Brussels, 02/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Energy and innovation, economic governance and the political upheavals currently occurring in North Africa and the Middle East will be on the menu of the first European Council of 2011. The president of the Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has sent a letter of invitation and a programme to the heads of state and government from the 27 countries of the EU. According to the letter sent by Van Rompuy (which has been published), the Council will discuss future European energy policy, after its traditional meeting with President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek (see other articles in this publication).
Given the considerable preparatory work already achieved, Van Rompuy is expecting leaders to be able to very soon finalise their conclusions “which provide for concrete orientations on key elements of our energy strategy”. Van Rompuy will emphasise two aspects of energy security, the swift completion of the internal market and its external dimension, as well as supply sources and routes.
During dinner, the heads of state and government (who will be joined by the governor of the ECB, Jean-Claude Trichet) will tackle subjects such as economic governance and continued efforts to combat the crisis. In this connection, no decision is expected but rather, a form of consolidation of the progress achieved since December in view of the decisions that will be taken at the March summit (see other articles in this publication).
Following dinner, the European Council will discuss the most recent developments in the situation in Egypt and Tunisia and their impact on the southern Mediterranean and the European Union as a whole. In the afternoon, the meeting will finish with an examination of a range of initiatives to help promote innovation “in a way that benefits citizens, companies and researchers”. The conclusions on this subject will be forthcoming, explains Van Rompuy in his letter.
The European Council will close with a joint press conference between Van Rompuy and President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso, followed by national press briefings with the different leaders. (Gp/transl.fl)