31/01/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Council has amended the order of the Presidencies to take into account a request made by Germany and Finland and the elections that will be taking place in these two countries. As a result, Finland will hold the Presidency during the second half of 2006 and Germany during the first half of 2007 instead of the other way round as initially foreseen in the decision of 1 January 1995, which fixes the order of the EU Council Presidencies.