The Brussels European Union Council and the priorities of the Finnish Presidency

This report contains oral and written evidence from the UK Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, on the outcome of the European Council held in Brussels in June 2006, and evidence from the Finnish Ambassador to the UK, Jaakko Laajava, on the priorities at the start of the Finnish EU Presidency. The principal topics covered in the evidence from the Finnish Ambassador were: data protection and the availability principle;freedom, security and justice; fundamental rights; the Internal Market; the Northern Dimension; nuclear power; overview of the Finnish Presidency; own resources; the Services Directive; transparency in the Council of Ministers; and women's rights. The Minister for Europe covered European Commission reform; Council transparency; energy policy; enlargement; the financial perspective; fundamental rights; the Internal Market; the Lisbon Agenda; the European Constitution; policing and criminal law; subsidiarity; migration; and UK abatement.

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Select Committee on the European Union: 44th Report (2005-06)HL 229 http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200506/ldselect/ldeucom/229/229.pdf

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