European Presidents to convene in Finland

Office of the President of the Republic
Press Release 23 January 2012

President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen is hosting a meeting of the Presidents of eight European countries in Helsinki on 10–11 February. Participation has been confirmed by the presidents of Austria, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Portugal and Slovenia.

The presidents will discuss three themes: the strengths of Europe in a global world; neighbour relations in the south with particular focus on the situation in northern Africa; and tolerance and the prevention of discrimination. Thorbjörn Jagland, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, will appear as guest speaker in the session on tolerance.

In addition to the working sessions at the Kalastajatorppa Hotel, the programme of the Presidents will include a dinner at the Presidential Palace and a cruise aboard icebreaker Urho.

Finland’s president-elect from the February elections will also present himself at the meeting.

The presidents’ spouses will also take part in the meeting with a programme of their own. The spouses’ programme will include an introduction to Helsinki’s year as World Design Capital and visits to the Helsinki Music Centre and the Gallen-Kallela Museum.

Informal presidential meetings have been arranged since 2003. In Finland the meeting was last held in 2005.