Romania’s President Traian Basescu to attend the Council of the European Union summit

President Traian Basescu will be present in Brussels, Thursday 19 and Friday 20 June 2008, at the Council of the EU annual heads of state meeting. Mr. Basescu will also attend the EPP’s summit.

The meeting of the European Council will be preceded by an exposé by Mr Hans-Gert Pöttering, President of the European Parliament, followed by an exchange of views.

The Presidency intends to focus the agenda of the European Council on the following items:

- LISBON TREATY

The European Council will take stock of the state of ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

The Presidency will report on the progress of the preparatory work conducted in line with the European Council conclusions of December 2007 to ensure the full functioning of the Treaty as soon as it enters into force, subject to ratification by all Member States. The European Council is expected to note the progress achieved and to invite the incoming Presidency to complete the work by the end of the year.

- FREEDOM, SECURITY AND JUSTICE

The European Council will take stock of progress achieved on certain key dossiers in the field of freedom, security and justice and give the necessary impetus to allow their timely adoption.

- POLICY IMPLICATIONS OF HIGH FOOD PRICES

The European Council will assess developments as regards rising food prices and discuss policy implications for the European Union across the board, including possible consequences for development policy, trade policy, the common agricultural policy and energy/climate change.

- ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

In the light of progress achieved since its Spring meeting, the European Council may address a very limited number of key dossiers related to the Lisbon Strategy.

- WESTERN BALKANS

The European Council will take stock of the implementation of the Thessaloniki Agenda. It is expected to reconfirm the European Perspective of the Western Balkans as well as to address a number of dossiers and initiatives aimed at supporting the political and economic development in the countries of the Western Balkans based on the recent Commission's Communication.

- EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The European Council will take stock of progress regarding the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals and look at possible means of accelerating efforts, as agreed last December.

Further to the declaration it adopted last March, the European Council will revert to "Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean" with a view to the summit which will be held on 13 July 2008.

The European Council will also address the enhancement of the eastern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy.

The European Council may address other external action issues, in the light of international developments.

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On Thursday, June 19, Romania’s President Traian Basescu will also attend the European People’s Party group summit.

Romania Report