Brussels, 03/11/2008 (Agence Europe) -On 31 October in Paris, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek agreed on a number of practical arrangements to ensure that "the baton is passed between the French and Czech Presidencies of the EU properly" on 31 December. In this way, it has been decided that if the Eurogroup should meet at heads of state and government level during the first half of 2009, the Czech Presidency will be invited to take part in the meeting (even though the Czech Republic is not yet part of the eurozone). "I hope that there will not be systematic meetings (...) of the Eurogroup" at leadership level, but if there are, the Czech Presidency will be invited, Mr Sarkozy told the press. The President-in-exercise of the Council of the EU has also invited the Czech finance minister to be part of the delegation of the EU to the G20 Summit in Washington on 15 November, "to ensure the continuity and unity of the EU in the face of the financial crisis". A further decision has been taken regarding the Union for the Mediterranean (see also other article). "The Czech Republic has asked us to continue to chair the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) with Egypt", Mr Sarkozy told a group of journalists. France and the Czech Republic have also agreed to give each other reciprocal support to achieve the priority objectives of their European Presidency. Paris will support the ambition of the Czech Republic to develop the "eastern dimension" of the European neighbourhood policy (one of the principal priorities of the Czech Presidency). In return, Prague has committed to continue its work of persuasion with the other member states of Central and Eastern Europe, in order to reach a political agreement on the Energy/Climate package by the end of the year. (H.B./transl.fl)