Work Programme
The Operational Programme of the Council for 2006 was drawn up by the Council Presidencies of the year 2006 - Austria and Finland - on the basis of the Multi-annual Programme covering the years 2004-2006 and sets out the main objectives for this year's work of the Council.
Recent debates have underlined the importance of the Union concentrating on issues which matter to citizens in their everyday lives. The two Presidencies will work closely together in order to ensure that the work of the Council during 2006 contributes to economic and social welfare, protection of the environment, freedom and security of European citizens as well as strengthening the role of the Union within the world. Work underway on a number of key priorities designed to ensure that the EU responds successfully to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation will be carried forward.