27/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - Tackling environmental challenges, such as water problems, air pollution and waste management, reinforcing the administrative and legal framework, increasing people-to-people exchanges and promoting Macau's cultural heritage are areas in which EU cooperation with Macau could be extended in 2009. That is the conclusion of the European Commission's 2008 annual report on the Macau Special Administrative Region, published on Thursday 26 February. In 2009, Macau will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its return to China and the election of the Chief Executive of Macau will take place. Edmund Ho, the first and only Chief Executive of the Macau SAR since the handover, will leave office at the end of 2009. Before this, he will face a testing challenge in preserving Macau's economic stability in a global financial crisis and maintaining Macau's position as a tourist centre in Asia. (L.C./transl.rt)