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| Meeting Venue |
The 6th Meeting of the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) will be held in the Federal Parliament of Belgium, at the Palais de la Nation, located Place de la Nation 2, 1008 Bruxelles.
 Access through main entrance Hall of Federal Parliament at Place de la Nation (rue de la Loi)
The ASEP plenary meeting will take place in the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives. Preparatory meetings, panel discussions and drafting committees will be held in meeting rooms to be communicated.
A secretariat room as well as IT and office facilities will be available on the same floor as the Plenary Hall.
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| Accommodation |
Hotel room is provided by Omnitravel travel agency:
Tel: + 32 (0)9 269 90 61
Fax: + 32 (0)9 269 90 81
E-mail : ep@squatra.be
Participants are kindly requested to make their hotel booking online on the ASEP website www.asep6.be BEFORE AUGUST,28 2010
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| Registration |
Delegations are requested to register as soon as possible prior to Friday, August 27, 2010.
The two enclosed registration forms must be completed (participant and composition of delegation).
Delegations that have already registered are kindly requested to reconfirm their participation using the enclosed updated registration forms.
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| Transfer from airport to Brussels |
Participants are kindly requested to communicate for information their Flight Numbers or Train Schedules, as well as dates and times of arrival to and departure from Brussels on the Registration Form.
Please note that no transportation will be provided by the organizer between the airport and the hotels.
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From Brussels Airport an approximate taxi fare to the city centre costs 40 euros. It takes about 30 minutes to reach your hotel in the city centre from the airport.
Brussels Airport web page: http://www.brusselsairport.be
From Brussels Airport up to 4 trains an hour connect the airport to Brussels North, Brussels Central and Brussels Midi stations. The cost of a one-way ticket is about 5 euros. Most of the selected hotels (except Hotel Bloom which is closer to Brussels North Station) are located close to the Central Station.
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| Bus transfer |
Bus transfer will be provided between the selected hotels and the meeting venue in the Federal Parliament Building as well as for the evening programme on Sunday, September 26 and the excursion on Tuesday, September 28.
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| Visa requirements |
Each participant should inform with local Belgian Embassy or Consulate about visa requirements. We strongly advise participants to apply for a visa at least 1 month before departure.
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| Registration Desk |
The Registration Desk will be open in the main Entrance Hall (Peristyle) of the Federal Parliament on Sunday 26 September from 15:00 to 18:00, as well as on Monday 27 September from 08:00 in the main Entrance Hall (Peristyle) of the Federal Parliament.
Please register at the Registration Desk as soon as possible after your arrival in Brussels. All participants will be able to collect identity badges, and conference documents upon registration.
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| Press |
The meeting is open to the media.
Journalists who want to attend the meeting are kindly asked to contact the
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| Security |
For security reasons all participants and accompanying persons, observers and delegations’ staff will be required to wear identity badges at all sessions, official meetings and social events.
There will be no admittance to any programme functions without the appropriate identity badge. In case of loss of your personal badge, please report to the Registration Desk immediately. For security purposes, participants should be in possession of their ID card or passport and be prepared for identity checks.
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| Insurance |
Personal and health insurance is the responsibility of individual participants. The Federal Parliament of Belgium does not bear any responsibility for the loss of baggage, money, personal belongings, or any medical expenses.
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| Medical facilities |
A doctor will be available throughout the Conference and on the day of excursion.
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| Participants with Special Needs |
Secretaries of Delegations should inform the Conference Secretariat in advance regarding participants with special needs (e.g. : transportation, dietary requirements, ...)
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| Documents |
It would be appreciated if all delegations could submit their written speeches to the secretariat prior to the meeting to facilitate the distribution and compilation of documents.
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| Interpretation |
The working language is English. The Secretariat will provide simultaneous interpretation for French and Dutch. For the other languages, delegations are kindly requested to provide their own interpreters at their own expenses. Five language channels are available for other languages in the plenary session hall. For the panels and other meetings however, the host country will provide simultaneous interpretation facilities to the extent technically possible. Please register with the secretariat in advance.
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| Embassies and Consulates in Brussels |
Address and contact information for embassies and consulates located in Belgium are posted on the website of the Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs of Belgium: Addresses of foreign Embassies and Consulates in Belgium
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| Cultural Programme |
A day tour to the historic city of Bruges, "the Venice of the North" will take place on Tuesday, September 28. Accompanying persons may participate to the day tour to Bruges.
Participants are kindly requested to register in advance using the "Participant registration form"
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
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| Meals and Receptions |
The participants are responsible for their own expenses for accommodation and meals except those meals hosted by the conference:
- Sunday, September 26 at 19:30 - Walking Buffet in the Palais des Beaux-Arts
- Monday, September 27 at 13:00 - Buffet Lunch in the Reception Room of the Speaker of the Senate
- Monday, September after the Plenary session - Reception in the Reading Room of the Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Tuesday, September 28 at 12:00 - Lunch in the Governor's Palace in Bruges
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| Accompanying persons |
Accompanying persons are welcome to attend the walking buffet in the Palais des Beaux-Arts on Sunday evening and the Bruges City Tour on Tuesday.
They must register in advance using the "Participant registration form"
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| Dress Code |
Business attire (or an appropriate equivalent for ladies) is required for official meetings and formal occasions. Casual wear and comfortable footwear is suitable and recommended for the city tour in Bruges.
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| Time Zone |
The time zone in Brussels is GMT +1.
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Temperature
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 The average September temperature of Brussels ranges approximately from 18 to 22 degrees Celsius.
The weather in Belgium is characterised by unpredictability. Temperatures in September can be around 20°C or it can be rainy with temperatures around 15°C. Participants can check weather forecasts a few day in advance on the website www.weather.com
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| Electricity |
Electricity used in Belgium is 230 Volts at 50 Hertz.
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| Currency |
The Euro is the official currency of Belgium. Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, hotels, international airports and other change agencies.
Most banks open from 09:00 to 16:00 every day, except on Saturday and Sunday.
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| Smoking |
Smoking is prohibited inside the Federal Parliament and inside all public locations, restaurants, on public transport etc, except in those places explicitly reserved for smoking purpose.
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| Useful telephone numbers |
When calling from a mobile phone or outside the district dial the bracketed area code. When calling from abroad dial the country code + 32 and then omit the first 0.
ASEP VI Secretariat
Federal Parliament of Belgium
Place de la Nation 2
B-1008 Brussels
Belgium
Tel : + 32 (0)2 549 87 85
Fax : + 32 (0)2 549 83 02
E-mail : info@asep6.be
Website : www.asep6.be
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