I am very pleased to invite you to the spring meeting of the European Council, which will take place in Brussels on 8 and 9 March 2007.
Europe is at an important crossroads. If we act decisively now, we have a chance of effectively counteracting the dangers of climate change. Climate and energy policies are therefore at the centre of this European Council. We must use the spring meeting to decide on a strategy which will safeguard our energy supply and ensure climate protection on a sustainable basis. Our response to this issue will have repercussions for the future of Europe and beyond.
Europe is currently experiencing an economic upturn. The reforms undertaken as part of the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment are beginning to bear fruit. We should use this positive development to further modernise Europe and its industry and make them fit to face the challenges ahead.
We also intend at the forthcoming meeting to take measures to boost employment and reinforce the social dimension, as well as to promote better regulation.
We begin our consultations on Thursday evening at 17.30 with an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering.
Following this, the first working session will take place from 18.00 to 20.00. It will be devoted to questions of energy policy and climate protection policy. Last December we decided that we would work out an action plan in the area of energy policy for Europe and tackle the political, economic and external repercussions of energy policy and climate protection policy in that context. The Commission submitted a proposal on this subject in January 2007. We shall discuss a number of priority measures at our spring Council and we shall have the opportunity on this occasion to set out a European strategy with ambitious goals and timetables. I have asked the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, to give an introductory presentation on the subject.
After the traditional group photograph I should like at the beginning of dinner to present my ideas on the structure and content of the Berlin Declaration which we intend to adopt in Berlin on 25 March 2007 together with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Parliament, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaties. I have invited the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering, to contribute to the discussion on this subject.
I should then like to use the time to hold an in-depth discussion among the Heads of State and Government on the state of and prospects for transatlantic relations, with a view also to preparing for the EU-US summit on 30 April 2007. In this connection I should also like to explain my initiative concerning a new transatlantic economic partnership to you.
During dinner, the Ministers for Foreign Affairs will focus on the situation in Iraq, and will also consider the situation in Somalia and Lebanon.The Ministers for Finance will deal with financial questions relating to energy policy and to research and development.
The press conference will follow immediately after dinner.
The working session on Friday from 10.00 onwards will be given over to discussion and adoption of the conclusions of the European Council. I have asked José Manuel Barroso to speak on the Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment when we go through the text of the conclusions. The aim of better regulation will also be covered in this context.
The press conferences will take place afterwards.
The Presidency will inform the candidates for accession of the outcome of the discussions.
