The Regional Table is the “general assembly” of all the partner countries and institutions of the Stability Pact, chaired by Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek.  Its fourth regular meeting will be held

in Thessaloniki at the Makedonia Palace Hotel, 16 December,

and media are kindly invited to participate at:

9:00 – 10:15              Opening Session

§           Opening Remarks — Special Co-ordinator Erhard Busek

§          Keynote Address: “The European Union and South Eastern Europe:
Priorities for the Greek Presidency” — H.E. George Papandreou

§          “The Importance of Regional Ownership: Experiences from the SEECP”
— H.E. Goran Svilanovic, Foreign Minister of Yugoslavia

§           Message from the EU Presidency — Ambassador Hans Grunnet (Denmark)

§           European Parliament, Address by MEP Hannes Swoboda

§          EU Commission outline on Accession and Association
— Reinhard Priebe, DG Relex

§           The Role of the Private Sector and the new Business Advisory Council for South Eastern Europe — Nikos Efthymiadis

10.15 – 10.45           Press Conference by George Paschalides, Minister of Macedonia and Thrace, and by Foreign Ministers of Greece, George Papandreou and FR Yugoslavia, Goran Svilanovic as well as Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact Erhard Busek

Hosted by Minister Paschalides, Special Co-ordinator Busek will give a policy outline for the Stability Pact in 2003, Foreign Minister Papandreou will present some SEE related activities of the upcoming Greek EU Presidency, while Foreign Minister Svilanovic will report on the achievements of the South East European Co-operation Process (SEECP) during the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia’s chairing in 2002/2003.