Bernard Kouchner in Slovenia for the handover from the Slovene Presidency

Bernard Kouchner © F. de la Mure - MAEE

• On: 30.06.2008
• In: Ceglo (Slovenia)

Bernard Kouchner, the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, is travelling to Ceglo, Slovenia, where his Slovenian counterpart, Dimitrij Rupel will pass on the baton of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from his Slovenian counterpart, Dimitrij Rupel, which he received from the Portuguese Presidency.

On Monday 30 June, the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, is travelling to Ceglo, Slovenia, in the magnificent wine-producing region of Goriška Brda, to take up the baton of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from his counterpart, Dimitrij Rupel.

This informal handover ceremony between the outgoing and incoming Presidencies symbolises the continuity of the work of the Council of the European Union. Enriched by the cultures, traditions and histories of its Member States, the European Union is working for its citizens on a daily basis.

France will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July until 31 December 2008. It will then, in turn, pass on the baton to the Czech Republic for the following six-month term.

Provisional programme
- 14:15 Arrival of the Minister at Trieste airport to travel to the Movia vineyard in Ceglo, where the handover ceremony will take place
- 14:50 Start of the ceremony. (After a brief speech by the two foreign ministers, Dimitrij Rupel will hand over the baton he received from the Portuguese Presidency to Bernard Kouchner)
- 15:15 Interview with Bernard Kouchner for Slovene national television
- 15:30 Lunch for the Foreign Ministers hosted by Dimitrij Rupel in the cellars of the Kristančič vineyard in Ceglo

• Updated: 15.12.2008

• Back to the top