Brussels, 30/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - Taking over from Greece on Tuesday 1 March for the next six months, Italy will be in charge of the Presidency of the Council of the EU. Two European Councils will be held, on 16/17 October and 12/13 December, both in Brussels. The President of the Italian Council, Silvio Berlusconi, has announced plans to officially open the Intergovernmental Conference in Rome on 15 October with the aim of adopting the European Constitutions. The following meetings have been scheduled by the Italian Presidency:
JULY: - 4 July: Meeting of European Commissioners and Presidency in Rome; - Transport/Infrastructures, 4 and 5 in Naples; - Trade Council, July 6 in Palermo; - European Conference on e-government 7 and 8 in Cernobbio; - Employment and Social Policy Council 10 and 11 in Varese; - Competitiveness Council 11 and 12 in Rome; - Ecofin 15 and 16 (Budget on July 16); - Environment and Energy 18, 19 and 20 in Montecatini; - General Affairs/External Relations 21 and 22; - EU/Jordan Association Council, 21 and 22; - EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council 21 and 22; - EU-Kirzikstan Cooperation Council 21 and 22; - Agriculture and Fisheries, 22 and 23; - ASEM Ministerial Meeting, 23 and 24 in Bali.
SEPTEMBER: - Telecommunications Council, 3, 4 and 5 in Viterbe; - General Affairs Council (Gymnich), 5 and 6 in Riva del Garda; - Health Council, 5 and 6 in Milan; -Ecofin, 12 and 13 in Stresa; -JHA, 12 and 13 in Rome; - Competitiveness, 22 and 23; - General Affairs/External Relations, 29 and 30; - Agriculture and Fisheries, 30.
OCTOBER (meeting in Luxembourg): - Culture, 1 and 2 in Florence; - Justice and Home Affairs 2 and 3; - Defence, 3 and 4 in Rome; - Regional Policy, 3 in Rome; - Ecofin, 7; - Transport/Energy/Energy, 9 and 10; - General Affairs/External Relations, 13 and 14; - Agriculture and Fisheries, 13 and 14; - European Council, 16 and 17 (Brussels); - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs, 20 and 21; - Environment, 27.
NOVEMBER: - Ecofin, 4; - Justice and Home Affairs, 6 (to be confirmed); - Competitiveness, 10 and 11; - General Affairs/External Relations (Defence), 17 and 18; - Agriculture and Fisheries, 17 and 18; - Transport/Energy/Energy, 20; - Consumer Affairs, 21 in Rome; - Ecofin, 24 and 25; - Education/Youth/Culture, 24 and 25; - Competitiveness, 27; - Justice and Home Affairs, 27 and 28.
DECEMBER: - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs, 1 and 2; - Meeting of ministers responsible for the civil service, 1 in Rome; - Transport/Energy/Energy, 4 and 5; - General Affairs/External Relations 8 and 9; European Council, 12 and 13; - Transport/Energy/Energy (possibly only focussing on Energy), 15; - Ecofin, 16 (to be confirmed); - Agriculture and Fisheries, 16 - 19 incl.; - Justice and Home Affairs, 19 (to be confirmed); - Environment, 22.