Brussels, 19/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - Monday's General Affairs Council set out the work of the European Council of Stockholm on 23 and 24 March. The Swedish Presidency decided to ask the finance ministers of the Fifteen (who will meet Thursday evening for an extraordinary EcoFin Council to try to overcome differences over the Lamfalussy Report on securities) to take part in work throughout the Summit.
The EU Heads of State or Government and the Commission will begin work Friday morning on economic issues, then will meet Vladimir Putin. Talks with the Russian President will, as planned, focus on economic issues (see EUROPE of 8 March, p.11), but several Member States suggested to the Swedish Presidency on Monday that they also broach issues of "political stability" with him, including the situation in Chechnya. Friday afternoon, the European Council will examine social issues. Dinner should be given over in particular to the Middle East, a possible Troika visit to North Korea and to situation in the Balkans. The Summit's conclusions will, as usual, be adopted in the morning of the last day of work, Saturday (See page 15 for the list of principle documents addressed to the European Council).