A19/11/2007 (Agence Europe) - As part of the very brief debate the “General Affairs Council” had on Monday 19 November on the preparation of the European Council of 14 December (the Portuguese presidency listed the subjects currently on the agenda: Schengen zone extension, migration policy, fighting terrorism, Lisbon strategy, sustainable development, climate change, future status of Kosovo, Africa). The Danish foreign affairs minister, Per Stig Moller, criticised the fact that the ceremony for signing the new amending treaty of the European Union (“Treaty of Lisbon”) on 13 December takes place in the Portuguese capital whereas the European Council the next day was in Brussels - not the same place. Bringing together 27 Heads of State and Government in the space of a few hours in Lisbon and then Brussels, would incur considerable costs and additional CO2 emissions. Moller said the EU's action in this respect was sending out a “bad signal” on the fight against climate change. (H.B.)