Brussels, 21/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - The Ministers of the European Union responsible for tourism are meeting informally on Wednesday 22 November in the afternoon in Lille under the presidency of Michelle Demessine, French Minister of State for Tourism, and with the participation of European Commissioner Erkki Likanen. Ministers will draw the conclusions of the work of the European forum that will have been held in their presence in the morning on "Towards a Sustainable Development Policy for Tourism in Europe". They will debate policies contained in the Commission's report entitled "Follow-up provided to the Conclusions of the Internal Market Council relating to tourism and employment" and in a paper from the French Presidency. The synthesis of the ministerial meeting will be forwarded for information to the "Internal Market" Council of 30 November.
The Forum, organised on the initiative of Michelle Demessine, will bring together 200 participants from countries of the EU, the European Economic Area and the countries of Central and eastern Europe: ministers, parliamentarians, members of the European Economic Area and of the committee of the Regions, the European Commission, administrations responsible for tourism, the tourist industry, experts and professionals from the sector. Work will be split into three debate-workshops on the different aspects that sustainable tourism covers: 1) sustainable tourism and tourism operators; 2) sustainable tourism and the territories; 3) sustainable tourism and employment.
The challenge of the day is to enhance the contribution may provide to growth and employment in the rationale of sustainable development, creating the conditions for genuine cooperation between Member States, as well as better coordination of national policies.