European Council, Brussels, 11-12/12/2008

Following two days of negotiations, the European Heads of State and Government, reached a triple agreement on the climate change and energy package, on the 200 billion Euro economic stimulus and on the Lisbon Treaty. The agreement on the energy and climate change package should be finalized with the European Parliament by the end of the year, thus preceding the World Climate Conference that will be held in Copenhagen in 2009. The European Council approved a European economic recovery plan, equivalent to 1.5% of the GDP of the European Union (approximately 200 billion Euros). This plan constitutes the common framework for efforts undertaken by the Member States and the European Union. The European Council also expressed its will, by means of a number of concrete decisions, to give a new impetus to the European Security and Defence Policy in order to respond to the new security challenges. Lastly, the European Council debated the elements aimed at responding to the concerns expressed during the Irish referendum and set out an approach to allow the Lisbon Treaty to enter into force before the end of 2009. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic and President in office of the Council of the EU, presided over his last European Council held under the French Presidency.

European Commission | January 9, 2009

Tags:. .undertaken. .presided. .preceding. .framework. .referendum