Memo: Press Release: Environment Ministers from Candidate Countries to discuss sustainable development with Commission and Presidency

Environment Ministers from the thirteen candidate countries will meet with Environment Commissioner Margot Wallström and Mr Hans Christian Schmidt, President of the Environment Council, to discuss sustainable development issues on 12 July 2002 in Brussels. The focal point for the discussions will be the EU strategy for sustainable development. Ministers will address both global and internal aspects of this strategy. The preparations for the World Summit in Johannesburg feature prominently on the agenda. On the internal side, the meeting will discuss the preparatory work for the inclusion of Candidate countries in next year's 'Synthesis Report' to the Spring European Council in March 2003.