Schedule of Events for Thursday, 9 June

LJUBLJANA - The government is expected to debate negotiating positions for the final round of talks on the EU's financial arrangements for the 2007-2013 period at its regular weekly session. The agenda also includes the decree on the construction of the hydro plant Blanca on the lower Sava. A press conference is scheduled for after the session at 2 PM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The Statistics Office is to talk to the press at 10:30 AM to present GDP growth figures for the first quarter of the year. Slovenia's economy expanded by 4.3% in 2004. (STA)

BRUSSELS, Belgium - Defence Minister Karl Erjavec is to attend a meeting of NATO defence ministers. The ministers are to confirm plans for logistics support in the Sudanese region of Darfur and discuss the potential beef-up of the peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - A delegation of the Croatian parliamentary committee for European integration is scheduled to visit. Meetings with the committees for EU affairs and the head of the Government Office for European Affairs Marcel Koprol are scheduled. A press conference at 11:35 AM. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - The draft bill on the reform of the Chamber of Commerce is to be presented by the acting head of the Economics Ministry's internal market directorate Peter Puhan; at 3 PM.

LA VALLETTA, Malta - Deputy head of the Government Office for European Affairs Rado Genorio is to attend an informal meeting of 17 EU member states to discuss the EU's budget framework for the 2007-2013 period.

LJUBLJANA - The parliamentary foreign policy committee is to debate preparations for Friday's joint session of the Slovenian and Croatian governments at 2 PM. A statement for the press is scheduled after the meeting. (STA)

LJUBLJANA - President of the upper chamber of Austrian parliament Georg Helm it to pay a visit at the invitation of his counterpart Janez Susnik. The pair is to hold talks at noon while a meeting with Parliament Speaker France Cukjati is scheduled for 3 PM.

LJUBLJANA - The Association of Free Trade Unions of Slovenia (ZSSS) is to talk to the press at 11 AM about the proposed EU working time directive.

LJUBLJANA - The Slovenian Steel Group is to host a two-day conference of the Eurofer association of European steel companies. Starts at 2:30 PM.

BLED - The Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) is to host the 8th annual Slovenian Tourism Forum. The lectures and workshops organised as part the event will focus on the use of new information and communication technologies in tourism. Opens at 9:15 AM.

LJUBLJANA - The Student Organisation of Slovenia is to talk to the press at 1 PM to present its views on the proposed reform of student job agencies.

PTUJ - The 12th annual Tour of Slovenia will get under way with the first leg (160 km) around Ptuj, northeastern Slovenia. (STA)

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: Eva Horvat
3:30 PM to 10:00 PM: Katja Kos

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