During Council meetings, the Presidency is assisted by the General Secretariat of the Council. This photograph, taken at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 17 July 2006, shows Eikka Kosonen, Finnish Permanent Representative and President-in-Office of the Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper II), and Erkki Tuomioja, Finnish Foreign Minister and President-in-Office of the Council, talking to Pierre de Boissieu, Deputy Secretary-General of the Council.