Schedule of Events from 15 to 21 December

MONDAY, 15 December

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly is to convene for its last regular session this year. There are over 30 items on the agenda.

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Statistics Office is scheduled to present its preliminary figures for economic growth in the third quarter.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Slovenian Minister for the Environment, Spatial Planning and Energy Janez Kopac is due to take part in a session of the EU energy council.

LJUBLJANA - The general assembly of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to look at Slovenian efforts to join the euro zone. Bank of Slovenian Governor Mitja Gaspari is to attend the assembly.

RADENCI - A Slovenian-Italian standing commission for international road transport is to hold a session.

IZOLA - The new management team at food producer Droga will meet the press.

VELENJE - Slovenian Cup champions Gorenje Velenje will play Vive Kielce in the second leg of round of 16 play in handball's Cup Winners' Cup.

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to receive a copy of the credentials of new Estonian Ambassador to Slovenia Katrin Saarsalu.

LJUBLJANA - Speaker of the National Assembly Borut Pahor is to receive Slovenian scouts who will bring the Light of Peace from Bethlehem to parliament house.

TUESDAY, 16 December

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian government is expected to discuss tax reforms.

PARIS, France - Europe Affairs Minister Janez Potocnik is due to pay a two-day visit to France. Talks with French officials are expected to examine EU economic issues, including the next financial plan for 2007 through 2013.

LJUBLJANA - Deputy Defence Minister of Germany Walter Kolbow is expected to begin a two-day working visit to Slovenia.

LJUBLJANA - Government officials and representatives of non-governmental organisations are to stage a national conference on cooperation, entitled "Let's Establish Cooperation".

LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Affairs is due to hold a forum on drawing funds from the European Social Fund. Labour Minister Vlado Dimovski, Regional Development Minister Zdenka Kovac and EU ambassador Erwan Fouere are expected to attend.

LJUBLJANA - Political and business relations between Slovenia and Russia are to be in the focus as lectures are due to be given by Russian Ambassador to Slovenia Vyacheslav Dolgov and chairman of drug maker Krka, Milos Kovacic.

LJUBLJANA - Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel is to hold a reception for ambassadors to Slovenia.

LJUBLJANA - The Bank of Slovenia is to present current account data for October.

LJUBLJANA - The Ljubljana Stock Exchange is to put on a press conference to take a look at the past year.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian Railways is expected to present results for 2003.

KOPER - The Port of Koper is due to present results for 2003.

LJUBLJANA - An annex to an agreement on a joint scholarship programme, "Valvasor - Chevening" will be signed by Culture Minister Andreja Rihter and British Ambassador to Slovenia Hugh Mortimer.

WEDNESDAY, 17 December

LJUBLJANA - The social partners are to hold a session of the economic and social council to examine the primary report on the implementation of provisions in the international pact on economic, social and cultural rights.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Agriculture Minister Franci But is to attend a session of the EU council for agriculture and forestry.

LJUBLJANA - The Agriculture and Forestry Chamber is to hold a press conference.

LJUBLJANA - Holding Slovenske elektrarne, a holding company of several Slovenian power plants, is to present results for 2003.

DOBRNA - Terme Dobrna, a spa resort in NE Slovenia, will celebrate its 600th anniversary. The company will present business results for 2003 at a press conference.

LJUBLJANA - A press conference is to be staged by the Slovenian National Theatre Drama Ljubljana ahead of the staging of Samuel Beckett's play "Happy Days".

THURSDAY, 18 December

LJUBLJANA - The government is to hold its regular weekly session.

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Social affairs ministers from the current and future EU members are due to meet. Slovenia is to be represented by Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Vlado Dimovski.

VIENNA, Austria - The President of the National Council Janez Susnik is expected to attend the ratification of the EU Accession Treaty in the Austrian upper chamber of parliament. As part of his visit to Austria, Susnik is also scheduled to take part in a working meeting with Austrian counterpart Andreas Khol. He is also expected to meet with counterparts from the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia.

LJUBLJANA - The council of public broadcaster RTV Slovenija is to discuss the business plan for 2004.

LJUBLJANA - The public radio station Val 202 is to announce the "name of the year" award.

LJUBLJANA - The Peace Institute, an independent research organisation, is to stage a public debate examining the media and the 2004 U.S. elections in collaboration with the information and documentation centre of the Council of Europe and the U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana.

RADENCI - Radenska, a mineral drinks maker, is to stage a press conference.

SENTJUR PRI CELJE - Chemicals producer Alpos is scheduled to open a plant for aluminium products. Prime Minister Anton Rop is due to attend.

FRIDAY, 19 December

LJUBLJANA - The National Assembly is due to wrap up its regular monthly session.

LJUBLJANA - Europe Affairs Minister Janez Potocnik and EU ambassador to Slovenia Erwan Fouere are to take part in a presentation of the Slovenian translation of the "For Europe" book written by Robert Schuman, a former French Foreign Minister and one of the founding fathers of the EU.

LJUBLJANA - Slovenia is to be paid a visit by the Deputy Minister of the Chinese Development and Reform Commission, Zhu Zhixiang.