[EGP] FW: EGP PRESS NOTICE : EGP COuncil Meeting : Vienna, 12th to 14th October 2007

11.10.2007

European Greens preparing for an exciting Council Meeting in Vienna, 12^th to 14^th October 2007

Press and Media invited to attend European Green Party’s 7^th Council Meeting in Vienna, 12^th to 14^th October 2007

The European Green Party would like to inform you that the EGP’s 7^th council Meeting will take place in Vienna from the 12^th to 14^th October 2007.

During the three days of the council meeting, delegates will focus on two main topics : the Economy and the European Greens’ common election campaign for the elections to the European Parliament in 2009.

One event likely to be of particular interest to the Media will be a public event from 19.00 to 21.30 on Friday evening at the Austrian Parliament. This event will focus on the theme: “ For a thriving economy,combat climate Change !” and will include a dynamic discussion on the link between climate change and the economy .This event will include keynote speeches by Professor Vandana Shiva , Physicist, environmental activist and the Director of the Research Foundation for Science , Technology and Natural resource Policy, New Delhi , India , Christian Jourquin,CEO of the global pharmaceuticals and chemicals company SOLVAY and Professor Alexander Van Der Bellen , who as well as being President of the Austrian Green Party, is a Professor of Economics.

EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek said: “As an Austrian Green MP, I am delighted that we Austrian Greens will have the opportunity to welcome Greens from all over Europe to the Austrian Parliament in Vienna. As well as lively debates and thought-provoking workshops on a diverse range of topics related to the economy , this council will also give us the opportunity to make important decisions concerning the Common election campaign for the election for the European Parliament in 2009. We are especially delighted to welcome Greens from 2 countries where Greens have entered government since our last council in Berlin in March: namely Finland and Ireland. From Finland, Tarja Cronberg, the Minister of Labour and Oras Tynkkynen, the Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on climate change will be attending the Council. Trevor Sargent, the Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture with responsibility for food and horticulture will also attend the Council in Vienna. I am confident that this council will be particularly exciting because of the input of experts and business leaders who do not necessarily agree with all of our policies, but who are nevertheless keen to have a dialogue with us and agree on areas of possible cooperation.”

EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts continued : “ One of the most exciting things about the upcoming council Meeting in Vienna is that not only will it allow Greens from all over to Europe to discuss what the Green vision of the Economy is and how it can be translated into reality, but that we will be able to benefit from the experience and expertise of a wide range of people from the business and economics world, including representatives from banks, companies specialising in renewable energy and transport companies. This is extremely important as it will give us the opportunity to have a dialogue with policy makers and business leaders about how Europe can encourage the development of innovative technologies which can help combat climate change as well create jobs.”

There will be several media events during the Council:

Friday 12^th October : Opening Press Conference

Time :09.45

Venue: Press Centre, Austrian Parliament, Dr. Karl Renner Ring 3 A-1017 Vienna

Panel : Eva Glaswisching , Vice-Chairperson, Austrian Green Party

Ulrike Lunacek / Philippe Lamberts: Co-Spokespersons European Green Party

Oras Tynkkynen,Special Adviser on climate change to the Finnish Prime Minister

Friday 12^th October : Photo-opportunity with the delegates

Time :12.30

Venue: Outside the Austrian Parliament

Friday 12^th October: Opening of EGP Council and Public Event entitled “For a thriving economy, combat climate Change!”

Time: 18.30 to 21.00

Venue: Austrian Parliament,Reichsratssitzungssaal

Welcome speeches by Philippe Lamberts, Eva Glawichning , Bartek Lech:Co-Spokesperson of the Federation of Young European Greens (FYEG) and Eva Lichtenberger,Vice-Chair, Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament .

“For a Thriving Economy, combat Climate Change!” Event:

Keynote Speeches :

Alexander Van der Bellen, Federal Spokesperson, Austrian Green Party

Christian Jourquin, CEO SOLVAY, Belgium

Vandana Shiva, Environmental Activist and recipient of the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the Alternative Nobel Prize)

Pierre Jonckheer, Vice-chair, Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament

These speeches will be followed by reaction from the audience

Sunday 14^th October : Closing Press Conference

Time :10.30

Venue : Press Centre , Austrian Parliament

Panel : Ulrike Lunacek, EGP Co-Spokesperson

Pierre Jonckheer, Vice-chair, Greens/EFA Group, European Parliament

Michaela Sburny, Secretary General Austrian Green Party

Journalists are also welcome to attend the workshops on Saturday 13^th October. For details of these please go to europeangreens.org where there is a full agenda.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Journalists wishing to attend any of these events should contact Patrik Volf, Press Officer for the Austrian Green Party so that accreditation to the Parliament can be arranged. Patrik Volf can be contacted on Tel no: +43 (1) 40110 6731 or by email at patrik.volf@gruene.at

During the Council, EGP Communications Officer Graham Burgess can be reached on mobile no: +32 477 902 023

We look forwarding welcoming you what is sure to be a very interesting Council Meeting.

Graham Burgess

Communications Officer

European Green Party

Tel no :+32 2 626 0724

Mobile:+32 477 902 023

email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org