EGP COUNCIL MEETING IN MONTREUIL,PARIS, 10th to 12th October 2008:
More than 200 delegates from 34 member parties in 31 countries will gather in Montreuil, Paris from 10th to 12th October for the European Green Party's 9th Council Meeting.
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said: "We are delighted to be holding our Council Meeting in Montreuil not only because it gives us the opportunity to discuss the French Presidency of the EU from a Green perspective but also because these are exciting times for the French Greens. The French Green Party(Les Verts) are building a coalition with ecological NGOs and civil society in order to present a common platform at the European Parliament elections in June of next year and our delegates and activists from all over Europe will be able to find out more about this initiative. The main focus for this Council Meeting will be the adoption of a number of key elements of next year's Common European Campaign for the European Parliament Elections, including the main points to be included in our manifesto. We decided to hold the Council in Montreuil's town hall because Dominique Voynet became the town's first Green Mayor (after decades of communist administration ) in municipal elections in March of this year and so Montreuil is an excellent example of the process of renewal and rebuilding of electoral strength that the French Greens are currently experiencing."
EGP Co-Spokesperson Ulrike Lunacek, who is also an MP in Austria's newly elected parliament, continued: "As part of the discussions on our Common Campaign, we will decide on the important Social Policy paper as well as discuss Gender issues and Human Rights. On Saturday evening, we will be holding a special round table discussion on migration and integration, with the participation of the local community in Montreuil, including representatives of the Malian and Roma communities. This will be followed by a cultural event with live Kurdish and Roma music. The EGP Council will be preceded by 2 days of public debates on 9th and 10th October, also in Montreuil, organised by our colleagues in the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, focussing on the themes of the current global financial crisis, Food Security and GMOS, the EU's energy and climate change package and Human Rights in the context of foreign policy and economic interests."
A PRESS CONFERENCE WITH PHILIPPE LAMBERTS and GREENS/EFA CO-PRESIDENTS, DANY COHN-BENDIT and MONICA FRASSONI WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY 10th OCTOBER AT 13.30 in the MAIRIE DE MONTREUIL ( Metro : Mairie de Montreuil )
Journalists wishing to cover the EGP Council or arrange an interview with the EGP Spokespersons should contact Graham Burgess, EGP Media and Communications Officer on mobile number + 32 477 902 023 or by email at graham.burgess@europeangreens.net
Journalists based in France can also call Les Verts' Communication Officer, Lionel Guerin on mobile phone number : + 33 (0)650 59 59 40
