Finland's Nordic Presidency culminates in Oslo
Press release 217/2007
24 October 2007
Finland's Presidency in the Nordic Council of Ministers culminates in Oslo next week as the Nordic Council convenes for its 59th session. The Prime Minister and seven other ministers from Finland will attend the Council's session and the ministerial meetings to be held in conjunction.
As a representative of the Presidency country, Finland's Minister for Nordic Cooperation Jan Vapaavuori will have his hands full during the Council's session 30 October - 1 November. His agenda includes the presentation of the Nordic Council of Ministers' (NCM) central reports on globalisation, border obstacles and consumer policy and he will be answering questions related to these topics at the question hour of the Cooperation Ministers. Another central topic at the session is the strengthening of the position of the autonomous areas within Nordic Cooperation and the so-called Åland document.
Minister Vapaavuori will also chair the meeting of the Cooperation Ministers on the morning of the 1 November. Topics at the meeting include the Nordic Council of Minister's activities in Russia, Baltic Sea projects and the preparation of the NCM's new strategy for sustainable development. Cooperation Ministers will also approve the final budget proposal for the NCM for the year 2008 when Sweden holds the Nordic Presidency.
In addition to Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Minister Vapaavuori, the week-long session will also be attended by Minister for Foreign Affairs Ilkka Kanerva, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen, Minister of Education Sari Sarkomaa, Minister of Public Administration and Local Government Mari Kiviniemi, Minister of Culture and Sport Stefan Wallin and Minister of the Environment Kimmo Tiilikainen. At least 16 Finnish members of Parliament, several officials and representatives of civic organisations will be travelling to Oslo. A total of approximately 700 people will be expected to attend the various meetings.
Further information: Chief of the Secretariat for Nordic Cooperation of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Ambassador Harri Mäki-Reinikka, tel: +358 9 1605 5557, Political advisor Yamina Guerfi, Finnish Parliament, tel: +358 9 432 7330.