Meeting of ministers responsible for European affairs during the Brest 2008 International Maritime Festival

This informal meeting of ministers for European affairs will be divided into three sessions:

- On the afternoon of Saturday 12 July, in the presence of Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission and Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication, discussion will be devoted to the monitoring of the European Council's conclusions on the Lisbon Treaty (status of the ratification process, lessons learned and perspectives, communication and how to better engage EU citizens).

- During a dinner on 12 July, attended by UEFA President Michel Platini, discussion will focus on the EU White Paper on Sport, and the "Pierre de Coubertin" Action adopted by the European Commission in July 2007, as well as the French-Dutch Memorandum on Sport. Two items will be on the agenda:

1) the specific nature and role of sport in society,
2) the governance of sport.

- On the morning of 13 July, the third session will focus on the Integrated Maritime Policy with a view to the implementation of the "Blue Book" put forward by the European Commission during the Portuguese Presidency of the European Council in October 2007. This measure is intended to equip the European Union with a maritime strategy encompassing all the major action areas (safety at sea, transport, environment, research, spatial planning, combatting climate change, social norms, etc.).

Joe Borg, Member of the European Commission Responsible for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, has been invited to take part in this session which aims to begin the French Presidency's work on the Integrated Maritime Policy at a political level. This first meeting will be followed by three other major sessions:

- the BioMarine Forum in October;
- the high-level group focal point meeting on the Integrated Maritime Policy,
- the informal meeting of transport ministers, which will be held on 1 and 2 September in La Rochelle, and chaired by the French Minister of State for Transport, Dominique Bussereau.

See the report from the meeting

• Updated: 23.12.2008

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