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Janez Janša and the host of the Summit, Peruvian President Alan García Pérez, is also scheduled for Thursday. In addition to discussing their co-chairing of the Summit and its anticipated results, the meeting will be an opportunity to exchange views on the development of relations between the two countries.

On Friday 16 May, the day of the EU-LAC Summit, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and the host of the Summit, Peruvian President Alan García Pérez, will have a key role in the opening and close of the Summit. Debates will take place in eight working groups. In the morning, the leaders, divided into four working groups, will discuss the fight against social exclusion, poverty and inequality. In the afternoon, another four working groups will focus on the challenges of sustainable development, climate change and energy. The Summit will also provide an opportunity for the exchange of views on other topical issues relating to bilateral and multilateral cooperation between the EU and the LAC region. At the close of the Summit, the Lima Declaration will be adopted.

On Saturday 17 May, the EU Troika chaired by the Slovenian Prime Minister and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, will have ‘mini-summits’ with the representatives of Mexico, Chile and the sub-regional groups of the LAC region (Mercosur, Andean Community, Central America, Cariforum). Each mini-summit is to close with the adoption of a joint declaration.

On the European side, in addition to the President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and other Heads of State and Government, the Summit will be attended by the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the European Commissioner for External Trade, Peter Mandelson, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, and the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana.

Additional information on the Fifth EU-LAC Summit is available on the website of the Slovenian EU Presidency, the website of the European Commission and the official website of the EU-LAC Summit.

Programme:

Thursday 15 May 2008

8.15	Arrival of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, at Lima Art Museum, where he is greeted by the President of the National Confederation of Private Business Institutions of Peru – CONFIEP, Jaime Cáceres, and the President of the Organising Committee for the EU-LAC Business Summit, Roque Benavides PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
8.35	Participation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, in the opening session of the EU-LAC Business Summit • Opening address by the President of the National Confederation of Private Business Institutions of Peru – CONFIEP, Jamie Cáceres • Opening address by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša • Official inauguration, address by the President of the Republic of Peru, Alan García Pérez • Conclusion of the opening session Venue: Lima Art Museum, Lima, Peru PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
10.00 - 10.45	Bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and the President of the Republic of Peru, Alan García Pérez Venue: Presidential Palace, Lima, Peru PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
11.00 - 11.30	Meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, and Slovenian businessmen and Slovenes living in Peru Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Lima, Peru PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
11.35 - 11.45	Statement for the Slovenian media by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Lima, Peru
19.15	Meeting between the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia and President of the European Council, Janez Janša, the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, Javier Solana Venue: Country Club Hotel, Lima, Peru

* All times given are local time.