Brussels, 29/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - According to the rule of bi-annual rotation, Sweden is taking on the Presidency of the European Union Council and its dependent bodies - informal sessions, Coreper, Special Agriculture Committee, etc - as of 1 January 2001, for six months.
Thus, Prime Minister Göran Persson will preside the two European Councils in Stockholm and Gothenburg and will represent the Union (with Commission President Mr Prodi and Mr CFSP, Javier Solana) at the summit meetings with the United States, Canada and possibly Japan. Ms Anna Lindh, Foreign Minister, will chair the General Affairs Council; Mr Bosse Ringholm, Finance Minister, the Ecofin Council; Ms Margareta Winberg, Agriculture Minister, the Agriculture Council, and so on. The Committee of Permanent Representatives will be presided by Ambassador Gunnar Lund.
EUROPE is to publish in its next bulletin the timetable of ministerial sittings (formal and informal) under Swedish Presidency.