EU Council Monitor - 15/12/08

December European Council
"The European Council on 11 and 12 December 2008 approved a European Economic Recovery Plan, equivalent to about 1,5 % of the GDP of the European Union (a figure amounting to around EUR 200 billion). The plan provides a common framework for the efforts made by Member States and by the European Union, with a view to ensuring consistency and maximising effectiveness.

The European Council also reached agreement on the energy/climate change package which should enable this package to be finalised with the European Parliament by the end of the year. This decisive breakthrough will enable the European Union to honour the ambitious commitments entered into in this area in 2007 to maintain its leading role in the search for an ambitious and comprehensive global agreement at Copenhagen next year.

The European Council demonstrated its intent, through concrete decisions, to give new impetus to the European Security and Defence Policy in order to meet the new security challenges.
Lastly, the European Council discussed the factors designed to respond to the concerns expressed during the Irish referendum and established an approach to enable the Treaty of Lisbon to come into force before the end of 2009." [Europa]

France to give account of presidency to Parliament
"Working-time directive and budget will feature on an agenda dominated by a review of France's presidency of the EU and of the EU summit. The European Parliament is meeting for its last plenary session of the year and the four-day session, from 15 to 18 December, will have a distinct end-of-year feel, with the French providing a review of their presidency of the EU.

On 16 December, French President Nicolas Sarkozy will present to MEPs an overall review of the French presidency as well as the specific results of the EU summit of 11-12 December, focusing on the economy, the climate-change package, and the deal struck in a bid to convince the Irish to adopt the Treaty of Lisbon.

Accounts of the French presidency will be presented to the Parliament's Economic Committee on 15 December by Finance Minister Christine Lagarde and, on 16 December, to the Constitutional Affairs Committee by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Both ministers will essentially provide a run-down of the developments in their policy fields agreed during the French presidency." [EuropeanVoice]