UEFA Congress in Croatia

[Pucko]

Zagreb, Croatia, is readying itself to stage the XXXII Ordinary UEFA Congress at the city's International Expocentre, Hypo EXPO XXI, on Thursday 31 January (09.30CET).

Annual event
Representatives of the 53 UEFA member national associations will be discussing a variety of items at what has become an annual event due to UEFA's growing catalogue of activities. The Congress will follow a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee in Zagreb on 29/30 January.

UEFA reports
The Congress will hear about UEFA's activities over the 2006/07 period, in a report prepared by UEFA President Michel Platini and the Executive Committee, as well as in reports by the UEFA committees and administration. A report will also be given on UEFA's finances, including the strategic outlook for the period from 2007/08 to 2012/13.

EURO presentation
A presentation will be made on the project for a new enlarged UEFA European Championship tournament format. At last year's XXXI Ordinary UEFA Congress in Dusseldorf, UEFA's member associations backed a proposal for an immediate feasibility study into the tournament's expansion. The EURO final rounds have featured 16 teams since the 1996 championship in England. Final preparations for UEFA EURO 2008™ are also on the agenda. Last month's final-round draw in Lucerne, Switzerland, heralded the closing phase of the preparation process for the tournament, which takes in Austria and Switzerland between 7 and 29 June.

Executive Committee meeting
Ahead of the Congress, the UEFA Executive Committee, chaired by the UEFA President, will meet at the Sheraton Hotel, Kneza Borne 2, HR-10000, Zagreb, on the afternoon of Tuesday 29 January from 14.00 to 18.00CET, and continuing on Wednesday 30 January from 09.00 to 12.00CET.

Media conference
As far as media matters in Zagreb are concerned, a media conference will be held at the end of the UEFA Congress meeting on Thursday 31 January at approximately 13.30CET. A press conference is also planned directly after the conclusion of the Executive Committee meeting at around 12.15CET on 30 January. If the Executive Committee finishes its meeting earlier, a press conference will be held on 29 January at around 18.30 (exact time to be confirmed on site).

Media working area
A media working area will be available at each venue and equipped with wireless connection (WiFi). ISDN/ADSL or analogue lines will have to be ordered through the respective national telecommunications company. Further information on this subject will be issued together with the accreditation confirmation.