EFA

At the end of December the Austrian foreign minister Ursula Plassnik indicated that her country's incoming six-month EU presidency will not push for the adoption of the EU constitution, presenting a modest working programme together with Austria's successor Finland. Austrian and Finland (due to hold the EU Presidency for the second half of 2006) released a joint Operational Programme and this sets out the main objectives that we can expect for this year's work of the Council. The two presidencies will work closely together in order to ensure that the work of the Council during 2006 contributes to economic and social welfare, protection of the environment, freedom and security of European citizens as well as strengthening the role of the Union within the world. EFA welcomes the fact that one of the Austrian Presidency’s main priorities is improving air quality, alongside with climate change and environmental technologies.. Source: ENSP