UK & Italy Highlight Shared Priorities For The EU

UK Italy highlight shared priorities

The UK and Italy have set out their shared priorities for the EU in light of the reform treaty agreement reached in Lisbon in October.

In a joint letter, Gordon Brown and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi stressed the importance of moving on from consitutional debate and tackling the key issues of security, migration, trade, development and climate change. The EU, they said, should focus on the "challenges of globalisation".

The two leaders said:

"At the October 2007 Informal European Council in Lisbon EU leaders brought to an end a prolonged period of institutional debate. Based on this effort, we are convinced that the EU now has the opportunity to demonstrate that it is open and outward looking, focused on the opportunities and challenges of globalisation. No less is needed if the EU is to prosper.

"The EU must maintain its focus on internal economic reform and on equipping its citizens to benefit from the opportunities the global economy presents."

European leaders will meet in Brussels on 14 December to sign the EU reform treaty agreed in principle in June this year. Details of the treaty were finalised in the Lisbon meeting in October.

ENDS

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