Advertise On EU-Digest

Annual Advertising Rates

1/18/07

Xinhua - EU presidency trio launch joint work plan

For the complete report from the Xinhua click on this link

EU presidency trio launch joint work plan

Leaders of Germany, Portugal and Slovenia launched on Wednesday a joint work program for the three consecutive European Union (EU) presidencies in the next 18 months, saying it would improve the efficiency and continuity much-needed in the EU's business. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose country holds the EU presidency, told a joint press conference that the trio presidency program, the first such program in the EU's history, would enable the 27-nation bloc to have a more coherent approach in handling both internal and external issues. A six-month term for a EU presidency is too short to achieve major goals, she said, adding that shared efforts by the three countries in both devising and carrying out the plans will serve the EU's interest better.

Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa agreed with her, saying the program was "both ambitious and realistic." Reviving the European constitution, stimulating the bloc's economy and creating jobs, as well as ensuring security and stability in the region and the world at large, will be the priorities of the trio, according to the leaders.

No comments: