A Slovak delegation led by Prime Minister Robert Fico will take part in a session of the European Council in Brussels on June 19-20, the government decided on June 11.
After a traditional introductory speech by European Parliament chairman Hans-Gert Poettering, the European leaders will discuss ratification of the Lisbon Treaty and its implementation, migration policy, Schengen zone enlargement, the fight against terrorism, and police and judiciary co-operation. Other topics will include the tricky issues of high food and oil prices, and their influence on development aid, trade policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, energy and climate change.
The session will also include talks on the EC's recommendation that Slovakia join the Eurozone as of January 1, 2009, along with an evaluation of how countries of the Western Balkans are meeting the Thessaloniki Agenda, which concerns European integration. In the field of external relations, the leaders will evaluate the ongoing implementation of the Millennium Development Goals, and will express their stance on the upcoming summit of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (or Barcelona Process), which is due to take place in Paris on July 13. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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