Meeting of Foreign Affairs Committees and Defence Committees of the Parliaments of the Member States and of the European Parliament:

• Exchange of views with Mr Javier Solana, Secretary General of the Council, High Representative for the CSFP ;
• Exchange of views with Mr Günther Platter, Austrian Minister of Defence ;
• Exchange of views with Ms Ursula Plassnick, Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Budget 2007 : Council's Guidelines - Presentation of the Council's Guidelines for 2007 Draft Budget by Mrs Ulla-Maj Wideroos, Minister, Finnish Ministry of Finances - Exchange of views on Working Document No 3

CONT - Budgetary Control [ list ]

Human rights - Situation in Uganda

Speakers:

• Mr Mohammed Katende, Executive Director of 'Uganda Journalists Safety Committee' (UJSC)
• Johan Van Hecke, Head of the European Parliament's election observation delegation in Uganda (23 February 2006)

Political situation and election preparations in Mauritania

Speakers:

• Mr Cheik Sid'Ahmed Ould Babamine, President of the National Independent Electoral Commission (CENI)
• Mrs Glenys Kinnock, Head of the fact-finding mission of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
• Mrs Luisa Fernanda Ubeda Rudi, Head of the Working Groups of the delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and the Arab Maghreb Union (including Libya)

The media and development - Hearing, with experts - Exchange of views

Elections in Fiji (6-13 May 2006) - Report by Istvan Szent-Ivanyi, Head of the EU's Electoral Observation Mission

Human rights in Western Sahara

- Speech by Mrs Aminatu Haider
- Exchange of views

30 May: Mini-hearing on "EU- Mercosur trade negotiations: How to conclude the Interregional Association Agreement?"

Speakers:

• Mr Jorge Remes Lenicov, Ambassador of Argentina to the European Union
• Mr Carlos M. B. Cozendey, Economic Counsellor, Brazilian Mission to the European Communities
• Mr Diego Molano, Deputy Director General of Latin American Corporate Relations, Telefónica
  

COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Public hearing: Community Action Plan on Animal Welfare 2006-2010
Brussels, 30 May 2006, 15h00 to 18h30

• Opening of the hearing by: Mr Joseph DAUL, Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
• Introductory remarks by: Ms Elisabeth JEGGLE, rapporteur on Animal Welfare Action Plan
• Presentation by Mr Thomas JUNGBLUTH, Universität Hohenheim, Institut für Agrartechnik, Germany
• Presentation by Mr Dil PEELING, Eurogroup for Animal Welfare
• Presentation by Mr Samuel DOMBROWSKI, Polish Foundation on Animal Welfare, Poland
• Presentation by Mr Franz-Josef MÖLLERS, Präsident des Westfälisch-Lippischen Landwirtschaftsverbandes, Germany
• Presentation by Mr Keith MELDRUN, International League for the Protection of Horses, United Kingdom
• Presentation by Mr Luis GOSÁLVEZ LARA, Universitat de Lleida, Spain
• Presentation by Ms J. HUSU-KALLIO, Deputy Director General DG SANCO

PUBLIC HEARING on "CULTURE 2000: lessons from the implementation of the Programme", 30 May 2006 from 9 am. to 12.30 pm.

Chairman: Nikolaos Sifunakis MEP

Experts:

• Mrs Bornemann Sabine, "Cultural Contact Point - Germany", Germany
• Mr Brunet Pascal, Director, "Relais Culture Europe", Member of the Board of the "European Forum for the Arts and Heritage", France
• Mr Frisoni Claude, Director, "Centre de Recontre Abbaye de Neumünster", Luxembourg
• Mrs Laenen Ann, " European Network of Education Departments in Opera Houses", "Opéra de la Monnaie", Belgium
• Prof. Zouros Nikolaos, Director, "Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest", Greece.

European Commission representatives will participate to all parts of the Hearing.

Part I
The assessment of the participation to the Programme Culture 2000

a) Positive experiences and results and difficulties encountered (financing, procedures, advice and technical assistance, application process, selection procedures, etc).
b) Achievements attained with the support of the Programme (impact and sustainability of projects, etc.).
c) Other

Part II
The European and cultural added value of the Programme Culture 2000

a) Cultural expression and creativity, movement of artistes, socioeconomic impact, promotion of cultural diversity and cultural heritage, specific sectors, etc.
b) Trans-national cooperation and partnerships, representativeness.
c) Other

Part III
Anticipating the New Programme

a) Lessons learned from Culture 2000 for a better implementation of the Culture 2007-2013 Programme.
b) Further improvements (the relationship between objectives and achievements, selection, information, financing, contracts, simplification of procedures, etc).
c) The building up of a common European cultural space.
d) Other

Part IV
Conclusions