The informal meetings of ministers of health are traditional meetings involving discussion of priority topics selected by the presiding country. Moreover the agenda usually includes key matters on which decisions will be sought in the regular meeting of the Council.

During its presidency of the EU, Slovenia will focus on the subject of controlling cancer, and this will offer us a major opportunity to contribute on the EU level to reducing the burden of this disease. Based on the discussion at the informal meeting of ministers of health, conclusions of the Council will be drawn up and submitted for adoption by the Council of Ministers at its regular meeting at the beginning of June 2008. Other topics which we are planning as relevant for discussion at this meeting are antimicrobial resistance and the implementation of EU strategies to support Member States in reducing alcohol-related harm.