At the 2878th Council meeting on General Affairs and External Relations, the incoming French and future Czech and Swedish presidencies have presented a draft 18-month programme of the Council for the second half of 2008 and the year 2009.
The document contains a strategic framework, established in consultation with the subsequent three presidencies, a list of specific priorities in each policy area and a comprehensive programme setting out the issues that are expected to be covered during the 18-month period.
Some of the highlighted priorities are:
– reassessment of EU spending and resources;
– climate change;
– ensuring secure, competitive and environmentally sustainable energy;
– implementing the Lisbon strategy for jobs and growth;
– promoting the EU’s competitiveness;
– sustainable development;
– review of the common agricultural policy (CAP “health check”);
– continued development of an area of freedom, security and justice;
– enlargement of the EU;
– the Western Balkans;
– strengthening the EU’s relations with the countries on its eastern and southern frontiers;
– relations with Africa;
– the European security strategy;
– achievement of the UN’s millennium development goals.
The three presidencies will finalise the programme in the light of the Council’s discussion.
