Brussels, 31/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - The special European Council of Friday 4 February will not look solely at the two items initially on the agenda, namely energy and innovation, but will also have to deal with other issues like stability of the eurozone and the situation in the Middle East, Egypt and Tunisia and the wider Arab world. The president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, discussed the Middle East on Monday 31 January with EU foreign ministers and/or European ministers at the General Affairs Council chaired by Janos Martonyi.
Addressing reporters after the Council, Martonyi confirmed that European leaders will be discussing on Friday “the general economic and financial situation and measures to stabilise the euro”, but a decision about whether to expand the European Financial Stability Fund would not be made on Friday. The situation in the Arab world will be discussed by Europe's leaders, he said, pointing out that Van Rompuy is planning a debate about the situation in the Middle East and the Arab world, along of course with in-depth discussion about the main items on the agenda - energy and innovation, explained European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefèoviè.
The General Affairs Council on Monday discussed the draft conclusions document for Friday's European Council with respect to energy and innovation. The draft document is broadly backed by all 27 countries, but some items are controversial and will need to be clarified by the end of the week so that the leaders will not need to negotiate the actual document themselves (see separate articles). (H.B./transl.fl)