BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders concluded their two-day summit after discussions on the Lisbon Treaty, climate change financing and economic issues.
The summit removed one of the last hurdles facing the Lisbon Treaty reform after giving the Czech Republic an opt-out in relation to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country is holding the EU Presidency, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L to R) talk at the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Oct. 30, 2009. Leaders of 27 EU member states held a two-day summit since Thursday to discuss about climate change, financing, EU institutional and economic issues. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) Photo Gallery>>>
It agreed to grant the Czechs the exemption in a manner that was acceptable to neighboring countries, EU presidency Sweden's Prime Minsiter Fredrik Reinfeldt told reporters after the first session of the two-day summit.
The concession was demanded by Czech President Vaclav Klaus as the price for abandoning his one-man campaign to sabotage the treaty, which will create the post of permanent EU president.
"We have removed the last political hurdle," European Commission President Jose Barroso said.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (R, front), whose country is holding the EU Presidency, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L, front) talk at the European Union (EU) summit in Brussels, capital of Belgium, Oct. 30, 2009. (Xinhua/Wu Wei) Photo Gallery>>>
The treaty, aimed at streamlining the bloc's institutions and increasing its global influence, is expected to go into force at the end of this year or the beginning of next year.
Klaus, an euro-sceptic, refused to sign the ratification documents of the treaty until winning assurances that the new rulebook wouldn't open the possibility of property claims by ethnic Germans -- or their descendants -- who were expelled after World War II.
The summit also reached an agreement on climate financing, vowing to contribute to 50 billion euros (74 billion U.S. dollars) in annual aid to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
But EU nations would not be required to contribute to the fund before 2013, said Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country is holding the current EU presidency.
"Action by the European Union alone will not be enough," the conclusion document said.
The summit agreed that the amount of public support for financing the fight against climate change would have to amount to100 billion euros by 2020.
It agreed that "fast start financing" was made on a voluntary basis by member states.
The EU had been divided over climate financing between poorer and richer member states.
The leaders also stressed the need to boost employment and enhance financial supervision and regulation.
Economic stimulus measures should not be withdrawn though the "sharp decline in European economic activity is coming to a halt," they agreed, citing "the increase in unemployment levels".
They said supporting policies should not be withdrawn until the recovery was "fully secured".
The summit urged a "continued political commitment to active labor market policies" as "the unemployment situation can be expected to deteriorate further" in the EU.
As for financial supervision, the leaders called on the EU presidency and the European Parliament to initiate the process on two draft legislative proposals on the establishment of a European Systemic Risk Board for macro-prudential supervision.
The meeting urged the member states to reach an agreement by December 2009 on a complete package setting up a new supervisory structure in Europe.
It called as well for swift progress to be made on the strengthening of the regulatory framework for the prevention, management and resolution of financial crises and on the development of a comprehensive EU-wide framework for closer policy coordination on financial stability.
BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders removed one of the last hurdles facing the reformed Lisbon Treaty after giving the Czech Republic an opt-out in relation to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The summit agreed to grant the Czechs the exemption in a manner that was acceptable to neighboring countries, EU presidency Sweden's Prime Minsiter Fredrik Reinfeldt told reporters after the first session of the two-day summit. Full story
BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders reached agreement on climate financing here on Friday, pledging to contribute to 50 billion euros (74 billion U.S. dollars) in annual aid to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
"We are ready to offer if our partners deliver," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a press conference at the end of a two-day EU summit. Full story
BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the European Union (EU) ended their two-day meeting here Friday with a consensus on such tricky issues as climate change financing and the Lisbon Treaty.
At a press conference after the summit on Friday, President of the European Council Fredrik Reinfeldt said EU leaders had endorsed a "fast start financing" plan to help developing countries to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. Full story
BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders have stressed the need to boost employment and enhance financial supervision and regulation.
The leaders said in a conclusion document after a two-day summit here Friday that economic stimulus measures should not be withdrawn, though the "sharp decline in European economic activity is coming to a halt." Full story
BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- European Union summit issued a declaration here on Friday, urging Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in resolving its nuclear issue.
"The European Council remains fully committed to finding a diplomatic solution to the issue of Iran's nuclear program and urges Iran to fully cooperate in this effort," said the declaration issued at the end of a two-day summit. Full story
BRUSSELS, 30 Oct. (Xinhua) -- European Union leaders agreed Friday that rich nations should pay 100 billion euros (147 billion U.S. dollars) a year from 2020 to help developing nations fight global warming, but they made no commitment on how much of that money would come from EU coffers.
That failing, environmentalists say, undermines European claims to be leading the fight to limit climate change. Full story
BRUSSELS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The European Commission (EC) proposed on Friday to provide macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Ukraine in the form of a loan of up to 500 million euros (about 740 million U.S. dollars).
It would support a previous adjustment program agreed by the Ukrainian government with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help the country cope with the global crisis, the EC said in a press release. Full story
