Brussels, 16/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 March, the permanent president of the European Council was in Warsaw to begin preparations with the Polish prime minister for the important European Council on 24-25 March, as well as for the Polish Presidency of the EU, programmed for the second half of this year. The European Council at the end of March, as we are aware, is expected to put the finishing touches to the legislative package on economic governance and adopt a “pact for the euro”, on which eurozone leaders managed to reach a principled agreement on the night of 11-12 March (EUROPE 10335). During this summit, other member states, which are still not members of the eurozone, will be able to join up to the pact for the euro if they so wish. Van Rompuy obviously thinks that Poland should be part of this pact. On Tuesday night, he informed the press in Warsaw: “I would like to express my greatest hope that Poland joins the pact for the euro”. With regard to the Polish Presidency, Van Rompuy highlighted the need to strengthen the single market. The subject will also be discussed during the European Council at the end of March “on the basis of the Commission proposals”, he said. The recasting of the European neighbourhood policy (ENP), following the events in the southern Mediterranean and North Africa, will undoubtedly be one of the flagship dossiers the EU will be dealing with during the Polish Presidency, explained Van Rompuy. The Eastern dimension of the ENP will of course not be left out either. The summit for Eastern partnership countries (initially planned under the Hungarian Presidency but postponed due to timetable complications) will be held in Poland this autumn. The president of the European Council concluded: “I am sure that this will involve one of the main themes during the Polish Presidency”. (H.B./transl.fl)