Schedule of Events for Friday, 17 September

BRDO PRI KRANJU - Participants from over 30 countries as well as the European Commission and the World Bank are to convene for an international conference on assistance to aspiring EU members. The event, organised by the Government Office for European Affairs, starts at 9 AM. A press conference is scheduled for 5:15 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The Parliamentary Assembly of the central European Initiative is to be in session at the Slovenian parliament. A statement for the press is scheduled for 2:10 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - Labour Ministry State Secretary Stasa Baloh Plahutnik and Felix Haering Perez of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science are to present the EU's system for the recognition of professional qualifications for regulated professions, and Slovenia's first experiences in the field; at 9:30 AM.

LEUVEN, Belgium - The future European Commission under President-designate Jose Manuel Barroso is to convene for a two-day informal meeting to debate the political priorities of its five-year term, internal organisation and the upcoming hearing of the commissioner candidates at the European Parliament.

CATEZ OB SAVI - The Chamber of Commerce and Industry is to host a two-day conference on Slovenia's experience with EU integration. Attendance by 50 representatives of regional commerce chambers from the western Balkans is expected. The event starts at 9 AM, with a press conference scheduled for 12:30 PM.

LJUBLJANA - A celebration at 11 AM is to mark the 50th anniversary of the Institute for Rehabilitation. Minister of Labour, Family and Social Affairs Vlado Dimovski is expected to attend.

GENERAL ELECTION 2004

LJUBLJANA - Presidents of three opposition parties that are members of the European People's Party (EPP-ED), Janez Jansa of the SDS, Andrej Bajuk of the NSi and Janez Podobnik of the SLS, are to hold a joint press conference at noon with head of the EPP-ED faction in the European Parliament, Hans Gert Poettering. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The Pensioners' Party (DeSUS) is to talk to the press at 10 AM to present the party's positions on the judiciary and backlogs at courts.

LJUBLJANA - Four non-parliamentary parties that will stand in the general election together - Women's Voice of Slovenia, the Association for Primorsko, the Union of Independents and the New Democracy of Slovenia - are to talk to the press at 1 PM to present their views on employment of women, the role of women in politics and domestic violence.

LJUBLJANA - Press review. (STA)

In case of further queries please contact duty editor at +386 1 241 0109:

8:30 AM to 3:30 PM: Gorazd Jukovic
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Vlasta Horvat

Comments and suggestions may be sent to: english@sta.si