Press Advisories

24. 2. 2009 11:40

GAERC: 5 billion investment in energy and infrastructure

The Deputy Prime Minister A. Vondra and Minister for Foreign Affairs K. Schwarzenberg participated in the Council session in Brussels.

The Council examined an annotated draft agenda prepared by the presidency for the spring meeting of the European Council, to be held in Brussels on 19 and 20 March.

The European Council is due to focus on the following issues:

– the economic and financial situation;

– energy and climate change;

– external relations, in particular the Eastern Partnership;

– Treaty of Lisbon.

As concerns the economic and financial situation, it will focus on progress achieved in ensuring greater stability and better supervision and transparency in financial markets, implementation of the European economic recovery plan approved in December, progress on the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs, the functioning of the EU's internal market and preparations for the G20 summit in London on 2 April.

On energy and climate change, it is due to discuss the means of ensuring the EU's energy security in the medium and longer term, as well as preparations for the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December.

The annotated draft agenda will serve as the basis for draft European Council conclusions to be prepared by the presidency and submitted to the permanent representatives committee. The draft conclusions will draw on the work of the Council configurations involved, as well as the outcome of an informal meeting of heads of state and government in Brussels on 1 March.

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLAN

The Council examined proposals aimed at providing additional support, under the European economic recovery plan, to investments in the field of energy and infrastructure.

It acknowledged the need to reach an agreement on the proposals, which require a joint decision of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, as soon as possible and before the parliamentary recess in the run-up to the European elections in June.

The economic recovery plan, approved by the European Council in December, provides a framework for measures taken by each member state in response to the global financial crisis and economic slowdown, and identifies a number of actions to be undertaken at EU level. The Commission's proposals, which provide for an additional EUR 5 billion investment in energy and infrastructure,

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