Czech Presidency aims to finalise Treaty proposal to Ireland by June
Efforts are being directed towards finalising the Lisbon Treaty proposal to Ireland by June, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said.
Speaking at the end of the General Affairs Council (GAC) held yesterday in Prague between the Foreign Ministers of EU states, Dr Borg said that immediately following the EP elections at the beginning of June, the Czech Presidency would hold negotiations on the nomination of the next Commission, and in particular, possible candidates for its president.
The GAC agenda, the Foreign Minister said, revolved around three main issues, namely the question of energy security in view of the current conflict over contractual obligations between Russia and Ukraine, transatlantic relations and institutional issues.
The EU urged Russia and Ukraine to respect their obligations as supplier and transit country respectively, and return supplies to the normal levels.
The meeting also included a working lunch dealing with transatlantic relations. Participants agreed on the need to establish good relations between the EU and the new US administration.
Three key areas of cooperation where identified, namely economic and financial cooperation in preparation for the G20 Summit in April, climate-energy with focus on energy security in preparation for the Summit in Copenhagen in December, and cooperation on foreign-policy problems, including the Middle-East, Afghanistan and Iran.
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malcolm seychell
Jan 9th 2009, 20:48
The lisbon Treaty is a suicide for Malta.
We will give the up the power of our Veto. One of the main reasons i voted yes to enter the EU
MLPN are happy and voted yes for this because of the 6th seat.
The only political party in Malta who wanted the the people to have a vote on this treaty was Azzjoni Nazzjonali.
It's funny how the EU wants to be an example of democracy.
Nigel Lawrence
Jan 9th 2009, 19:52
Efforts are being directed towards finalising the Lisbon Treaty proposal to Ireland------------------
and HOPEFULLY, the Irish will tell them where to stick it!
David Pisani
Jan 9th 2009, 19:37
Thats a shame. The two major political parties PL and PN, they only care about is the sixth seat. While people in Malta are worried that we might lose veto if treaty passes and working conditions
Anyone who vaguely follows EU politics may have heard of the so-called Vaxholm case, a dispute between 2 Swedish trade unions and a Latvian firm that was carrying out work in Sweden and not respecting collective wage bargaining agreements.
If the ECJ case goes against the Swedish unions, the implications for the labour markets in Denmark, Finland and Sweden will be huge, and this at a time when the Nordic model is being used as an example in other European countries of how to combine an efficient economy and social protection.
The question is that EU Treaty will enforce neoliberalism rather than a social Europe.
ECJ
Joey Borg
Jan 9th 2009, 19:19
dear minister, did they tell you how many illegal immigrants will they voluntarily take over?
malcolm seychell
Jan 9th 2009, 18:55
Dictators never take a NO as an answer.
But obviously the EU claims that its the champion of human rights.
lgalea
Jan 9th 2009, 18:37
Total eu arrogance.
Why don't you take a NO for a NO petty dictators.
May God help the Irish people to consign the Lisbon Treaty to the dustbin of history and destroy the eu and its petty dictators.
J.Borg
Jan 9th 2009, 18:36
What's the use of holiding referndums.......
If this treaty didn't pass by the first voting....why are the Irish going to the polls again.