Every year EEF organises a 2-day delegation for members to visit Brussels. Reflecting the increasing importance of European issues to British business, the Brussels Delegation gives attendees a better understanding of the EU legislative process
It also provides them with the opportunity to raise issues of concern with key decision-makers in Brussels, many of whom are often otherwise out of their reach (with the latter aspect also helping to strengthen EEF’s ongoing European representation programme).
This year’s delegation will be held on 20-21 June 2006 and is open to all EEF members. Our keynote speaker for dinner is John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). We will also be holding a lunch event in the European Parliament for UK MEPs, to be hosted by Giles Chichester MEP, Chair of the important Industry, Research and Energy Committee. Other speakers and meetings are expected to be confirmed in the next few weeks.
Programme
The provisional programme for this year’s delegation is as follows:
Tuesday 20 June 2006
08h00 Meet Eurostar Terminal, London Waterloo (For those travelling from London)
08h39 Depart London Waterloo
12h30 All Delegates meet at Renaissance Hotel, Brussels
13h00 Lunch with Key Note Speaker (tbc)
15h00 - 18h00 Series of Meetings with officials from the United Kingdom Representation in Brussels (UKREP)
15h00 The UK Government’s EU priorities
Speaker: Sir John Grant, UK Permanent Representative to the European Union
15h30 Update on Economic Affairs
Speaker: Michael Collins, Counsellor
16h15 Developments in EU employment law and social affairs
Speaker: Mark Holland, First Secretary, UKREP
17h15 Climate Change, Emissions Trading and Waste
Speaker: Nicola Webb, First Secretary, UKREP
18h00 Return to Renaissance Hotel
19h30 Dinner with guest speaker, John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
Wednesday 21 June 2006
09h00 - 12h30 Meetings with European Commission Officials
These meetings will cover energy policy, employment and social affairs issues and the Commission’s work on attempt to improve the regulatory environment
12h30 All-Party Manufacturing Lunch at the European Parliament
This event will be hosted by Giles Chichester MEP, Chair of the Industry, Research and Energy Committee in the European Parliament, and attended by MEPs from all of the UK’s major political parties
Approx 14h30 Delegation closes