Brussels, 14/10/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 13 October, Spanish Secretary of State Diego Lopez Garrido explained to a small group of journalists in Brussels that Spain, which takes over the presidency of the EU in the first half of next year, will prioritise the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty. He stated that the difficulties involving Czech ratification will have been overcome and that he was sure “the treaty will still enter into force under the Swedish presidency, before the end of the year”. Mr Garrido affirmed that with the entry into force of the new treaty, the Spanish Presidency will also mark the beginning of “a new political phase” for the EU, for which Madrid wanted to “provide the tone” during the first half of 2010. The other priorities of the Spanish Presidency will be: - the economy: preparation of the exit strategy from member state budget deficits linked to the economic crisis; implementation of new rules for regulating the financial markets and adopting a new post-2010 Lisbon strategy to encourage growth and employment; - European citizenship. Based on the Charter of Fundamental Rights, which is an integral part of the Lisbon Treaty, the Spanish Presidency is seeking to work on equal opportunities for men and women and highlight the problem of gender violence. This scourge, which constitutes a real problem in many member states “has to become a European issue”, explained Mr Garrido; - EU foreign policy. Thanks to the new instruments made available under the Lisbon Treaty (high representative, European Action Service, etc), the EU will begin, under the Spanish Presidency, to build-up a genuine European foreign policy, beginning with the formulation of the main trends in its future policy with the main partners and regions in the world, explained Mr Garrido. The Spanish Presidency is also expected to manage the launch of the European External Action Service (EEAS). On 29-30 October, the European Council is expected to adopt a report outlining the legal framework and principles defining the basis of how the European Diplomatic Service will actually be composed and work, once the Lisbon Treaty is in force and the new high representative is in place (in agreement with the president of the Commission, it will be the high representative who will produce proposals for setting up the service). COREPER is currently preparing the report in view of its adoption by leaders at the end of this month. The EU27 appear to agree on the autonomous and progressive fashion in which the service will be implemented but a definitive decision on the budget and personnel is expected to be made in the middle of 2010, still under the Spanish Presidency. It also appears to have been agreed that the service will be reassessed in two or three years' time, at least before the arrival of the next Commission (the one that will take over from Barroso II). There are nine new summits planned with third countries, under the Spanish Presidency, explained M. Garrido: US, Russia, Japan, Canada, Union for the Mediterranean, Latin America, Morocco, Pakistan and Mexico. (H.B./transl.rh)