The first day of the Ministers’ gathering, Sunday 16 March 2008, will be devoted entirely to sporting activities. The Ministers and other delegation members as well as the representatives of the EU institutions and of the NOCs, IOC and EOC, are going to attend the last day of competition at the World Cup Ski Jumping Finals of the 2007/2008 Season at Planica (Slovenia).

The aim of the ministerial meeting on Monday, 17 March 2008 is, first and foremost, to ensure progress in the preparatory process of setting priorities for action in line with the White Paper on Sport and the “Pierre de Coubertin” Action Plan, as discussed and agreed by the EU Directors-General meeting in Slovenia on 4-5 February 2008. Direct input from the Ministers regarding the “Ljubljana priorities” to be addressed at EU level will be crucial to the success of this important political initiative.

From this point of view, the Slovenian Presidency has decided also to invite the presidents of the National Olympic Committees of the 27 Member States and of the countries of south-eastern Europe (ex-Yugoslavia) to take part in the discussions on the principles of cooperation and dialogue between public authorities and civil society in sport. The objective is to draw policy conclusions supported by EU Ministers.