Jaanika Erne

0:30, 25 January 2010

La Fura Dels Baus. EFE. Source: Website of Spanish presidency at http://www.eu2010.es/en/espanadecerca/cultura (Size modified) (RU with us or against us in society? -Me)

In addition to the Jean Monnet Conference, taking place today in Madrid, where the Jean Monnet professors, chief executives, university rectors, experts and EU representatives participate; and the conference “Paths of Democracy of Europe”, taking place today at Casa de Cultura of Ponferrada, in which later event participates also the newly re-elected European Ombudsman Nikiforos Diamandouros; today at 11.00 begins the Council of the European Union Foreign Affairs session, where the questions concerning Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Somalia, Afghanistan/Pakistan, and Yemen will be discussed; and at 10.00 begins the Council of the European Union General Affairs session, where the Spanish presidency programme will be presented. 

The website containing information on the sessions of the Council of the European Union informs us that the events will be followed by press conferences.

The public events and press conferences can be followed by video streaming: http://video.consilium.europa.eu

● What is the Spanish presidency programme about?

Under the keyword „Innovation“, it foresees:

I Fast and full enforcement of the Treaty of Lisbon

1. Setting into motion the new European Union Institutions

2. Launching of the European External Action Service

3. The solidarity clause

II Economic recovery and job creation. Europe 2020

1. Exiting the crisis

2. Towards a sustainable and balanced growth: Europe 2020

3. Reform of the financial system’s supervision

III Europe: a global, responsible and supportive player

1. A new period in European Foreign, Security and Cooperation Policy

2. A new dimension in relations with the United States and Canada

3. A qualitative leap with Latin America and the Caribbean

4. Close and balanced neighbourhood relations

5. The Union’s enlargement. European support in the Western Balkans

6. Looking at Asia. Strengthening cooperation to address the global agenda

IV A Europe of rights and freedoms, a Europe for all citizens

1. A more democratic Europe with the participation of its citizens – the popular legislative initiative

2. The Charter of Fundamental Rights, a further guarantee for its citizens

3. Accession to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

4. Reinforcing Europe’s social dimension

5. Fighting against gender-based violence

6. The European Union as a common space for freedom, security and justice

7. Promoting European Migration and Asylum Policy

The Document also foresees the Operational programme of Council Configurations

1. General Affairs

2. Foreign Affairs

3. Council of Economic and Financial Affairs

4. Justice and Home Affairs

5. Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumers

6. Competitiveness (Domestic Market, Industry and Research)

7. Transport, Telecommunications and Energy

8. Agriculture and Fishery

9. The Environment

10. Education, Youth and Culture

In the end, the Document includes the agenda of the Ministerial Meetings during the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union:

JANUARY

[…]

27-29 January, Informal Meeting of Employment Ministers, Barcelona

FEBRUARY

4-5 February, European Forum for Women: Beijing +15, Cadiz

7-9 February, Informal Meeting of Competitiveness Ministers, San Sebastian

11 February, Informal Meeting of Heads of State or Government, Brussels

12-13 February, Informal Meeting of Transport Ministers, A Coruńa

15 February, Eurogroup, Brussels

15 February, Education, Youth and Culture Council, Brussels

16 February, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels

17-18 February, Informal Meeting of Development Ministers, La Granja

21 February, Informal Meeting of Trade Ministers, Brussels

22 February, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels

22 February, Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council, Brussels

24-25 February, Informal Meeting of Defense Ministers, Palma de Mallorca

25-26 February, Justice and Home Affairs Council, Brussels

MARCH

1-2 March, Competitiveness Council, Brussels

5-6 March, Informal Meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs (Gymnich), Cordoba

8 March, EU–Morocco Summit, Granada

8-9 March, Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, Brussels

11-12 March, Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, Brussels

15 March, Eurogroup, Brussels

15 March, Environment Council, Brussels

15-18 March, e-Health Conference, Barcelona

16 March, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels

16-18 March, Informal Meeting of Regional Policy Ministers, Malaga

19-20 March, Conference on Ageing, Logrońo

22 March, Foreign Affairs Council and General Affairs Council, Brussels

25-26 March, European Council, Brussels

25-26 March, Informal Meeting Equal Opportunities Ministers, Valencia

27-28 March, Europe–Africa Women for a Better World Meeting, Valencia

29 March, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels

29 March-1 April, EU-ACP Parliamentary Assembly Meeting, Tenerife

30-31 March, Informal Meeting of Culture Ministers, Barcelona

APRIL

6-7 April, Conference on Forest Protection, Valsaķn

8 April, Roma Population Conference, Córdoba

12-14 April, Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Water, Barcelona

13-14 April, Informal Meeting of Education Ministers, Madrid

14-15 April, Informal Meeting of Tourism Ministers, Madrid

14-16 April, EU-ASEAN Ministers for Foreign Affairs Meeting, Madrid

15-16 April, Conference on Integration of Immigrants, Zaragoza

15-17 April, Informal Meeting of Economy and Finance Ministers, Madrid

18-20 April, Informal Meeting of Telecommunications Ministers, Granada

18-20 April, Local Governments European Summit, Barcelona

19 April, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Luxembourg

19-20 April, European Sports Forum, Madrid

20-21 April, Informal Meeting of Sports Ministers, Madrid

21 April, EU-Pakistan Summit, Brussels

22-23 April, Justice and Home Affairs Council, Luxembourg

22-23 April, Informal Meeting of Health Ministers, Madrid

22-23 April, Social Security Conference, Burgos

26 April, Foreign Affairs and Defence Council, Luxembourg

28 April, EU-Japan Summit, Tokyo

MAY

2-3 May, Common Fisheries Policy Conference, A Coruńa

3-4 May, Alliance of Civilizations Conference, Córdoba

4-5 May, Informal Meeting of Ministers for Fisheries, Vigo

6-7 May, Ministerial meeting on Outermost Regions, Las Palmas

10 May, Foreign Affairs and Development Council, and General Affairs Council, Brussels

7-9 May, European Civic Forum, Malaga

10-11 May, Education, Youth, and Culture Council, Brussels

11-12 May, Conference on Mediterranean Solar Plan, Valencia

13-15 May, Europe-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly Meeting, Sevilla

13-14 May, EU-LAC Social Security Ministers Meeting, Madrid

14 May, EU-LAC Ministers for Science and Innovation Meeting, Galicia

16 May, EU-Mexico Summit, Santander

16 May, EU-LAC Development Ministers Meeting, Madrid

17 May, EU-LAC Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting, Madrid

17 May, EU-CARIFORUM Summit, Madrid

17 May, EU-Chile Summit, Madrid

17 May, Eurogroup, Brussels

17 May, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Brussels

18 May, EU-LAC Summit, Madrid

18 May, Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Brussels

18-19 May, Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Disability, Zaragoza

19 May, EU-Andean Community Summit, Madrid

19 May, EU-MERCOSUR Summit, Madrid

19 May, EU-Central America Summit, Madrid

20 May, Gulf Cooperation Council, Madrid

20 May, Euro-Mediterranean Tourism Conference, Barcelona

20 May, European Maritime Day, Gijón

24 May, EU-United States Summit, Madrid

25-26 May, Competitiveness Council, Brussels

30 May-1 June, Informal Meeting Ministers for Agriculture, Mérida

30 May-1 June, EU-Russia Summit, Rostov

31 May, Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, Brussels

31 May, EU-Canada Summit, Brussels

JUNE

3-4 June, Justice and Home Affairs Council, Luxembourg

3-4 June, EU-ACP Ministers Council, Ouagadougou

6 June, Union for the Mediterranean Ministers for Foreign Affairs Meeting, Barcelona

6 June, EU-Egypt Summit, Barcelona

7 June, Union for the Mediterranean Summit, Barcelona

7 June, Eurogroup, Luxembourg

7-8 June, Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, Luxembourg

8 June Economic and Financial Affairs Council, Luxembourg

8-9 June, Trans-European Transport Network Conference, Zaragoza

13-15 June, Information Society Indicators Conference, Madrid

14 June, Foreign Affairs and Development Council, and General Affairs Council, Luxembourg

17-18 June, European Council, Brussels

21 June, Environment Council, Luxembourg

21-22 June, Informal Meeting of Ministers for Housing and Urban Development, Toledo

24 June, Transport, Telecommunications, and Energy Council, Luxembourg

28-29 June, Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Luxembourg