| Kyiv, 08 November 2005 Press Conference All media are invited to a press conference given by European Commissioner Ján Figel’ on Thursday, 10 November 2005, 3 pm, at the Delegation of the European Commission to Ukraine (Kruhlo-Universitetska 10). Accreditation with Mrs Iryna Stadniychuk, (044) 253 30 20.
The European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism, J. Figel’, will visit Ukraine from 10 to 11 November 2005 to give Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian public a positive signal about the possibilities of developing closer EU-Ukraine cooperation in the sphere of education and culture. In Kyiv, the Commissioner will meet with President V. Yushchenko; O. Rybachuk, Head of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine; B. Tarasyuk, Minister of Foreign Affairs; S. Nikolayenko, Minister of Education; I. Likhovyi, Minister of Culture and O. Omelchenko, Head of the Kyiv City Administration. The Commissioner, whose portfolio also includes relations with civil society and youth, will address students from all over Ukraine at the Taras Shevchenko University and hold a roundtable with representatives of Ukrainian non-governmental organizations to discuss how civil society dialogue between the European Union and Ukraine can be promoted. During his talks with government representatives Commissioner Figel’ will promote and raise awareness about EU-Ukraine relations, in particular in the area of education cooperation through the Tempus and Erasmus Mundus programme. Furthermore, exchanges will focus on the EU’s support to Ukrainian reforms in the higher education (Bologna process), vocational and education training and life long learning systems. In a meeting with the Kyiv city authorities the Commissioner will discuss Kyiv’s candidature as a European City of Culture 2010. .For further information please contact Ms Anje Schubert, Press Officer, (044) 253 30 20 or anje.schubert@ec.europa.eu Short biography of Commissioner Figel’ 1992 - 1998 Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic
1993 - 1998 Member of the National Council of the SR in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CE PA) 1997 - 1998 Chairman of the CE PA's Sub-Committee on International Economic Relations 1998 - 2002 State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the SR 1998 - 2003 Chief Negotiator of the SR for negotiations on the accession of Slovakia to the EU 2002 - 2004 Member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic 2002 - 2003 Co-Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the National Council of the SR on the Joint EU-SR Parliamentary Committee 2002 - 2003 Representative of the Slovak National Council in the Convention on the Future of Europe 2003 - 2004 Member of the Council of Europe PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs and Development
2003 - 2004 Presidency member of the EPP – ED fraction in the EP 2004 - 2004 Vice-Chairman of the Council of Europe PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs and Development 2004 - current Member of the European Commission More detailed information about the Commissioner is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/figel/index_en.htm Photos of the Commissioner are available at: http://http://ec.europa.eu/avservices/photo/photo_combar_en.cfm | 