Central Union of Agricultural
Producers and Forest Owners /
European Economic and Social Committee
Group III “Various Interests”

DRAFT PROGRAMME

Extraordinary meeting of the Bureau of Group III

“The role of Finnish Civil Society organisations in the political decision-making process” and “Renewable energy policy challenges in Finland and the EU”

Thursday 31st August 2006

The “Eduskunta”: Annex of the Parliament of Finland

Arkadiankatu 3 - FI-00102 HELSINKI

Tel + 358 9 4321

Fax + 358 9 432 2274

9 a.m.
10 a.m.
10.30 a.m. / 1.  / Closed Bureau (ends at 10 a.m.):
2. Arrival of invited guests and opening session:
–  Adoption of the agenda
-  Opening statement by Mr Staffan NILSSON
President of Group III
-  Welcoming remarks by Mr Jari VILEN
President of the Grand Committee of the Parliament of Finland
-  Statement by Dr Juha MARTTILA
Vice-President of the Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK)
3. Dialogue between the members of the Bureau of Group III and the representatives of civil society organisations in Finland on: “The role of civil society organisations in the political decision-making process”
a) The Finnish Consensus Society
“The Finnish Model”
-  Speaker to be nominated
General Debate
b) Presentations of experiences of the Finnish model (5 minutes per speaker)
-  A representative from the Trade Unions sector (to be confirmed)
-  A representative of the Employers sector (EK)
-  A representative from the SMEs sector (SY)
-  Mr Pekka HUHTANIEMI, Under-Secretary of State for Trade at the Department of Foreign Affairs
General Debate
12.30 p.m. / Buffet Lunch at the “Eduskunta” Parliament of Finland
2 p.m. / 1.  33 / 4. “Renewable energy policy challenges in Finland and the EU”
Interventions and Discussion on various aspects of Bioenergy
-  Mr Mauri PEKKARINEN, Minister for Trade and Industry:
“Bioenergy in Finland and the EU: a policy overview”
-  Mrs Satu HELYNEN, Tech.Lic., Technology Manager, Fuel Conversion at the VTT Research Institute:
“The development of new Bioenergy technologies”
-  Prof. Antti ASIKAINEN D.Sc., METLA, Forest Research Institute:
“Wood use”
Coffee Break
-  Mr Juha POIKOLA, Vice-President of the Pohjolan Voima Oy Energy Company:
“How do we make Bioenergy work for us?”
-  Mr Markku SUOJANEN, Secretary-General of the MTK:
“Bioenergy sources: forests, crops, peat”
-  Mr Lauri AINASTO, Secretary of the Board of the Puu- Ja Erityisalojen Liitto Wood and Allied Workers’ Union:
“The creation of employment and working in the Bioenergy sector”
General Debate
2. 
5. Any other business
6. Date of the next meeting
5 p.m. / End of the meeting

Reception hosted by Mr Juha POIKOLA

Vice-President of the Pohjolan Voima Oy Energy Company

in the Eduskunta at 5 p.m.