An "informal summit" of the heads of state and government, and the ceremony for the 50 years of activity of the Commission: the political day in Brussels is based on those two points. The current president of the European Union, Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Poettering, and the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, are taking part in the events. The inauguration of a room devoted to Jean Monnet is scheduled late in the morning, at palace Berlaymont (the seat of the Commission). The room is meant to celebrate 120 years from the birth of Monnet, one of the "fathers" of the Community. After official speeches, they will go to palace Justus Lipsius just opposite (the building hosting the Council), where the people in charge of the EU institutions will meet the leaders of the 27 member States. They will focus on the preparation of the international summit on the financial crisis (G20), which is taking place in Washington on 15th November. Sarkozy will preside over the meeting, which will end with a press conference in the early afternoon. ” “
