Brussels, 09/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - The heads of state and government are to meet on 11-12 December in Brussels for a “crucial” European Council, said José Manuel Barroso speaking to the press on Tuesday 9 December. He stressed: “It is the most important one that I shall have taken part in as president of the Commission”.
Under the leadership of the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, the European Council will begin on Thursday at 3.00pm with a traditional exchange of views with the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering. The latter will take part in the first working session devoted to the Lisbon Treaty, as of 3.30pm (see article below). European leaders will then tackle the energy and climate change dossier (see following pages). The French EU Presidency takes the view that compromises acceptable to all were able to be found on several points but that key issues remain outstanding, such as solidarity, the duration and the magnitude of the limited derogation to be granted to electricity producers of some member states, and how one should tackle the risk of carbon leaks. During dinner, around 8.00pm, the discussion will be on the European economy recovery plan. It will be attended by the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet (see below). The next day, on Friday morning, the heads of state will meet to give fresh impetus to the Europe of Defence, with a brief examination of the report by Javier Solana on updating the 2003 European security strategy and its proposals on ESDP operations planning capability. Finally, they will note the work accomplished by the Council on the CAP health check. (A.B./transl.jl)