Merkel and Sarkozy push for EU progress

Today’s meeting showed that Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel and France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy want progress at the European Council meeting 18 to 19 June 2009. The press conference was a show of quiet determination.



Merkel and Sarkozy want to push for:

• The nomination of José Manuel Barroso to become the President of the Commission, with a programme, and subject to the approval of the European Parliament, if possible on 14 July 2009.
• Formal guarantees to the government of Ireland on its concerns with regard to the Treaty of Lisbon, and all the help they can give to achieve a positive vote, given that the EU needs Ireland and Ireland needs the EU.
• The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, in order to give the European Union a stable framework.
• Financial regulation based on the De Laroisière report, hoping to get the United Kingdom on board.

Merkel stressed the importance of the European Union’s work to secure a deal on combating climate change.


Ralf Grahn