This Eurogroup meeting, chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker, will bring together the 15 finance ministers of the eurozone, the President of the European Central Bank and representatives from the European Commission.

This conference will consider ways of improving customs co-operation between Euro-Mediterranean countries.

In view of the adverse effects of the global financial turmoil on the economic and financial situation in Hungary, the Council Presidency and the Commission expressed on 13 October the EU' s commitment to use all available instruments to support Hungary in withstanding the market pressures that have recently emerged in spite of the improved macroeconomic and financial policies undertaken by the authorities in recent years, including the significant reduction in the government deficit from mid 2006.

Under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the European Council, an informal meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the European Union will be held in Brussels on 7 November next.

A meeting to discuss Europe organized in collaboration with the Cultural Season

Nicolas Sarkozy, the President-in-office of the European Council, welcomed the announcement by the White House of a summit, to be held on 15 November 2008 in Washington, of the main countries and institutions concerned by the financial crisis.

The 5th conference on the quality of public services brought together over 1 200 participants from 46 different countries in Paris. All the European countries and several other countries, such as the United States and Tunisia, were represented.

This conference will examine the methods to be implemented which facilitate the ownership of the standardisation process by European companies.

From 20 to 22 October, Paris will host the 5th conference on the quality of public services in Europe.

The French Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Directorate-General for the Internal Market and Services of the European Commission is organising a conference on industrial property rights in Strasbourg. The conference will focus on the protection of industrial property and the fight against counterfeiting.

The 7th conference "European corporate law and corporate governance" will focus on "Modern governance for competitive European companies".

More than 750 European entrepreneurs will speak on subjects relating to European current affairs in the European Parliament in Brussels. The first European Parliament of Enterprises is organised by EUROCHAMBRES, the Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

The current adverse global economic and financial environment is impacting on financial markets in Hungary. The Council and the Commission are monitoring the situation closely, and support Hungary’ efforts in tackling current challenges.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of the French Republic, accompanied by José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of Eurogroup and Jean-Claude Trichet, the President of the European Central Bank, will receive Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at the Élysée Palace at 15:30 on Sunday 12 October 2008.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of the French Republic, accompanied by José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of Eurogroup and Jean-Claude Trichet, the President of the European Central Bank, will receive Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, at the Élysée Palace at 15:30 on Sunday 12 October 2008.

Within the framework of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the French Ministry of Justice is organising a conference on the topic of 'The European Private Company', in partnership with MEDEF (French Employers' Association), CCIP (Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry), CGPME (French General Confederation of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises) and the economic interest group "Lawyers for Europe".

The meeting between the finance ministers from the member countries of the "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean", organised in conjunction with the ministerial meeting of the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP), will be the first ministerial meeting to be held since the Paris Summit of 13 July.

On 7 October, the ECOFIN Council adopted conclusions on the immediate responses to take to the financial crisis, along with four statements on the following subjects : financial stability and financial supervision, a coordinated EU response to the economic slowdown, executive pay, and the fight against tax fraud.

The ECOFIN Council will largely focus on the action to take to tackle the financial crisis, particularly in view of the forthcoming European Council.

At their meeting in Luxembourg, the Euro-Mediterranean finance ministers moved forward on the financing of specific projects for the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean and affirmed their determination to continue their work in favour of economic growth despite the financial, energy and food crisis.

In the context of the French Presidency, the CARIN network will hold its 5th conference on criminal assets in Paris on 7 and 8 October.

This Eurogroup meeting, chaired by Jean-Claude Juncker, will bring together the 15 finance ministers of the eurozone, the President of the European Central Bank and representatives from the European Commission.

A summit bringing together the Heads of State and Government of Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and France, as well as the Prime Minister of Luxembourg and President of the Eurogroup, the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Central Bank, will be held at the Elysée Palace in Paris on the afternoon of 4 October.

Unofficial translation

A serious crisis of confidence is shaking the global economy and financial activity.

Europe cannot but be affected by its consequences, despite the reliability of the managers of its financial institutions.

Thus, we have seen a significant slowdown in growth, and European enterprises – particularly SMEs, the main providers of employment and engines of growth in Europe – are facing increasing financial difficulties.

Based on the sharing of experiences, this event is intended to strengthen the economic links between the EU and India. It is the first such meeting to be held alongside the political summit.

The representatives of the 27 EU Member States and EU candidate countries are meeting during a seminar to discuss accounting reforms in the European States.

The 7th European Tourism Forum will be held in Bordeaux from 17-19 September. The subjects discussed will be the quality and sustainability of Europe's tourist offerings in the face of changing demands.

Innovative SMEs are at the heart of European economic growth and development. What can be done to improve and increase their access to research and innovation? This is the topic of the conference that will take place in Paris on 15 and 16 September.