AFR Danish Prime Minister to meet the Prime Ministers of the other Nordic EU Member States at Marienborg on 26 November 2002

25.11.02

On the evening of 26 November 2002, the Prime Ministers of the three Nordic EU Member States will meet at Marienborg. Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen will host of the event, which will include a working dinner and subsequent press briefing. The participants include, besides the Danish Prime Minister, Finnish Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen and Swedish Prime Minister Göran Persson.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen states:

”I have invited my Nordic EU colleagues to Copenhagen as part of the preparations of the forthcoming meeting of the European Council in Copenhagen on 12 and 13 December 2002. The point of departure of our discussions will be the two topics on the agenda for the meeting of the European Council.

The altogether most important item is the completion of the enlargement negotiations with ten of the candidate countries and the decision on the further accession process for the three other candidate countries. The other item on the agenda is how, in future, to structure the Presidency of the Council, considered in the light of the enlargement. At the meeting of the Nordic EU Prime Ministers we shall, in addition, discuss the work in the Convention on the future of the EU and in the European Council in the coming six months.

This is the second time during the Danish EU Presidency that we hold such a meeting with the Nordic EU Member States. The meetings of this circle, which we have a tradition for having prior to the meetings of the European Council, are a useful element in the preparation of the Council meetings. This applies not least to the current situation, in which the EU, during the Danish EU Presidency, faces a decisive, historic decision on enlargement.”

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The meeting of the Prime Ministers of the three Nordic EU Member States will take place at 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at Marienborg, Nybrovej 410, Lyngby.

There will be a press conference at 8:30 PM in the reception room at Marienborg.

In addition, there will be a photo opportunity in connection with the Danish Prime Minister's reception of the Nordic Prime Ministers at 7:00 PM.

Press cards must be visible.

Contact information Head of Section Jesper Fersløv Andersen, phone no.: +45 33 92 22 35