Minister for Foreign Trade Jari Vilén to visit Romania

The minister responsible for EU enlargement negotiations, Mr Jari Vilén, will continue the series of official visits to the EU applicant countries by visiting Bukarest on 2-3 July. The main purpose of the visit is to discuss the progress of the enlargement negotiations and the future of the European Union.

Minister Vilén will discuss EU enlargement issues with Hildegard Puwak, the minister responsible for EU integration in Romania. Tourism as well as the Finnish-Romanian trade and economic issues will also be on the agenda of the visit. Meetings with Prime Minister Adrian Nãstase, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mircea Geoanã, Minister for Tourism Dan Matei Agathon and other representatives of the Romanian government will also be conducted. Furthermore, meetings will be organised with representatives of Finnish companies present in Romania. The situation of the Roma minority will also be discussed during the visit. In addition, Minister Vilén will open an exhibition on the Helsinki Olympics.

Minister Vilén has already visited Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland during the spring, and visits to Malta and Cyprus will follow next week.

Additional information: Counsellor Paula Parviainen, gsm 040-571 9370 and counsellor Tuula Yrjölä, gsm 040-551 3783.