Honouring Slovenia's Entry to the Eurozone

The ECOFIN ministerial will be attended by Dr Andrej Bajuk, the Slovenian Minister of Finance. The meeting will focus on approving the legal basis for the introduction of the euro in Slovenia. The ECOFIN will confirm the resolution on the adoption of the euro, and determine the irrevocable exchange rate between tolars and euros.

After the ECOFIN meeting, there will be a press conference on the premises of the European Council (scheduled for after 14.00), where ECOFIN will announce their decision on the enlargement of the Eurozone. Following the press conference, there will be a reception at 15.00 at Rond-Point Schuman, where the guests will be addressed by Joaquin Almunia, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the Eurogroup and Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Eero Heinäluoma, the Finnish Minister of Finance, Dr Andrej Bajuk, Slovenia's Minister of Finance, Mitja Gaspari, the Governor of the Bank of Slovenia, and Jürgen Stark, Member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank. The speaches will be followed by a group photo session, scheduled for 15.40.

The visitors will taste Slovenian wines, offered by fifteen wine-producers from various regions, and savour Slovenian delicacies (Kras prosciutto, potica). The honorary speakers will also cut a huge cake.

The guests will be entertained by Neisha, one of the most popular Slovenian singers, and her band. Neisha is a talented musician, composer, song arranger, pianist, singer, and session musician who studied composition and piano at the Academy of Music at the University of Ljubljana. Besides writing popular music, she has also written chamber music and pieces for symphony orchestra.