17/12/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU Heads of State and Government said on Friday that the transatlantic partnership with the United States was "irreplaceable" all the more as both sides are faced by "new threats and new challenges". The European Council also took pleasure in the prospect of President Bush's forthcoming visit to Europe (the date set is 22 February in Brussels), and welcomed the idea of holding an annual meeting between the Troika and the Justice and Internal Affairs Ministers...