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[Luxembourg 2005 Presidency of the Council of the European Union]
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Press Release
European Commission visit to the Luxembourg Presidency

Date of release : 10-01-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : Visit of the European Commission to the Luxembourg Presidency


In the context of the start of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU Council, the Government of Luxembourg welcomed the members of the European Commission on 10 January. 

At a joint press conference, current President of the European Council and Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, reviewed the major priorities of Luxembourg’s Presidency, namely the relaunch of the Lisbon process, the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact and the political agreement on the financial perspectives from 2007 to 2013.

The Prime Minister introduced the Presidency’s agenda for addressing these issues.

The Presidency’s work on the relaunch of the Lisbon process will be based on the Commission’s orientation report, to be presented on 2 February.

Jean-Claude Juncker is hoping to reach agreement on the reform of the Stability and Growth Pact by the European Council meeting of 22 and 23 March.

Finding an agreement on the financial perspectives will dominate the agenda of the European Council meeting on 16 and 17 June. Jean-Claude Juncker is expecting "lengthy negotiations." "This is a difficult issue," he said. "But if an agreement is not forthcoming under the Luxembourg Presidency, it will be difficult to reach agreement under the next Presidencies."

The Prime Minister noted that a "common approach to the major issues with the Commission was necessary for the Union to progress." For Jean-Claude Juncker, during Luxembourg’s Presidency, "Europe’s common interest must replace the national interest."

The official welcoming of the European Commissioners by the current President of the European Council was followed by bilateral meetings between the different members of the Luxembourg government  and the respective representatives of the European Commission for the Council’s main action policy areas.

The luncheon for the European Commission and the Government of Luxembourg with the Head of State at the Grand-Ducal Palace has been cancelled due to the death of Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, Princess of Belgium, on the morning of 10 January. The Government of Luxembourg proclaimed national mourning until Saturday, 15 January.




This page was last modified on : 11-01-2005

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