The German Presidency of the EU

On 1 January 2007, Germany assumes the Presidency of the Council for the 12th time. The Presidency Programme will, as is the tradition, be outlined by Federal Chancellor Merkel at the first meeting of the European Parliament on 17 January 2007 in Strasbourg.

The focal points can be identified as follows:

Economic and other internal EU topics form one focus; the key points here include the Energy Action Plan, climate protection, better regulation and the social dimension. These topics will be dealt with primarily at the Spring Summit (8/9 March).

A further priority is shaping EU foreign relations. This sphere includes preparing the EU contribution towards a possible status solution for Kosovo, work within the Middle East Quartet, renegotiating a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Russia, deepening transatlantic economic relations with the United States, further developing the European Neighbourhood Policy and drawing up a Central Asia Strategy.
And finally, as a priority for the European Council in June 2007, continuing the constitutional process.

The climax of the German Council Presidency will be the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome on 25 March 2007. On this occasion, the EU Heads of State and Government will meet in Berlin and present a declaration to reaffirm EU values and outline its future role.

Considerable background information on the functioning and work of the EU can be consulted in the Europe section of the Federal Foreign Office website. You can also enter headings into the search function. In the individual sections, there are often also links to the information provided by the Commission or the Council Secretariat on particular topics.

Europe online
Just like all other presidencies, the German EU Presidency has its own website where there is background information on the history and functioning of the European communities and their institutions, details of the current topics in individual policy fields as well as the German Government's programme for its Presidency.

All Presidency statements and particularly all CFSP declarations will be published there.

People's Europe

Brussels is far away, Europe's ideas abstract, people are busy with their own affairs - or maybe not?! Europe provides many advantages for everyone, but we have to communicate these advantages! To pool the experience of all those involved in European public relations work, including those contributing on a voluntary basis, and to make this experience available to as many as possible, the Federal Foreign Office has offered the service of its "aktion europa" portal since November 2006 - with the help of many partners. As many players in European public relations work as possible are to use this platform to exchange information and tap synergies - all with a view to bringing Europe closer to its citizens once again.

The citizens themselves are involved in many celebrations especially at the time of the 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome. A selection of events in the spheres of education, science and culture can be consulted using the link below. The europatermine portal (an aktion europa partner) also offers a very good summary of events in Germany.

By Federal Foreign Office - Germany