EU council to discuss partnership with Asia

3gzylon 2010-09-14

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08:32, September 14, 2010

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European foreign ministers said on Monday the upcoming European Council meeting will focus on strategic partnerships and economic Task Force.

Steven Vanackere, acting Belgian minister for foreign affairs, declared at a news conference held on Monday that the European Council, which is due to be held on Thursday, will discuss the European Union (EU)'s relations with its strategic partners.

The EU pays a great attention to strategic partners from Asia, especially to China as it is EU's second trade partner and the world's biggest exporter, also because 24 percent of the Chinese currency reserves are euros.

Heads of member states will also examine how the European External Action Service (EEAS) can be used as a valuable instrument to achieve the goals set by the EU.

Vanackere also said the proceedings of the EU economic Task Force will be discussed on the occasion of the European Council, adding this is the coherence and the convergence of the efforts made by member states, which will certainly improve the possibilities to recover as soon as possible from the economic and financial crisis.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy will present on Thursday an interim report on the results of the Task Force, but the discussion will be limited to a state of play. The final report is only expected to come out at the next General Affairs Council in October.

The General Affairs Council is composed of the ministers of foreign and/or European affairs of the member states. The council meets formally once a month to prepares for meetings of the European Council.

Source: Xinhua

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